Ceredigion is a county on the west coast of Wales, facing Cardigan Bay. It covers 688 square miles (1,780 km2), had a population of 71,500 at the 2021 census, and is run from council offices in Aberaeron and Aberystwyth.
The county was called Cardiganshire until 1996. Aberystwyth is its largest town, and 45.3% of residents can speak Welsh — the third highest share of any Welsh county.
| Country | Wales, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Former name | Cardiganshire (to 1996) |
| Area | 688 sq mi (1,780 km2) |
| Population (2021) | 71,500 |
| Density | 40 people per km2 (100 per sq mi) |
| Welsh speakers | 45.3% (2021 census) |
| Largest town | Aberystwyth (15,935) |
| Administrative centres | Aberaeron and Aberystwyth |
| Council | Ceredigion County Council |
Towns and Villages in Ceredigion
Ceredigion has 230 named towns, villages and hamlets. The list below runs alphabetically, from Aber-banc to Ystumtuen.
- Aber-banc
- Aberaeron
- Aberarth
- Aberffrwd
- Aberlerry
- Abermagwr
- Aberporth
- Aberteifi (Cardigan)
- Aberystwyth
- Aeron
- Afon Dulas
- Afon Grannell
- Afon Mydyr
- Alltyblaca
- Banc-y-Darren
- Bangor Teifi
- Bethania
- Betws Bledrws
- Betws Ifan
- Beulah
- Blaen-pant
- Blaen-waun
- Blaenannerch
- Blaenbedw Fawr
- Blaencelyn
- Blaenpennal
- Blaenplwyf
- Blaenporth
- Bont-goch (Elerch)
- Borth
- Bow Street
- Bridgend
- Brithdir
- Brongest
- Brongwyn
- Bronnant
- Bronwydd
- Brynafan
- Bryngwyn
- Brynhoffnant
- Bwlch-Llan
- Caemorgan
- Caerwedros
- Capel Bangor
- Capel Betws Lleucu
- Capel Dewi
- Capel Seion
- Capel Tygwydd
- Cardigan (Aberteifi)
- Cardigan Island
- Cefn Llwyd
- Ceinewydd (New Quay)
- Cellan
- Chancery
- Cilcennin
- Cilgwyn
- Ciliau Aeron
- Clarach
- Cnwch Coch
- Cockshead
- Coed y Garth
- Coed-y-bryn
- Comins Coch
- Craig-y-penrhyn
- Cribyn
- Croes-lan
- Cross Inn
- Crosswood
- Cwmbrwyno
- Cwmcoednerth
- Cwmerfyn
- Cwmsymlog
- Cwmystwyth
- Cwrtnewydd
- Dihewyd
- Dol-y-Bont
- Dole
- Dolgerdd
- Dollwen
- Dre-fach
- Dyffryn
- Dyffryn-bern
- Eglwys Fach
- Elerch (Bont-goch)
- Felin-Wnda
- Felinfach
- Ffair-Rhos
- Ffos-y-ffin
- Ffostrasol
- Furnace
- Garth
- Gilfachreda
- Glandyfi
- Glanrafon
- Glanwern
- Glasgoed
- Glaspwll
- Glynarthen
- Goginan
- Gorrig
- Gors
- Gorsgoch
- Gwbert
- Hafodiwan
- Hawen
- Horeb
- Lampeter
- Llan-non
- Llanafan
- Llanarth
- Llanbadarn Fawr
- Llancyfelyn
- Llanddeiniol
- Llanddewi-Brefi
- Llandre
- Llanfair Clydogau
- Llanfarian
- Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn
- Llangeitho
- Llangoedmor
- Llangorwen
- Llangranog
- Llangwyryfon
- Llangybi
- Llanilar
- Llanrhystud
- Llansantffraed
- Llanwenog
- Llanwnnen
- Lledrod
- Llundain-fach
- Llwyn-y-groes
- Llwyncelyn
- Llwyndafydd
- Llywernog
- Maen-y-groes
- Maes llyn
- Maes-bangor
- Manian-fawr
- Morfa
- Moriah
- Mydroilyn
- Mynydd Bach
- Nant Bargod
- Nanternis
- Nantyronen Station
- Nebo
- New Quay (Ceinewydd)
- New Row
- Noyadd Trefawr
- Noyadd Wilym
- Oakford
- Old Goginan
- Pant-y-crug
- Panteg
- Parcllyn
- Pen-bont Rhydybeddau
- Pen-y-garn
- Penbryn
- Penmorfa
- Pennant
- Penparc
- Penparcau
- Penrhiw-llan
- Penrhiw-pal
- Penrhyn-coch
- Pentrefelin
- Pentrellwyn
- Penybont
- Pisgah
- Plas Gogerddan
- Plwmp
- Pont-rhyd-y-groes
- Pont-sian
- Ponterwyd
- Pontgarreg
- Ponthirwaun
- Pontrhydfendigaid
- Pren-gwyn
- Rhippinllwyd
- Rhos Haminiog
- Rhos-y-garth
- Rhosygadair Newydd
- Rhyd
- Rhyd-Rosser
- Rhydlewis
- Rhydowen
- Rhydyfelin
- Salem
- Sarnau
- Silian
- Southgate
- St Dogmaels
- Staylittle
- Strata Florida
- Swyddffynnon
- Synod Inn
- Tal-sarn
- Tal-y-bont
- Talgarreg
- Tan-y-groes
- Temple Bar
- Trawsnant
- Tre Taliesin
- Trefechan
- Trefenter
- Trefilan
- Treforgan
- Tregaron
- Tregroes
- Tremain
- Tresaith
- Trisant
- Troedrhiwffenyd
- Troedyraur
- Ty-Newydd
- Tynewydd
- Tynygraig
- Upper Borth
- Waun Fawr
- Wenallt
- Y Ferwig
- Ynys Tachwedd
- Ynys-Lochtyn
- Ynyslas
- Ysbyty Cynfyn
- Ysbyty Ystwyth
- Ystrad Aeron
- Ystradmeurig
- Ystumtuen
Geography
Ceredigion sits between the Irish Sea and the Cambrian Mountains. Powys lies to the east, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire to the south, and Gwynedd to the north across the Dyfi estuary.
The coast runs roughly 50 miles along Cardigan Bay, from the Dyfi in the north to the Teifi in the south. Inland the land rises quickly into upland sheep country and forestry, cut by the Rheidol, Ystwyth, Aeron and Teifi valleys.
Demographics
The 2021 census counted 71,500 residents, down 4,492 on 2011. That makes Ceredigion the second most sparsely populated county in Wales, at about 40 people per square kilometre.
Welsh is widely spoken: 45.3% of residents aged three and over reported speaking it in 2021, behind only Gwynedd and Anglesey. The number of Welsh speakers fell by roughly 3,300 over the decade, which is why the language is a live political issue locally.
After Aberystwyth (15,935), the largest towns are Cardigan (4,184) and Lampeter (2,970). Most other settlements are villages of a few hundred people.
Economy and Local Life
Farming, tourism and education carry the county. Dairy and sheep farms dominate the inland valleys, while the coast lives on summer visitors to Aberystwyth, New Quay, Aberporth and Llangrannog.
Aberystwyth University and the National Library of Wales make Aberystwyth the biggest single employer base. Lampeter hosts a university campus of its own, and Cardigan serves the Teifi valley as its market town.
History
The county takes its name from Ceredig, a fifth-century ruler whose kingdom of Ceredigion covered much the same ground. It became the shire of Cardiganshire under English administration and kept that name for centuries.
Local government reorganisation created the modern authority in 1996, which took back the Welsh name Ceredigion. Lead and silver mining shaped the uplands in the 1800s; the mines are gone, but their spoil tips and engine houses remain around Ystumtuen and Cwmystwyth.
Getting There
The A487 runs the length of the coast through Aberystwyth, Aberaeron and Cardigan. The A44 crosses from the English Midlands via Llangurig, and the A485 links Lampeter to Carmarthen. There is no motorway in the county.
Aberystwyth station is the western end of the Cambrian Line, with direct trains to Shrewsbury and Birmingham. Borth is the only other mainline stop. The narrow-gauge Vale of Rheidol Railway runs inland to Devil’s Bridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Ceredigion?
71,500 at the 2021 census, a fall of 4,492 since 2011.
What is the largest town in Ceredigion?
Aberystwyth, with 15,935 people. Cardigan (4,184) and Lampeter (2,970) come next.
Is Ceredigion the same as Cardiganshire?
Yes. The county was known as Cardiganshire until 1996, when the current authority took the Welsh name Ceredigion.
How many people speak Welsh in Ceredigion?
45.3% of residents aged three and over, according to the 2021 census.
Where is Ceredigion?
On the west coast of Wales, on Cardigan Bay, between Gwynedd to the north, Powys to the east, and Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire to the south.