II.

Land and People

South Glamorgan had two distinct areas: the urbanized coastal plain of estuarine flats and the rich fertile Vale of Glamorgan, a plateau area varying in height from 60 to 120 m (200 to 400 ft). The principal rivers of South Glamorgan were the Ely, the Taff, and the Rhymney.

South Glamorgan was the most densely populated of the Welsh counties. Only about 6.5 per cent of the population spoke Welsh. The city and port of Cardiff was made the official capital of Wales in 1955. The only other sizeable urban areas were the seaside resorts of Barry (1991, 49,887) and Penarth (1991, 23,434). As well as South Glamorgan county council based in Cardiff, South Glamorgan had two district councils: Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.