 Lathom Local Government District was formed in 1872 when the parish of Lathom adopted the Local Government Act 1858, and a local board was formed to govern the area.In February 1894 the parish of Burscough was added to the local board's area.The area of the local board was subsequently reconstituted as an urban district by the Local Government Act 1894 as Lathom and Burscough, and an elected urban district council replaced the local board.