West Glamorgan

West Glamorgan
Welsh: Gorllewin Morgannwg

West Glamorgan shown within Wales as a preserved county
Area
  2003820 km2
  2022819 km2 (6th)
Population
  2022383,440 (6th)
History
  Created1974
  Abolished1996
  Succeeded bySwansea
Neath Port Talbot
Preserved county of West Glamorgan
Status
  • Non-metropolitan county (1974–1996)
  • Preserved county (since 1996)
GovernmentWest Glamorgan County Council (abolished 1996)
  HQCounty Hall, Swansea

Coat of arms of West Glamorgan County Council
Subdivisions
  TypeNon-metropolitan districts
  Units

West Glamorgan (Welsh: Gorllewin Morgannwg) is a former administrative county in South Wales. It is now a preserved county.

West Glamorgan was one of the divisions of the ancient county of Glamorgan. It was created on 1 April 1974, by the Local Government Act 1972 from the county borough of Swansea, the municipal boroughs of Neath and Port Talbot, the urban districts of Glyncorrwg and Llwchwr, Gower Rural District, Pontardawe Rural District, and all of Neath Rural District except the parish of Rhigos. From 1982, the main offices of West Glamorgan County Council were located in County Hall, Swansea.

West Glamorgan had four districts, as follows:

Following the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, West Glamorgan and its component districts were abolished on 1 April 1996, the area being divided into the two unitary authorities of Swansea and Neath and Port Talbot (later changed to "Neath Port Talbot"). Lliw Valley was partitioned between the two authorities. A West Glamorgan preserved county was created for the limited functions of Lieutenancy and High Shrievalty.