Penrith is a market town in the county of Cumbria (historically Cumberland), England. It is in the Eden Valley, just north of the River Eamont, and lies less than 5 km outside the boundaries of the Lake District National Park. Other local rivers bounding the town are the River Lowther and the River Petteril. A partially man-made watercourse, known as Thacka Beck, flowing through the centre of the town, connects the Rivers Petteril and Eamont. For many centuries, the Beck provided the town with its main water supply. The local authority is Eden District Council, which is based in the town and was formerly the seat of both Penrith Urban and Rural District Councils. Penrith has no town council of its own, and is the second least populated unparished area, after Berwick-upon-Tweed. See below for a short history of the Penrith UDC.