Blandford Forum, generally Blandford, is a market community in the North Dorset area of Dorset, England, sited by the River Stour regarding 13 mi (21 km) northwest of Poole. It was the administrative headquarters of North Dorset District Council until April 2019, when district councils merged to become Dorset County Council. Blandford is noteworthy for its Georgian style, the result of restoring after most of the town was damaged by a fire in 1731. The rebuilding job was aided by an Act of Parliament as well as a contribution by George II, as well as the rebuilt town centre-- to styles by local engineers John and William Bastard-- has actually survived to the here and now day greatly intact. Blandford Camp, an army base, is sited on capitals two miles to the north east of the town. It is the base of the Royal Corps of Signals, the communications wing of the British Army, and also the website of the Royal Signals Museum. Dorset County Council estimates that in 2013 the community's civil church had a population of 10,610. The community's economic climate is based on a mix of the service industry and light market, and supplies work for about 4,000 individuals.