Powys is a county in mid Wales and the largest local authority in the country by area. It covers 2,000 square miles (5,181 km2), a quarter of Wales, but had only 133,169 residents at the 2021 census. The council is based at County Hall in Llandrindod Wells.
Newtown is the largest town, followed by Brecon, Ystradgynlais and Welshpool. At 26 people per square kilometre, Powys is the most thinly populated county in Wales and one of the most thinly populated in Britain.
| Country | Wales, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1974, from Brecknockshire, Radnorshire and Montgomeryshire |
| Area | 2,000 sq mi (5,181 km2) |
| Population (2021) | 133,169 |
| Density | 26 people per km2 |
| Welsh speakers | 16.4% (2021 census) |
| Largest town | Newtown (Y Drenewydd) |
| Administrative centre | Llandrindod Wells |
| Council | Powys County Council |
| Postcodes | LD1 to LD8, SY5 to SY22, NP8, SA9 |
Towns and Villages in Powys
Powys has 467 named towns, villages and hamlets, more than any other Welsh county. The market towns are Newtown, Welshpool, Machynlleth, Llanidloes, Llanfyllin and Montgomery in the north; Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells, Rhayader, Knighton and Presteigne in the middle; Brecon, Hay-on-Wye, Talgarth, Crickhowell, Sennybridge and Ystradgynlais in the south. Llanwrtyd Wells, with about 850 people, calls itself the smallest town in Britain.
- Abbey-Cwmhir
- Aber
- Aber-Brân
- Aberangell
- Aberbechan
- Abercegir
- Abercraf
- Aberedw
- Abergwesyn
- Aberhafesp
- Aberhosan
- Aberllefenni
- Abermule
- Abertridwr
- Aberyscir
- Adfa
- Alltmawr
- Alport
- Appletree
- Arddleen
- Barland
- Battle
- Beguildy
- Belan
- Berriew
- Bettws Cedewain
- Bettws Disserth
- Beulah
- Bishop’s Moat
- Bleddfa
- Bont Dolgadfan
- Boughrood
- Brecon
- Broad Heath
- Bronllys
- Bronydd
- Brooks
- Bryngwyn
- Builth Road
- Builth Wells
- Burgedin
- Burlingjobb
- Buttington
- Bwlch
- Bwlch y Garreg
- Bwlch-y-cibau
- Bwlch-y-ffridd
- Bwlch-y-sarnau
- Bwlchyddar
- Caehopkin
- Caeralem
- Caerhowel
- Caersws
- Cantref
- Capel-y-ffin
- Carno
- Cascob
- Castle Caereinion
- Cathedine
- Cefn
- Cefn Canol
- Cefn Coch
- Cefn Côch
- Cefn Mawr
- Cefn-gorwydd
- Ceinws
- Cemmaes
- Cemmaes Road
- Church Stoke
- Cil
- Cilcewydd
- Cilmery
- Ciltwrch
- Clatter
- Cloddiau
- Clyro
- Coedway
- Coelbren
- Coldbrook
- Colva
- Commins
- Commins Coch
- Cradoc
- Craig-y-nos
- Cray
- Cregrina
- Crewgreen
- Crickadarn
- Crickhowell
- Criggion
- Cross Oak
- Crossgates
- Crossway
- Crossways
- Crowther’s Pool
- Crug-y-byddar
- Cwm
- Cwm-bach
- Cwm-du
- Cwm-Llinau
- Cwm-twrch Isaf
- Cwm-twrch Uchaf
- Cwm-y-gaist
- Cwmbach
- Cwmbach Llechrhyd
- Cwmbelan
- Cwmrhos
- Cwmwysg
- Cyffredyn
- Dardy
- Darowen
- Ddôl Cownwy
- Defynnog
- Derwenlas
- Deuddwr
- Devynock
- Discoed
- Disserth
- Dol-y-cannau
- Dolanog
- Dolau
- Dolcorsllwyn
- Doldowlod
- Dolfach
- Dolfor
- Dolley Green
- Dolyhir
- Dolyronnen
- Domgay
- Downton
- Dutlas
- Dylife
- Dôl-forwyn
- Efail-rhyd
- Erwood
- Esgair-geiliog
- Evenjobb
- Felin Fach
- Felin-Crai
- Felindre
- Fenni-fach
- Ferley
- Ffordd-las
- Ffynnon Gynydd
- Fishpool
- Foel
- Forden
- Forge
- Four Crosses
- Frank’s Bridge
- Frochas
- Fron
- Gaer
- Garth
- Garthbeibio
- Garthbrengy
- Garthmyl
- Gaufron
- Geuffordd
- Gilwern
- Gladestry
- Glan-rhyd
- Glan-y-nant
- Glangrwyney
- Glanhanog
- Glanrhyd
- Glasbury
- Glascoed
- Glascwm
- Glaspwll
- Glyntawe
- Gore
- Gorof
- Gravel
- Green Lane
- Groesffordd
- Groespluan
- Guilsfield
- Gungrog
- Gurnos
- Gwenddwr
- Gwystre
- Halfway
- Harpton
- Haughton
- Hay
- Hay-on-Wye
- Heartsease
- Hendomen
- Hengoed
- Henllan
- Heol Senni
- Heyope
- Highgate
- Hirnant
- Hodley
- Hope
- Hopton Isaf
- Hopton Uchaf
- Howey
- Hundred House
- Huntington
- Hurdley
- Hyssington
- Kerry
- Kinnerton
- Knighton
- Knucklas
- Legar
- Leighton
- Libanus
- Little London
- Llaethdy
- Llan
- Llanafan-fawr
- Llananno
- Llanarmon-Mynydd-mawr
- Llanbadarn-fawr
- Llanbadarn-fynydd
- Llanbadarn-y-garreg
- Llanbedr
- Llanbister
- Llanbister Road
- Llanbrynmair
- Llanddew
- Llanddewi Ystradenny
- Llanddewi’r Cwm
- Llandefaelogfâch
- Llandefalle
- Llandegley
- Llandeilo Graban
- Llandeilor-Fan
- Llandinam
- Llandrindod Wells
- Llandrinio
- Llandysilio
- Llandyssil
- Llaneglwys
- Llanelieu
- Llanerchydol
- Llanerfyl
- Llanfair Caereinion
- Llanfaredd
- Llanfechain
- Llanfechan
- Llanfihangel Rhydithon
- Llanfihangel Tal-y-llyn
- Llanfihangel-Bryn-Pabuan
- Llanfihangel-Nant-Brân
- Llanfihangel-nant-Melan
- Llanfihangel-yng-Ngwynfa
- Llanfilo
- Llanfrynach
- Llanfyllin
- Llangadfan
- Llangadwaladr
- Llangammarch Wells
- Llangasty-talyllyn
- Llangattock
- Llangedwyn
- Llangenny
- Llangorse
- Llangunllo
- Llangurig
- Llangynidr
- Llangyniew
- Llangynog
- Llanhamlach
- Llanidloes
- Llanifyny
- Llanigon
- Llanllugan
- Llanmerewig
- Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant
- Llansaintfraed in Elvel
- Llansantffraed-Cwmdeuddwr
- Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain
- Llansantffread
- Llansilin
- Llanspyddid
- Llanstephan
- Llanwddyn
- Llanwnog
- Llanwrin
- Llanwrthwl
- Llanwrtyd
- Llanwrtyd Wells
- Llanwyddelan
- Llanymynech
- Llanyre
- Llanywern
- Llawr-y-glyn
- Llechfaen
- Llowes
- Lloyney
- Llwynderw
- Llyswen
- Llywel
- Lower Chapel
- Machynlleth
- Maesmynis
- Main
- Manafon
- Meifod
- Melin-y-ddôl
- Melinbyrhedyn
- Merthyr Cynog
- Michaelchurch-on-Arrow
- Middletown
- Milebrook
- Milton
- Mochdre
- Moelfre
- Moelfre City
- Moity
- Montgomery
- Nant-ddu
- Nant-glas
- Nantgwyn
- Nantmel
- New Bridge
- New Mills
- New Radnor
- Newbridge on Wye
- Newchurch
- Newtown
- Norton
- Old Church Stoke
- Old Radnor
- Painscastle
- Pandy-rhiw-Saeson
- Pant
- Pant Mawr
- Pant-glas
- Pant-y-dwr
- Pant-y-ffridd
- Pant-y-rhiw
- Partrishow
- Pen-isa’r-waen
- Pen-rhôs
- Pen-y-bont Llanerch Emrys
- Pen-y-bont-fawr
- Pen-y-cae
- Penarron
- Pencelli
- Pencraig
- Penegoes
- Pengenffordd
- Penisha Rhos
- Pennant
- Pennant Melangell
- Pennant-Melangell
- Pennorth
- Penrhos
- Penstrowed
- Penthryn
- Pentre
- Pentre Cilcwm
- Pentre Llifior
- Pentre’r beirdd
- Pentre’r-felin
- Pentre-bâch
- Pentre-llymry
- Pentrefelin
- Pentyrch
- Penwyllt
- Penybont
- Penygarnedd
- Penygelli
- Pilleth
- Plas-rhiw-Saeson
- Plâs Llwyngwern
- Ponde
- Pont Felin-y-ffrîdd
- Pont-faen
- Pont-Robert
- Pont-y-bryn-hurt
- Pontdolgoch
- Pontithel
- Pontneddfechan
- Pool Quay
- Presteigne
- Priddbwll
- Pwllgloyw
- Rhayader
- Rhiwlas
- Rhos
- Rhos Common
- Rhos-gôch
- Rhos-y-brithdir
- Rhos-y-meirch
- Rhulen
- Rhyd
- Sarn
- Sarn-y-bryn-caled
- Sarnau
- Scethrog
- Scrwgan
- Sennybridge
- Slough
- Snead
- Soar
- St Harmon
- Stanner
- Staylittle
- Stepaside
- Tafolwern
- Tai’r Bull
- Tal-y-Wern
- Talachddu
- Talerddig
- Talgarth
- Talybont
- Tan Hinon
- The Colony
- The Green
- The Marsh
- The Stubb
- Thorn
- Three Cocks
- Tirabad
- Tirymynach
- Trallong
- Tre-derwen
- Trecastle
- Tredomen
- Tredustan
- Tref-y-clawdd (Knighton)
- Trefecca
- Trefeglwys
- Trefnanney
- Trefnant
- Tregoyd
- Tregoyd Mill
- Tregynon
- Trelydan
- Trelystan
- Tretower
- Trewern
- Trewythen
- Troedrhiwdalar
- Tycrwyn
- Tylwch
- Upper Chapel
- Van
- Varchoel
- Velindre
- Waen
- Waen Fach
- Walton Green
- Warle
- Welshpool
- Wern
- Weston Madoc
- White Grit
- Whitton
- Wig
- Winllan
- Womaston
- Y Bontnewydd-ar-Wy
- Y Fan
- Y Gelli Gandryll (Hay-on-Wye)
- Y Wig
- Yardro
- Ynyswen
- Ystradfellte
- Ystradgynlais
Geography
Powys stretches 100 miles from the Dyfi estuary to the Black Mountains, and its eastern boundary is the England-Wales border for most of that distance. Gwynedd lies to the north-west, Denbighshire and Wrexham to the north-east, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire to the west, and Neath Port Talbot, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire along the south. Across the border are Shropshire and Herefordshire.
The south is Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, whose highest point, Pen y Fan at 2,907 ft (886 m), is the highest ground in southern Britain. The centre is the Cambrian Mountains and the Elan valley, where six Victorian reservoirs supply Birmingham through a 73-mile aqueduct. Lake Vyrnwy in the north does the same for Liverpool. Both the Severn and the Wye rise on Pumlumon within a mile of each other. Offa’s Dyke, built in the eighth century, still runs along much of the eastern edge.
Demographics
The 2021 census counted 133,169 usual residents, almost unchanged from 2011. Powys has the oldest age profile in Wales, with about 27% of residents aged 65 or over, and the county loses young adults to Cardiff, Birmingham and Manchester.
16.4% of residents aged three and over could speak Welsh in 2021, the eighth highest share in Wales. The language is strongest in the north-west around Machynlleth and Llanbrynmair and in the far south-west around Ystradgynlais, and weakest in Radnorshire along the English border.
Economy and Local Life
Sheep and beef farming underpins the county; Powys carries more sheep than people by a wide margin. Forestry, food processing and tourism follow, with wind farms and hydro schemes on the uplands.
Newtown grew as a woollen town and holds most of the county’s manufacturing and the head office of Laura Ashley, which began in a Carno village hall in 1961. The Royal Welsh Show at Llanelwedd near Builth Wells is one of the largest agricultural shows in Europe, and the Hay Festival has run at Hay-on-Wye, a town of second-hand bookshops, since 1988. Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells, Llanwrtyd Wells and Llangammarch Wells all grew as Victorian spa towns.
History
The name comes from the medieval kingdom of Powys, which once reached into what is now Shropshire and Cheshire. Its rulers were pushed back west by Mercia; Offa’s Dyke marks roughly where the frontier settled.
The modern county was created in 1974 by merging three historic counties: Brecknockshire in the south, Radnorshire in the middle and Montgomeryshire in the north. All three names survive in local use and in the shire committees of the council.
Montgomery, Powis and Tretower castles guard the eastern approaches. The village of Llanwddyn was demolished and flooded in the 1880s to make Lake Vyrnwy, and Elan valley farms went the same way for Birmingham’s water in the 1890s. Robert Owen, the social reformer and founder of the co-operative movement, was born in Newtown in 1771 and is buried there.
Getting There
The A470 runs the length of the county from Llandudno to Cardiff, through Newtown, Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells and Brecon. The A483 carries the eastern corridor from Swansea through Llandovery, Builth and Newtown to Welshpool and Chester. The A44, A458 and A489 cross east to west; the A40 runs through Brecon and Crickhowell.
Two railways serve the county. The Cambrian Line stops at Welshpool, Newtown, Caersws and Machynlleth on its way from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli. The Heart of Wales Line calls at Knighton, Llandrindod Wells, Builth Road, Llangammarch and Llanwrtyd between Shrewsbury and Swansea. Brecon has had no station since 1962. Birmingham, Cardiff and Manchester airports are each roughly two hours away.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Powys?
133,169 at the 2021 census, spread across 2,000 square miles, the lowest density of any Welsh county.
What is the largest town in Powys?
Newtown, with about 11,000 people. Brecon, Ystradgynlais and Welshpool come next.
How many villages are there in Powys?
467 named settlements are listed above, the great majority of them villages and hamlets.
Which counties make up Powys?
Brecknockshire, Radnorshire and Montgomeryshire, merged into a single county in 1974.
What are the postcodes for Powys?
LD1 to LD8 cover Radnorshire and Brecknockshire, SY5 to SY22 the Montgomeryshire towns, NP8 Crickhowell and SA9 Ystradgynlais.
Where is Powys?
In mid and eastern Wales, running from the Dyfi estuary in the north to the Black Mountains in the south, along the border with Shropshire and Herefordshire.