County Down is one of the six traditional counties of Northern Ireland, covering 961 square miles (2,489 km2) in the south-east corner of the island. The 2021 census counted 553,261 people within its boundaries, second only to County Antrim. Downpatrick is the county town; Bangor, on the shore of Belfast Lough, is the largest settlement wholly inside the county.
Down stopped being a unit of local government in 1973. It remains in use for addresses, sport, land registry and everyday reference, while services are run by five district councils created in 2015. The Mourne Mountains in the south hold Slieve Donard, at 850 m the highest point in Ulster.
| Country | Northern Ireland, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Province | Ulster |
| Status | Traditional county, not administrative |
| Area | 961 sq mi (2,489 km2) |
| Population (2021) | 553,261 |
| Density | 222 people per km2 (576 per sq mi) |
| County town | Downpatrick |
| Largest settlement | Bangor |
| Highest point | Slieve Donard, 850 m (2,790 ft) |
| Councils | Five district councils since 2015 |
Towns and Villages in County Down
About 135 named places are listed below, grouped by the district council that administers them. Councils were drawn on population lines, so three of the five also cover ground in Antrim or Armagh; the groupings below show only the County Down part of each.
Ards and North Down
- Ardkeen
- Ardmillan
- Balliggan
- Ballydrain
- Ballygowan
- Ballyhalbert
- Ballywalter
- Bangor
- Carrowdore
- Cloughey
- Comber
- Conlig
- Craigavad
- Crawfordsburn
- Cultra
- Donaghadee
- Glastry
- Greyabbey
- Groomsport
- Helen’s Bay
- Holywood
- Kearney
- Killinchy
- Kircubbin
- Kirkistown
- Millisle
- Newtownards
- Portaferry
- Portavogie
- Six Road Ends
Newry, Mourne and Down (County Down part)
- Annacloy
- Annadorn
- Annalong
- Annsborough
- Ardglass
- Attical
- Ballyculter
- Ballyhornan
- Ballykinler
- Ballymartin
- Ballynahinch
- Ballynoe
- Ballyward
- Bishops Court
- Brackenagh
- Bryansford
- Burren
- Castlewellan
- Chapeltown
- Clough
- Crossgar
- Derryboy
- Downpatrick
- Dromara
- Drumaness
- Drumaroad
- Dundrum
- Finnis
- Glasdrumman
- Greencastle
- Hilltown
- Kilclief
- Kilcoo
- Kilkeel
- Killough
- Killowen
- Killyleagh
- Kilmore
- Lisnacree
- Listooder
- Loughinisland
- Maghera
- Mayobridge
- Minerstown
- Newcastle
- Newry (east bank)
- Raffrey
- Raholp
- Rossglass
- Rostrevor
- Saintfield
- Saul
- Seaforde
- Strangford
- Struell
- Tullymurry
- Tyrella
- Warrenpoint
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (County Down part)
- Annaclone
- Ballynaskeagh
- Ballyroney
- Banbridge
- Corbet
- Dollingstown
- Donaghcloney
- Dromore
- Gilford
- Katesbridge
- Lawrencetown
- Listullycurran
- Loughbrickland
- Magheralin
- Rathfriland
- Scarva
- Seapatrick
- Waringsford
- Waringstown
Lisburn and Castlereagh (County Down part)
- Annahilt
- Ballylesson
- Boardmills
- Carr
- Carryduff
- Crossnacreevy
- Culcavy
- Drumbeg
- Drumbo
- Dundonald
- Hillsborough
- Killaney
- Moira
- Moneyreagh
- Purdysburn
- Ravernet
- Sprucefield
Belfast (south and east of the Lagan)
- Ballyhackamore
- Ballymacarrett
- Ballynafeigh
- Castlereagh
- Gilnahirk
- Knock
- Newtownbreda
- Rosetta
- Stormont
- Sydenham
Geography
Down is almost surrounded by water. Belfast Lough lies to the north, the Irish Sea to the east, Carlingford Lough to the south, and the River Bann and Newry River to the west. County Antrim lies across the Lagan, County Armagh to the west, and County Louth across Carlingford Lough.
Most of the county is drumlin country: low egg-shaped hills left by the ice, best seen in the small islands at the north end of Strangford Lough. The Ards Peninsula shelters that lough from the sea, and the narrows at Portaferry carry one of the strongest tidal races in Europe. In the south the granite Mourne Mountains rise sharply from the coast at Newcastle, with Slieve Donard, Slieve Commedagh and Slieve Binnian above 700 m.
The Mourne Wall, built between 1904 and 1922, runs 22 miles over fifteen summits to enclose the reservoir catchment that still supplies Belfast with water.
Demographics
The 2021 census counted 553,261 residents, about 222 people per square kilometre. Population is concentrated in the north: the Belfast commuter belt from Holywood and Dundonald through Bangor, Newtownards and Comber holds well over half the county’s people.
Bangor, with about 61,000 residents, is the largest town; Newtownards has about 29,000, Newry about 28,000 across the two counties, and Holywood, Downpatrick, Warrenpoint and Kilkeel follow. South Down around Newry, Kilkeel and Downpatrick is predominantly Catholic; the Ards Peninsula, north Down and the Banbridge area are predominantly Protestant.
Economy and Local Life
North Down is largely residential, with Bangor and Holywood serving Belfast. Newtownards and Comber carry light manufacturing and retail. Kilkeel is the largest fishing port in Northern Ireland, working with Ardglass and Portavogie for prawns, herring and scallops.
The Mourne granite quarries once paved streets in Belfast and Liverpool and still supply kerbstones. Farming is mixed: dairy and beef on the drumlins, potatoes and vegetables on the Ards coastal strip, sheep on the Mournes. Tourism runs on the Mournes, the Strangford Lough shore, the golf links at Royal County Down in Newcastle, and the Saint Patrick sites around Downpatrick and Saul.
History
The county is named after Downpatrick, in Irish Dún Pádraig, “Patrick’s fort”. Saint Patrick is said to have landed at the Slaney near Saul in 432 and to be buried on the hill at Downpatrick, where a granite slab marks the traditional grave beside the cathedral.
The Anglo-Norman John de Courcy took eastern Down in 1177 and built the mottes and abbeys at Downpatrick, Greyabbey and Inch. Scottish and English settlement under Hamilton and Montgomery from 1606 reshaped north Down and the Ards, five years before the official Plantation of Ulster. The 1798 rising saw the Battle of Ballynahinch fought in the county. Down County Council ran from 1899 until its abolition in 1973.
Getting There
The A1 and M1 link Belfast to Banbridge, Newry and the Dublin road. The A2 runs the coast from Belfast through Holywood and Bangor, and again from Newcastle around the Mournes to Warrenpoint. The A20, A21 and A22 connect Newtownards, Comber and the Strangford Lough shore.
George Best Belfast City Airport sits at Sydenham, on the Down side of Belfast Harbour. Rail lines serve Bangor and Holywood from Belfast, and Lisburn, Banbridge’s nearest station at Portadown, and Newry on the Belfast–Dublin line. The Strangford to Portaferry ferry crosses the lough narrows every half hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of County Down?
553,261 at the 2021 census, the second largest of the six counties of Northern Ireland.
Which councils cover County Down?
Five: Ards and North Down; Newry, Mourne and Down; Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon; Lisburn and Castlereagh; and Belfast. The county itself has had no council since 1973.
What is the largest town in County Down?
Bangor, with about 61,000 residents. Newtownards is next at about 29,000. Parts of Belfast and Newry also lie in the county.
How many towns and villages are in County Down?
About 135 named towns, villages and hamlets, listed above by council district.
What postcodes does County Down use?
BT18 to BT24 for the north and the Ards, BT25 to BT27 around Dromore and Lisburn, BT30 to BT35 for Downpatrick, Newcastle, Kilkeel and Newry, and BT32 for Banbridge.
Where are the Mourne Mountains?
In the south of County Down, between Newcastle, Hilltown and Kilkeel. Slieve Donard, above Newcastle, is the highest at 850 m.