Blandford Forum, typically Blandford, is a market community in the North Dorset district of Dorset, England, sited by the River Stour regarding 13 mi (21 kilometres) northwest of Poole. It was the management headquarters of North Dorset District Council until April 2019, when area councils combined to become Dorset County Council. Blandford is significant for its Georgian design, the result of restoring after most of the town was destroyed by a fire in 1731. The restoring work was assisted by an Act of Parliament and also a donation by George II, and the rebuilt town centre-- to styles by regional architects John as well as William Bastard-- has endured to the present day greatly undamaged. 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, as well as the website of the Royal Signals Gallery. Dorset Area Council approximates that in 2013 the town's civil parish had a population of 10,610. The town's economy is based upon a mix of the service industry and light market, as well as gives employment for regarding 4,000 individuals.