Subdivisions of Wales Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
For local government purposes, Wales is divided into 22 unitary authorities. There are 9 counties, 3 cities, and 10 county boroughs, although all have equal status. Collectively these are known as the principal areas of Wales. They came into being on April 1, 1996.See: List of Welsh principal areas by population, List of Welsh principal areas by area, List of Welsh principal areas by percentage Welsh language
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2 Name changes 3 History 4 See also 5 References |
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Areas are Counties, unless marked * (for Cities) or † (for County Boroughs). Welsh language forms are given in parentheses, where they differ from the English.
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Name changes
The current names of the counties and county boroughs are in some cases different from those specified in the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994. The following changes took place, all with effect from April 2, 1996.
- Aberconwy and Colwyn to Conwy
- Anglesey to Isle of Anglesey
- Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire to Gwynedd
- Cardiganshire to Ceredigion
- Neath and Port Talbot to Neath Port Talbot
History
1888
From 1889 to 1974, the administrative counties of Wales were used for local government. These were based on the traditional counties of Wales, but not entirely identical.
- Anglesey (Ynys Môn)
- Brecknockshire (Breconshire)
- Cardiganshire
- Carmarthenshire
- Caernarfonshire
- Denbighshire
- Flintshire
- Glamorgan
- Merionethshire
- Monmouthshire
- Montgomeryshire
- Pembrokeshire
- Radnorshire
1974
In 1974, eight new two-tier counties were created. These were all given names in Welsh, apart from the Glamorgans, which had English names as well as Welsh.
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The division into districts of these was as follows
- Clwyd — Alyn and Deeside, Colwyn, Delyn, Glyndwr, Rhuddlan, Wrexham
- Dyfed — Carmarthen, Ceredigion, Dinefwr, Llanelli, Preseli, South Pembroke
- Gwent — Blaenau Gwent, Islwyn, Monmouth, Newport, Torfaen
- Gwynedd — Aberconwy, Arfon, Dwyfor, Meirionnydd, Anglesey
- Mid Glamorgan — Cynon Valley, Ogwr, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda, Rhymney Valley, Taff–Ely;
- Powys, Brecon, Montgomery, Radnor
- South Glamorgan — Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan
- West Glamorgan — Lliw Valley, Neath, Port Talbot, Swansea
1996
The redistribution of these districts into the current unitary authorities is as follows:
| Unitary authorities | Previous districts |
|---|---|
| Anglesey | Anglesey |
| Blaenau Gwent | most of Blaenau Gwent |
| Bridgend | most of Ogwr |
| Caerphilly | Islwyn, Rhymney Valley |
| Carmarthenshire | Carmarthen, Llanelli, Dinefwr |
| Cardiff | Cardiff, part of Taff-Ely |
| Ceredigion | Ceredigion |
| Conwy | Aberconwy, most of Colwyn |
| Denbighshire | Rhuddlan, parts of Glyndwr and Colwyn |
| Flintshire | Alyn and Deeside, Delyn |
| Gwynedd | Arfon, Dwyfor, Meirionnydd |
| Merthyr Tydfil | Merthyr Tydfil |
| Monmouthshire | Monmouth, part of Blaenau Gwent |
| Neath Port Talbot | Neath, Port Talbot, parts of Lliw Valley |
| Newport | Newport |
| Pembrokeshire | Preseli, South Pembrokeshire |
| Powys | Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire, Brecknock, part of Glyndwr |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf | Rhondda, Cynon Valley, most of Taff-Ely |
| Swansea | Swansea, parts of Lliw Valley |
| Torfaen | Torfaen |
| Vale of Glamorgan | most of Vale of Glamorgan |
| Wrexham | most of Wrexham, parts of Glyndwr |
This is an Article on Subdivisions of Wales. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Subdivisions of Wales See also
References