district, administrative and historic county of Suffolk, southeastern England. It occupies the central part of the county and is mainly an agricultural area of low, rolling hills. Cereals (including wheat, barley, and oats), sugar beets, cattle, and pigs are intensively raised. The district contains many small villages and medieval churches. Stowmarket, Mid Suffolk's principal market town, lies 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Ipswich; it also has a light industrial base. The small community of Needham Market is the administrative centre. Area 336 square miles (871 square km). Pop. (2001) 86,842.