Carmarthenshire
 | |
| Geography | |
| Area - Total - % Water | Ranked 3rd 2,395 km² ? % |
|---|---|
| Admin HQ | Carmarthen |
| Most Populous Town | Llanelli |
| ISO 3166-2 | GB-CMN |
| ONS code | 00NU |
| Demographics | |
| Population: - Total (2005 est.) - Density | Ranked 4th 178,100 Ranked 18th 74 / km² |
| Ethnicity | 99.4% White |
| Welsh language - Any skills | Ranked 3rd 63.6% |
| Politics | |
 Carmarthenshire County Council http://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/ | |
| Control | Independent / Labour |
| MPs | |
| AMs |
|
| MEPs | Wales |
 | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Area: (1891) | 587,816 acres (2379 km²) |
| Rank: | Ranked 1st |
| Administration | |
| County town: | Carmarthen |
| Chapman code: | CMN |
Carmarthenshire (Welsh: Sir Gaerfyrddin) is a one of thirteen historic counties and a principal area in Wales. Its main towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford.
Contents |
Geography
The county is bounded to the north by Ceredigion/Cardiganshire, to the east by Powys/Brecknockshire and West Glamorgan, to the south by the Bristol Channel and to the west by Pembrokeshire. Carmarthenshire has a population of approximately 170,000, 63% of whom are Welsh speakers. The surface generally is upland and mountainous. Fforest Fawr and Black Mountain extend into the east of the county and the Cambrian Mountains into the north. The south coast contains many fishing villages and sandy beaches. The highest point is Carmarthen Fan, 2,525 feet (770 m). Carmarthenshire is the largest historic county in Wales.
Principal towns are Ammanford, Burry Port, Carmarthen, Kidwelly, Llanelli, Llandeilo, Newcastle Emlyn and Llandovery, Sandy, St. Clears, Whitland, Pendine. The main rivers are the Tywi, the Loughor (which forms the eastern boundary with Glamorgan), and the Gwendraeth Fawr. The principal industries are agriculture, forestry, fishing and tourism. Although Llanelli is by far the larger town in the county, the county town remains in Carmarthen, mainly due to its central location.
Government
- Main article: Carmarthenshire County Council
Carmarthenshire became an administrative county with a county council taking over functions from the Quarter Sessions under the Local Government Act 1888. Under the Local Government Act 1972, the administrative county of Carmarthenshire was abolished on April 1, 1974, and the area of Carmarthenshire became three districts within the new county of Dyfed : Carmarthen, Dinefwr and Llanelli. Under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, Dyfed was abolished on April 1, 1996, and the three districts united to form a unitary authority.
Places of interest
Historical placesGeography | Museums
Heritage railways |
See also
- List of places in Carmarthenshire for an alphabetical list of towns and villages.
External links
- Carmarthenshire county council
- Carmarthenshire Official site from South West Wales Tourist Board
- http://www.laugharnewarmemorial.co.uk The men & women of Carmarthenshire who lost their lives in both World Wars.
| Principal areas of Wales |  |
|---|---|
| Subdivisions created by the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 Anglesey | Blaenau Gwent | Bridgend | Caerphilly | Cardiff | Carmarthenshire | Ceredigion | Conwy | Denbighshire | Flintshire | Gwynedd | Merthyr Tydfil | Monmouthshire | Neath Port Talbot | Newport | Pembrokeshire | Powys | Rhondda Cynon Taff | Swansea | Torfaen | Vale of Glamorgan | Wrexham | |
| United Kingdom | Wales | Historic counties of Wales |  |
Counties which originate prior to 1889 Anglesey |Brecknockshire |Caernarfonshire |Cardiganshire |Carmarthenshire |Denbighshire |Flintshire |Glamorganshire |Merionethshire |Monmouthshire |Montgomeryshire |Pembrokeshire |Radnorshire |
Categories
Historic counties of Wales | Principal areas of Wales | Carmarthenshire