district, administrative and historic county of Hampshire, England, comprising the New Forest and its urbanized coastal fringe flanking Southampton Water and The Solent, together with rural areas around Ringwood and Fordingbridge in the west of the county. The old harbour of Hythe and the modern oil terminal of Fawley on Southampton Water are economically linked with the city of Southampton. Just to the west the Cistercian Abbey of Beaulieu has been developed into a major tourist attraction. From the old port of Lymington the residential and resort settlements along The Solent coast almost meet Christchurch, beyond the district boundary. Among them New Milton is the chief settlement. The Forestry Commission has its national headquarters at Lyndhurst, the administrative centre of the district. Area 290 sq mi (751 sq km). Pop. (2001) 169,329.