Ards and North Down is a local government district in eastern Northern Ireland. The district lies east of Belfast and includes the Ards Peninsula. At the time of the 2021 census, the district’s population was 163,659. The district covers an area of 177 square miles (458 square kilometers). Its headquarters are in the city of Bangor.
The northern part of the district lies south of Belfast Lough, which opens into the Irish Sea. The Ards Peninsula surrounds much of Strangford Lough, another inlet of the Irish Sea. Seaside resorts include Donaghadee and Portaferry, and Portavogie is a leading fishing harbor. Newtownards is an industrial town, and Bangor is an important economic center.
Most of the workers in Arts and North Down are employed in the service industries. Service industries include education, health care, government services, finance and real estate, hotels and restaurants, and retail and wholesale trade. The construction and manufacturing sectors also employ many people. Traditional industries in the area have included textile manufacturing and boat building. Vegetable farming and dairy farming prosper in the area’s mild climate.
The present district of Ards and North Down covers much of historic County Down. The county ceased to be used as an administrative area when local government was reorganized into smaller districts in 1973. In 2015, the Ards district joined with North Down to form the Ards and North Down local government district.
