'Carmarthenshire' () is a one of thirteen
historic counties and a
principal area in
Wales. Its main towns are
Llanelli,
Carmarthen and
Ammanford. Carmarthenshire is located in West Wales.
Geography
The county is bounded to the north by
Ceredigion, 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, 55.1% 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 by area 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
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
★
[1] Research sources for Carmarthenshire