Swansea (county)

I

Introduction

Swansea (county) (Welsh, Abertawe), county and unitary authority, South Wales, bounded on the east by the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, on the south and west by Swansea Bay and the Bristol Channel, and on the north-west by the county of Carmarthenshire. Originally within the ancient county of Glamorgan, the territory became part of West Glamorgan under the local government reforms introduced in 1974. The county of Swansea came into existence as a unitary authority on April 1, 1996, under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1994, which changed the structure of local administration in Wales from a two-tier system of county and district councils to a single-tier system of unitary authorities. It comprises the district of Swansea in the south-west of West Glamorgan, plus, in the north-west of the unitary authority, half of the West Glamorgan district of Lliw Valley. The county of Swansea has an area of 378 sq km (146 sq mi).

II

Land and Resources

The county comprises mainly the industrialized city and port of Swansea, built on the mouth of the River Tawe on Swansea Bay, and the rural Gower Peninsula. The surface of the Gower Peninsula is level, and is composed of fertile soil over a limestone base. The western end of the peninsula has sandy beaches.

The climate is fairly mild, with an average temperature in January of 4° C (39° F), and in July of 19° C (67° F). Annual rainfall is in the region of 1,000 to 1,520 mm (40 to 60 in).

III

Population and Administration

The population of the county is 223,293 (2001). About 22 per cent of the population speaks Welsh according to the 2001 census (see Celtic Languages). The main city is Swansea (population, 2001 estimate, 223,200), the administrative centre of the unitary authority, and the largest city in Wales after Cardiff. The University College of Swansea (founded 1920) is part of the University of Wales, and has about 5,800 undergraduates. The Gower Peninsula is an area of small farms and is also a residential base for people working in Swansea. Inland of the peninsula are isolated farms and hamlets.

There is a Crown Court in Swansea. The police authority is the South Wales Constabulary, which has its headquarters in the town of Bridgend, in Bridgend county borough.

IV

Places of Interest

Swansea is a major shopping centre and has the largest market in Wales, as well as a number of museums and galleries, including Swansea Museum, the Maritime and Industrial Museum, and the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery. Much of Swansea Castle, dating from the time of the Norman Conquest, is in ruins and only a small section of the original buildings remain. Dylan Thomas, the poet, was born in Swansea and the Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea city centre houses a permanent exhibition on his life and works. The Centre is also home to the Ty Llen (English, House of Literature) programme that hosts a number of literary and cultural events throughout the year. Each October the Swansea Festival of Music and the Arts is held at several venues across the city, including the Taliesin Arts Centre, Brangwyn Hall, and the Grand Theatre. Swansea City FC plays in the English Football League and is based at Liberty Stadium; Glamorgan County Cricket Club plays matches at St Helens in the city.

The Gower Peninsula was the first area to be designated by the Countryside Agency as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1956. There are nature reserves at a number of places along the coast. At Park Woods, almost in the centre of the peninsula, is the Parc le Breos tomb, where more than 20 human skeletons, dating from prehistoric times, were found. In Cathole Cave, nearby, the bones of prehistoric animals were discovered. The coast of the peninsula is noted for its natural features, such as Worms Head, with the Devil's Bridge and Blowhole; the high cliffs of Mumbles Head; and the caves to be found in the limestone rock. The Gower also has many holiday resorts with excellent beaches, including Caswell Bay and Langland, which are centres for surfing.