Carmarthenshire (Welsh: Sir Gaerfyrddin) is a county in south-west Wales, on Carmarthen Bay. It covers 915 square miles (2,370 km2), had a population of 187,897 at the 2021 census, and is run from County Hall in Carmarthen.
It is the third largest Welsh county by area, after Powys and Gwynedd. Llanelli is the largest town, Carmarthen the county town, and 39.9% of residents can speak Welsh.
| Country | Wales, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Welsh name | Sir Gaerfyrddin ("Sir Gâr") |
| Area | 915 sq mi (2,370 km2) |
| Population (2021) | 187,897 |
| Density | 79 people per km2 (205 per sq mi) |
| Welsh speakers | 39.9% (2021 census) |
| Largest town | Llanelli |
| County town | Carmarthen (Caerfyrddin) |
| Highest point | Fan Foel, 781 m (2,562 ft) |
| Council | Carmarthenshire County Council |
Towns and Villages in Carmarthenshire
The county has 283 named towns, villages and hamlets, listed alphabetically from Aber-Giâr to Ystradowen. Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford are the three main towns; Llandeilo, Llandovery, Kidwelly, Whitland, St Clears, Burry Port, Newcastle Emlyn and Laugharne are the market and coastal towns, and everything else is a village or farming hamlet.
- Aber-Giâr
- Abergorlech
- Abergwili
- Abernant
- Allt
- Alltwalis
- Ammanford
- Ashfield
- Bancffosfelen
- Bancycapel
- Bancyfelin
- Bancyffordd
- Bethlehem
- Betws
- Blaen-y-coed
- Blaenau
- Blaenwaun
- Brechfa
- Broad Oak
- Broadway
- Brondini
- Bronwydd
- Bronwydd Arms
- Brook
- Bryn
- Bryn Iwan
- Brynhyfryd
- Burry Port
- Bwlchnewydd
- Bynea
- Cae’r-bryn
- Caio
- Capel Dewi
- Capel Gwyn
- Capel Hendre
- Capel Isaac
- Capel Iwan
- Capel-Gwynfe
- Carmarthen
- Carmel
- Carway
- Cefn-bryn-brain
- Cefn-y-pant
- Cefneithin
- Cilsan
- Cilycwm
- Coomb
- Court Henry
- Croesyceilog
- Cross Hands
- Cross Inn
- Crugybar
- Crunwear
- Crwbin
- Cwm-byr
- Cwm-pengraig
- Cwm-y-glo
- Cwmann
- Cwmbach
- Cwmcych
- Cwmdu
- Cwmduad
- Cwmdwr
- Cwmdwyfran
- Cwmfelin Boeth
- Cwmfelin Mynach
- Cwmffrwd
- Cwmgwili
- Cwmhiraeth
- Cwmifor
- Cwmisfael
- Cwmorgan
- Cyffic
- Cynghordy
- Cynheidre
- Cynwyl Elfed
- Danyrhelyg
- Derwydd
- Dinas
- Dolgran
- Dre-fach
- Drefach
- Drefelin
- Dryslwyn
- Efailwen
- Eglwys-Cymmyn
- Esgair
- Esgairdawe
- Felin-pandy
- Felindre
- Felinfoel
- Felingwmisaf
- Felingwmuchaf
- Ferryside
- Ffair-fâch
- Ffarmers
- Fforest
- Ffynnon-ddrain
- Five Roads
- Foelgastell
- Four Roads
- Garnant
- Gellywen
- Glanamman
- Glandwr
- Glandy Cross
- Glyn-teg
- Golden Grove
- Gors-goch
- Gorslas
- Greynor
- Gwernogle
- Gwyddgrug
- Halfpenny Furze
- Halfway
- Hebron
- Hendy
- Hendy-Gwyn
- Henllan
- Henllan Amgoed
- Heol-ddu
- Hermon
- Hiraeth
- Hoel-galed
- Idole
- Iet-y-bwlch
- Kidwelly
- Laugharne
- Llanarthne
- Llanboidy
- Llandawke
- Llanddarog
- Llanddeusant
- Llanddowror
- Llandefaelog
- Llandeilo
- Llandovery
- Llandybie
- Llandyry
- Llanedy
- Llanegwad
- Llanelli
- Llanfair-ar-y-bryn
- Llanfallteg
- Llanfallteg West
- Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
- Llanfihangel-Rhos-y-corn
- Llanfihangel-uwch-Gwili
- Llanfynydd
- Llangadog
- Llangain
- Llangathen
- Llangeler
- Llangendeirne
- Llangennech
- Llanglydwen
- Llangunnor
- Llangynin
- Llangynog
- Llanllawddog
- Llanllwch
- Llanllwni
- Llanmiloe
- Llannon
- Llanpumsaint
- Llansadurnen
- Llansadwrn
- Llansaint
- Llansawel
- Llansteffan
- Llanwinio
- Llanwrda
- Llanybri
- Llanybydder
- Llanycrwys
- Llidiad-Nenog
- Llwyn-y-brain
- Llygadywawr
- Login
- Machynys
- Maenllegwaun
- Maesybont
- Maesycrugiau
- Marros
- Meidrim
- Meinciau
- Merthyr
- Milo
- Morfa
- Morfa Bach
- Myddfai
- Mynydd Cerrig
- Mynyddygarreg
- Nant-y-Bai
- Nantgaredig
- Nantycaws
- New Inn
- Newchurch
- Pant yr Athro
- Pant-y-Caws
- Pant-y-llyn
- Parc-y-rhôs
- Pembrey
- Pen-y-banc
- Pen-y-bont
- Pen-y-garn
- Pen-y-groes
- Pen-y-mynydd
- Penboyr
- Pencader
- Pencarreg
- Pendine
- Peniel
- Penrherber
- Penrhiwgoch
- Pentre-cwrt
- Pentre-Gwenlais
- Pentre-Morgan
- Pentre-ty-gwyn
- Pentrebach
- Pentrecagal
- Penybanc
- Pibwrlwyd
- Plashett
- Pont Henri
- Pont-ar-gothi
- Pont-y-Fenni
- Pontantwn
- Pontarsais
- Pontyates
- Pontyberem
- Pontyblodau
- Porth-y-rhyd
- Porthyrhyd
- Pumpsaint
- Pwll
- Pwll-trap
- Ram
- Red Roses
- Rhandirmwyn
- Rhos
- Rhosaman
- Rhosmaen
- Rhyd-cymmerau
- Rhyd-y-saint
- Rhydargaeau
- Rhydowen
- Rhydywrach
- Saint Clears
- Saint Ishmael
- Salem
- Sardis
- Sarnau
- Saron
- Siloh
- Sylen
- Talley
- Talog
- Talyclun
- Tanglwst
- Temple Bar
- Trap
- Treherbert
- Trelech
- Trelech-a’r-Bettws
- Trevaughan
- Trimsaran
- Trostre
- Tumble
- Twyn Llanan
- Twynmynydd
- Ty-Mawr
- Tycroes
- Upper Tumble
- Velindre
- Waun Baglam
- Waun y Clyn
- Waunclunda
- Waungilwen
- West Marsh
- Whitland
- Ystrad-ffin
- Ystradowen
Geography
Three river valleys shape the county. The Tywi runs from the Cambrian Mountains through Llandovery, Llandeilo and Carmarthen to the sea; the Teifi forms much of the northern boundary with Ceredigion; the Loughor divides the south-east from Swansea.
The east rises into the Black Mountain, the western block of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, where Fan Foel reaches 781 metres. The coast runs from the Loughor estuary past Llanelli, Pembrey and Kidwelly to the sands at Pendine and the Taf estuary at Laugharne.
Pembrokeshire lies west, Powys east and Neath Port Talbot south-east.
Demographics
The 2021 census counted 187,897 residents, a small rise on 2011. Density is low at about 79 people per square kilometre, with roughly a third of the population living in the Llanelli area.
Welsh is spoken by 39.9% of residents aged three and over, the fourth highest share in Wales. That figure fell 4.1 percentage points between 2011 and 2021, the largest decline of any Welsh local authority, which has made language policy a live political issue in the county.
After Llanelli the largest towns are Carmarthen and Ammanford, then Burry Port, Kidwelly and Llandeilo. The Amman and Gwendraeth valleys, around Ammanford, Pontyberem and Tumble, hold the densest rural settlement.
Economy and Local Life
Dairy and beef farming underpin the rural economy, and Carmarthenshire produces a large share of Welsh milk. Carmarthen ham, cured on the Tywi, is one of the county’s oldest food products.
Llanelli grew on tinplate and was once known as Tinopolis; the Trostre works still rolls tinplate today. Carmarthen carries county administration, retail and the Glangwili hospital, and hosts one of the largest livestock markets in Wales at Nantyci.
Tourism runs along the coast and the Tywi valley. The National Botanic Garden of Wales at Llanarthne opened in 2000, Pembrey Country Park draws visitors to its beach and forest, and Dylan Thomas’s boathouse at Laugharne remains a fixed point for literary visitors. Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli is the home of the Scarlets rugby region.
History
Carmarthen claims to be the oldest town in Wales. The Roman fort and civilian settlement of Moridunum stood here, and its amphitheatre is still traceable on the town’s eastern edge.
The Normans built castles at Carmarthen, Kidwelly, Laugharne, Llansteffan and Dryslwyn to hold the river crossings. Dinefwr, above Llandeilo, was the seat of the princes of Deheubarth. The county was created by the Laws in Wales Acts of 1535 to 1542.
Anthracite mining in the Amman and Gwendraeth valleys and tinplate at Llanelli drove nineteenth-century growth. The Rebecca Riots of 1839 to 1843, in which farmers in women’s clothing destroyed turnpike tollgates, began in this county.
Getting There
The M4 ends at Pont Abraham, junction 49, on the county’s southern edge. From there the A48 continues to Carmarthen and the A40 runs on to Llandeilo, Llandovery and the English border. The A484 follows the coast to Llanelli and the A483 climbs to Ammanford.
The West Wales Line serves Llanelli, Carmarthen and Whitland with direct trains to Swansea, Cardiff and London Paddington, continuing to Pembrokeshire. The Heart of Wales Line branches at Llanelli and runs through Llandeilo and Llandovery to Shrewsbury. Cardiff Airport is about 60 miles east.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Carmarthenshire?
187,897 at the 2021 census, across 915 square miles.
What is the largest town in Carmarthenshire?
Llanelli. Carmarthen, the county town, and Ammanford are next.
How many villages are there in Carmarthenshire?
This directory lists 283 named towns, villages and hamlets.
How many people in Carmarthenshire speak Welsh?
39.9% of residents aged three and over at the 2021 census, down from 43.9% in 2011.
Where is Carmarthenshire?
In south-west Wales, on Carmarthen Bay, between Pembrokeshire to the west, Ceredigion to the north, Powys to the east and Swansea and Neath Port Talbot to the south-east.