Swindon is a borough in South West, England. It was formed in 1974 as the Thamesdown district of Wiltshire. It covers not just the town of Swindon, but surrounding countryside and the towns of Wroughton and Highworth .
On April 1, 1998 it was made independent of Wiltshire, with its council being a unitary authority, and the borough being an administrative county in its own right. For ceremonial purposes it remains part of Wiltshire.