In 1986, the council was reported as having an area of and a population of about 3940 with most population growth occurring in the southern part of the council area around the town of Two Wells. The principal industries were agriculture and salt mining with the former consisting of market gardening in the vicinity of the Gawler River with the remainder of the district being used for cereal growing, stock grazing and dairying, and with the latter being concerned with salt extraction via evaporation at sites along the coastline.