Eden is a local government district in Cumbria, England. Its council is based in Penrith. It is named after the River Eden which flows north through the district toward Carlisle. It has an area of 2,156 km², making it (since 2009) the eighth largest district in England and the largest non-unitary district. It also has the lowest population density of any district in England and Wales, with a mean of just 25 persons per square kilometre.In 2011, the population was 5% above its 2001 level.The district council was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, from the Penrith urban district, Alston with Garrigill Rural District and Penrith Rural District, all in Cumberland, and Appleby Municipal Borough, part of Lakes urban district and North Westmorland Rural District, all in