Monmouthshire (historic)

Monmouthshire Sir Fynwy (Welsh)
Flag adopted in 2011
Show location in Wales Show location in England and Wales Show location in the United Kingdom
Area
• 1831	324,310 acres (1,312.4 km2)
• 1901	345,048 acres (1,396.36 km2)[1]
• 1961	339,088 acres (1,372.24 km2)[1]
Population
• 1831	98,130[2]
• 1901	230,806[1]
• 1961	444,679[1]
Density
• 1831	0.3/acre
• 1901	0.7/acre
• 1961	1.3/acre
History
• Origin	Laws in Wales Act 1535
• Created	1535
• Succeeded by	Gwent, Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan
Status	Historic county Ceremonial county (until 1974) Administrative county (1889–1974)
Chapman code	MON
Government	Monmouthshire County Council (1889–1974) Newport County Borough Council (1891–1974) Cardiff County Borough Council (part) (1938–1974)
• HQ	Monmouth and Newport
• Motto	Faithful to both (Utrique Fidelis)
Coat of arms of Monmouthshire County Council

Until 1974, Monmouthshire (/ˈmɒnməθʃər, -ʃɪər/), also formerly known as the County of Monmouth (/ˈmɒnməθ/; Welsh: Sir Fynwy), was an administrative county in the south-east of Wales, on the border with England, and later classed as one of the thirteen historic counties of Wales. Its area now corresponds approximately to the present principal areas of Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent, Newport and Torfaen, and those parts of Caerphilly and Cardiff east of the Rhymney River.

The eastern part of the county was mainly agricultural, while the western valleys had rich mineral resources. This led to the area becoming highly industrialised with coal mining and iron working being major employers from the 18th century to the late 20th century. Its five largest towns were Newport, Cwmbran, Pontypool, Ebbw Vale and Abergavenny.

Monmouthshire's Welsh status was ambiguous between the 16th and 20th centuries, with it considered by some to be part of England during this time; its legal inclusion in Wales was clarified by the Local Government Act 1972, the same act that changed the structure of local government within the county.