Stokesley was a rural district

Rural district

Rural districts were a type of local government area – now superseded – established at the end of the 19th century in England, Wales, and Ireland for the administration of predominantly rural areas at a level lower than that of the administrative counties.-England and Wales:In England...

 in the North Riding of Yorkshire

North Riding of Yorkshire

The North Riding of Yorkshire was one of the three historic subdivisions of the English county of Yorkshire, alongside the East and West Ridings. From the Restoration it was used as a Lieutenancy area. The three ridings were treated as three counties for many purposes, such as having separate...

 from 1894 to 1974. It was named after the town of Stokesley

Stokesley

Stokesley is a small market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Leven. Stokesley is located about two miles south of the boundary of the borough of Middlesbrough and ten miles south of Middlesbrough town centre. Stokesley is located...

, which it contained. http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10042574

The parish was enlarged in 1932 when it took in part of the Middlesbrough Rural District

Middlesbrough Rural District

Middlesbrough Rural District was a rural district in the North Riding of Yorkshire from 1894 to 1932.It was based on the Middlesbrough rural sanitary district created in 1875, which consisted of the Middlesbrough poor law union, except those parts in urban sanitary districts .The rural district...

. It lost parts in 1968 with the creation of the Teesside

Teesside

Teesside is the name given to the conurbation in the north east of England made up of the towns of Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar, Billingham and surrounding settlements near the River Tees. It was also the name of a local government district between 1968 and 1974—the County Borough of...

 county borough

County borough

County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...

. http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10042574&c_id=10001043

In 1974 the district was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972

Local Government Act 1972

The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....

. It was split three ways, with the northern parts going to the boroughs of Stockton-on-Tees

Stockton-on-Tees (borough)

Stockton-on-Tees is a unitary authority area and borough in the Tees Valley area of north east England, with a population in 2001 of 178,408, rising to 185,880 in 2005 estimates....

 and Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...

 in the new county of Cleveland

Cleveland, England

Cleveland is an area in the north east of England. Its name means literally "cliff-land", referring to its hilly southern areas, which rise to nearly...

, and the rest becoming part of the Hambleton

Hambleton

Hambleton is a local government district of North Yorkshire, England. The main town and administrative centre is Northallerton, and includes the market towns and major villages of Bedale, Thirsk, Great Ayton, Stokesley and Easingwold....

 district of North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...

.

The parishes that went to Stockton were: Castlelevington

Castlelevington

Castlelevington, or Castle Leavington is a civil parish in the borough of Stockton on Tees, in North East England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 30....

, Hilton, Ingleby Barwick

Ingleby Barwick

Ingleby Barwick is a large private residential estate and civil parish built on what was the southern perimeter of Thornaby airfield in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees and ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. The estate is enclosed by water to the west, north and east...

, Kirklevington

Kirklevington

Kirklevington is a village and civil parish in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees, and ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated just outside the town of Yarm.-History:...

, Maltby

Maltby, North Yorkshire

Maltby is a village and civil parish in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees and ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. It is located to the east of the A19....

 and Yarm

Yarm

Yarm is a small town and civil parish in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees in North East England. It is on the south bank of the River Tees and for ceremonial purposes is in North Yorkshire...

, whilst Nunthorpe

Nunthorpe

Nunthorpe is a small outer suburb of the town of Middlesbrough, England. Nunthorpe is served by Nunthorpe and Gypsy Lane railway stations, both of which are on the Esk Valley Line from Middlesbrough to Whitby...

went to Middlesbrough.