Eden is a local government district in Cumbria, England. Its council is based in Penrith. It is named after the River Eden which flows north through the district toward Carlisle.

It has an area of 2,156 kmē, making it the fourth largest district in England. It also has the lowest population density of any English district, with a mean of just 24 persons per square kilometre.

The district council was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, from the Penrith urban district, Alston with Garrigill Rural District and Penrith Rural District, all in Cumberland, and Appleby Borough, part of Lakes urban district and North Westmorland Rural District, all in Westmorland.

Within the district lies part of the Lake District National Park.

The West Coast Main Railway Line runs through the district but with only one station at Penrith. Services on this line are provided by Virgin Trains. The Northern Rail Settle-Carlisle Railway also goes through the district and has stations at Armathwaite, Lazonby, Langwathby, Appleby and Kirkby Stephen.

Road transport links are provided by the M6 motorway, the A6 and the A66.

Wards

Below is a list of the wards that Eden is divided into:

* = denotes wards represented by 2 councillors; all others have 1 except for Penrith North which has 3

• Alston Moor*
• Appleby (Appleby)
• Appleby (Bongate)
• Askham
• Brough
• Crosby Ravensworth
• Dacre
• Eamont
• Greystoke
• Hartside
• Hesket*
• Kirkby Stephen*
• Kirkby Thore
• Kirkoswald
• Langwathby

• Lazonby
• Long Marton
• Morland
• Orton with Tebay
• Penrith Carleton
• Penrith East*
• Penrith North
• Penrith Pategill
• Penrith South*
• Penrith West*
• Ravenstonedale
• Shap
• Skelton
• Ullswater
• Warcop

Demographics

In 2005, Eden was the only district in England and Wales estimated to still have the same White population as given in the 2001 census of 99.6%. This makes Eden one of the most homogenous districts anywhere in the country.

Sports and recreation

Eden has a King George's Field in memorial to King George V.

The council is the owner of the Penrith Leisure Centre which is run by a private company under contract. The council also owns a number of playing fields and recreation grounds throughout the district most notably the sports pitches at Frenchfield on the outskirts of Penrith.

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