Kingswinford is a suburban area (formerly a large village) in the West Midlands county but previously in Staffordshire. Mentioned in the Domesday Book its name relates to a ford for the King's swine (Kingswin(e)ford). The current significance is probably in tourism, education and housing. Positioned at the western edge of the West Midlands it borders on a rural area extending past the River Severn, which explains recent changes. But its position at the edge of the Black Country and its long standing in the area means it has had significant influence in the past. This is illustrated by the influence in creating local workhouses which shows a population of 15,000 plus in the 1831 census. The ancient parish of Kingswinford included Wordsley, Brierley Hill and Quarry Bank. The parishes of Kingswinford and Amblecote formed the Kingswinford rural district in 1894. It gave its name to a Parliamentary constituency of Kingswinford from 1885 until 1950. However, Amblecote became an urban district in 1898, leaving Kingswinford one of only a few single-parish rural districts. It was added to the Brierley Hill urban district in 1935, which became part of the County Borough of Dudley in 1966 and then the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in 1974. However, the rural part of the parish was added to Kinver in 1935, becoming part of Seisdon in 1966 and since 1974 part of South Staffordshire. The Kingswinford DY6 postal district covers the entirety of Kingswinford and Wall Heath as well as nearby rural areas such as Hinksford and Ashwood.