Glamorgan
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{{infobox historic subdivision|
|Name= Glamorgan
|HQ= [[Cardiff]]
|Government= Glamorgan County Council (1889-1974)
|Origin=
|Status=
|Start=
|End=
|Code= GLA
|CodeName= [[Chapman code]]
|Replace= [[West Glamorgan]]<br>[[Mid Glamorgan]]<br>[[South Glamorgan]]
|Motto=
|Divisions=
|DivisionsNames=
|DivisionsMap=
|Image=
|Map= [[Image:WalesGlamorganTrad.png|Glamorganshire]]<br>''Ancient extent of Glamorgan''
|Arms=
|Civic=
|PopulationFirst= 126,612<ref name=census_1831>Vision of Britain - [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/census/table_page.jsp?tab_id=GB1831ABS_M%5B1%5D&u_id=10001043&show=DB&min_c=11&max_c=15 1831 Census]</ref>
|PopulationFirstYear= 1831
|AreaFirst= {{convert|547494|acre|km2}}{{Fact|date=March 2008}}
|AreaFirstYear= 1831
|DensityFirst= 0.2/[[acre]]{{Fact|date=March 2008}}
|DensityFirstYear= 1831
|PopulationSecond= 1,120,910<ref name=vision_pop>Vision of Britain - [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10073893&c_id=10001043&add=N Glamorgan population] ([http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_AREA_A&u_id=10073893&c_id=10001043&add=Y area])</ref>
|PopulationSecondYear= 1911
|AreaSecond= {{convert|518865|acre|km2}}<ref name=vision_pop/>
|AreaSecondYear= 1911
|DensitySecond= 2.2/[[acre]]
|DensitySecondYear= 1911
|PopulationLast= 1,229,728<ref name=vision_pop/>
|PopulationLastYear= 1961
|AreaLast= {{convert|523253|acre|km2}}<ref name=vision_pop/>
|AreaLastYear= 1961
|DensityLast= 2.4/[[acre]]
|DensityLastYear= 1961
|PopulationLast= >2,129,728?
|PopulationLastYear= 2007
|AreaLast= >523,253 acres?
|AreaLastYear= 2007
|DensityLast= >2.4/[[acre]]?
|DensityLastYear= 2008
}}
'''Glamorgan''' or '''Glamorganshire''' ({{lang-cy|Morgannwg}}) is one of the thirteen [[Historic counties of Wales|historic counties]] and a former [[Administrative divisions of Wales|administrative county]] of [[Wales]]. It was originally an early medieval [[monarchy|kingdom]] of varying names and boundaries until taken over by the [[Anglo-Norman|Normans]] as a lordship.<ref name="BBC">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/sites/history/pages/counties_glamorgan.shtml BBC Wales: South East: Glamorgan]</ref> Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three [[preserved counties of Wales|preserved counties]] of [[West Glamorgan]], [[Mid Glamorgan]] and [[South Glamorgan]]. The name also survives in that of the [[county borough]] of the [[Vale of Glamorgan]].
==Geography==
The county of Glamorgan falls into several distinct regions: the industrial valleys, the agricultural [[Vale of Glamorgan]], and the scenic [[Gower peninsula]].
The county is bounded to the north by [[Brecknockshire]], east by [[Monmouthshire]], south by the [[Bristol Channel]], and west by [[Carmarthenshire]] and [[Carmarthen Bay]]. Its total area is 2,100 km²,<ref>[http://www.999glamorgan.com/ 999 Glamorgan: About Glamorgan]</ref> and the total [[population]] of the three preserved counties of Glamorgan in 1991 was 1,288,309.<ref>[http://www.statistics.gov.uk Office of National Statistics: 1991 Census County Monitor (Wales)]</ref> In 2001 it was around 1.4 million and in 2007 it is about 1.6-1.7 million{{Fact|date=February 2008}}. Glamorgan is one of the fastest growing areas in the UK in population{{Fact|date=December 2007}}. Its highest point is at [[Craig y Llyn]] (600 m).
Glamorgan is the most populous<ref name="BBC" /> and industrialised county{{Fact|date=March 2008}} in Wales. The northern part of the county is a [[mountain]]ous area, dissected by deep narrow [[valley]]s, with urbanisation typified by [[ribbon development]]. At one time the coal industry was dominant, but now there are only two deep mines remaining, [[Tower Colliery]] at Hirwaun and the much smaller [[Aberpergwm Colliery]] at Glynneath. A third pit, [[Unity Mine]], formerly Pentreclwydau Colliery, is currently being reopened.
The [[Vale of Glamorgan]], a [[lowland]] area mainly comprising farmland and small villages stretches across most of the south of the county from Porthcawl to Cardiff. Further west, beyond Swansea, lies the [[Gower peninsula]], an [[Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]].<ref>[http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=11012 City and County of Swansea: Gower - Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]</ref>
The major rivers of Glamorgan include the [[River Taff]], the [[River Ely|Ely]], the [[River Ogmore|Ogmore]], the [[River Neath|Neath]], [[River Dulais|Dulais]], the [[River Tawe|Tawe]], the [[River Rhymney|Rhymney]] (which forms the border with Monmouthshire), and the [[River Loughor|Loughor]] (which forms the border with Carmarthenshire). The main towns include [[Aberdare]], [[Barry, Vale of Glamorgan|Barry]], [[Bridgend]], [[Cardiff]], [[Caerphilly]], [[Cowbridge]], [[Maesteg]], [[Merthyr Tydfil]], [[Mountain Ash, Wales|Mountain Ash]], [[Neath]], [[Penarth]], [[Pontypridd]], [[Porthcawl]], [[Port Talbot]], and [[Swansea]].
Despite the decline in the coal industry, the area remains heavily populated with, particularly around Cardiff, a wide and diverse economic base including public [[administration (government)|administration]], [[agriculture]], light industry, [[manufacturing]], service sector, and [[tourism]].<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9053735/Glamorgan Encyclopaedia Britannica Online: Glamorgan]</ref>.
==Places of interest==
Places of special interest include:
*[[Aberdulais Falls]]
*[[Barry Island (Vale of Glamorgan)|Barry Island]] pleasure beach
*[[Caerphilly Castle]]
*[[Cardiff Castle]]
*[[Castell Coch]], Tongwynlais
*[[Dare Valley Country Park]],
*Dunraven Park, [[Southerndown]]
*[[Ewenny Priory]]
*[[Gower peninsula]]
*[[Llandaff Cathedral]]
*[[Llantwit Major]]
*[[Museum of Welsh Life]], St. Fagans
*[[National Museum of Wales]], Cardiff
*[[National Waterfront Museum]], Swansea
*[[Neath Abbey]]
*[[Old Beaupre Castle]]
*[[Ogmore Castle]]
*[[Oxwich Castle]]
*[[Margam Country Park]],
*[[Penscynor Wildlife Park]], Cilfrew
*[[Tinkinswood]] burial chamber
*[[Vale of Glamorgan Railway]]
*[[Weobley Castle]], [[Gower peninsula]]
*Windmill Farm, [[Llansannor]]
==History==
{{Expand|date=March 2008}}
Initially it was founded as an independent petty kingdom named ''[[Glywysing]]''. In the 10th century, it became known as ''[[Kingdom of Morgannwg|Morgannwg]]'' after its greatest monarch, [[Morgan Hen]]. It was at times united with the neighbouring kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Gwent|Gwent]] and [[Ergyng]].<ref>[[Wendy Davies]]. (1982). ''Wales in the Early Middle Ages''. London: Leicester University Press</ref> By virtue of its location and geography, Morgannwg was the second part of Wales, after Gwent, to be overrun by the [[Anglo-Norman|Normans]] and was frequently the scene of fighting between the [[Marcher Lords]] and Welsh princes.<ref name="Rees">William Rees. (1951). ''An Historical Atlas of Wales''. Cardiff: University College</ref>
==Administration==
After the fall of the Welsh Kingdom of Morgannwg to [[Robert FitzHamon]] in 1091, the region became the [[England|English]] '''Lordship of Glamorgan''', sometimes called the '''Lordship of Glamorgan and Morgan''' because it was divided into the Norman settled '''Plain''' or '''Vale of Glamorgan''' and the Welsh upland area called '''Morgannwg''', anglicized to '''Morgan'''. Both areas were under the control of the Norman Lords of Glamorgan (often the [[Earl of Gloucester|Earls of Gloucester]]).<ref name="Rees" />
In 1535, the first [[Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542|Act of Union]] attached the [[Gower (Lordship)|Lordship of Gower and Kilvey]] to Glamorgan and created the [[Historic counties of Wales|historic county]] of Glamorgan.<ref>[http://owain.vaughan.com/1535c26/ Laws in Wales Act 1535]</ref>. An administrative county of Glamorgan was created under the [[Local Government Act 1888]], excluding Swansea and Cardiff, which were independent [[county borough]]s. They were soon joined by [[Merthyr Tydfil]].<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10243646&c_id=10001043 A Vision of Britain through Time: Relationships/Unit History of Merthyr Tudful]</ref> The county's coat of arms, granted in 1950, is 'Or, three chevronels gules between three Tudor roses gules and argent', and is adapted from those of the [[De Clare]] [[Marcher Lords]]. The county motto is: A Ddioddefws A Orfu (He who suffered has conquered).<ref>[http://www.ngw.nl/int/gbr/g/glamorga.htm International Civic Heraldry: Glamorgan]</ref>
Under the [[Local Government Act 1972#Wales|Local Government Act 1972]], the county and administrative county of Glamorgan was abolished on [[April 1]], [[1974]], with three new counties being established, each containing a former county borough - [[West Glamorgan]], [[Mid Glamorgan]], [[South Glamorgan]]. It has now been further subdivided into several [[unitary authority|unitary authorities]]. The [[South Wales Police]] force covers an area that is similar to Glamorgan.<ref>[http://www.south-wales.police.uk/publications/2007-2008/Annual_Plan_07-08_final.pdf Your Police: Our Plan 2007-2008]</ref>
==See also==
*[[Glamorgan County Cricket Club]]
*[[Glamorgan County Cricket Club in 2005]]
*[[University of Glamorgan]]
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.glamro.gov.uk/ Glamorgan Record Office]
*[http://www.glamfhs.org/ Glamorgan Family History Society]
{{Wales subdivisions}}
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[[Category:Historic counties of Wales]]
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[[uk:Ґламорґан]]