Cynon Valley
Coordinates: 51°39′25″N 3°27′40″W / 51.657°N 3.461°W
Cynon Valley | |
---|---|
| |
Area | |
• 1974 | 44,639 acres (180.65 km2)[1] |
Population | |
• 1973 | 69,630[2] |
• 1992 | 65,600[3] |
History | |
• Created | 1974 |
• Abolished | 1996 |
• Succeeded by | Rhondda Cynon Taf |
Status | District, Borough |
• HQ | Aberdare (Welsh: Aberdâr) |
Cynon Valley (Welsh: Cwm Cynon) is one of many former coal mining valleys within the South Wales Valleys of Wales. Cynon Valley lies between Rhondda and the Merthyr Valley. Cynon Valley has two main towns; Aberdare (Welsh: Aberdâr) located in the North of the Valley and Mountain Ash (Welsh: Aberpennar) located in the South of the Valley.
According to the 2001 census, the Cynon Valley has a population of 63,512.[4] In 2001 12.1% of the inhabitants were recorded as Welsh speakers, where as today are probably more. In common with some of the other South Wales Valleys, Cynon Valley had a high percentage of Welsh speakers until the early 20th century.
Former district
From 1974 to 1996 the Borough of Cynon Valley was one of thirty-seven districts of Wales. The district was formed from the Aberdare and Mountain Ash urban districts, the parish of Rhigos from Neath Rural District and the parish of Penderyn from Brecknockshire.[5] It was one of six districts of Mid Glamorgan, and in 1996 was merged into the larger unitary authority of Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Parliamentary and assembly constituency
In 1983 a parliamentary constituency of Cynon Valley was formed for the election of a member of parliament to the United Kingdom House of Commons. The constituency had identical boundaries to the local government district.[6][7] In 1999 a Welsh Assembly constituency with the same boundaries was formed. In 2010 the constituency was redefined as consisting of 15 electoral divisions of the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf: Aberaman North, Aberaman South, Abercynon, Aberdare East, Aberdare West/Llwydcoed, Cilfynydd, Cwmbach, Glyncoch, Hirwaun, Mountain Ash East, Mountain Ash West, Penrhiwceiber, Pen-y-waun, Rhigos, Ynysybwl.[8]
Education
College
Coleg Morgannwg has a campus in the Cynon Valley, based in Cwmdare.
Comprehensive Schools
Within the Cynon Valley there are six Comprehensive Schools of which one is a Welsh-Medium School. These School are:
- Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun - Welsh-Medium School
- Mountain Ash Comprehensive School
- Blaengwawr Comprehensive School
- Aberdare Girls' School
- Aberdare High School
- St. John the Baptist School (Aberdare)
Places within the Cynon Valley
The Cynon Valley contains two main towns: Aberdare and Mountain Ash. Aberdare is the main town of the valley and had a population of around 31,619 in 1991.
Villages around the town of Aberdare
- Aberaman
- Abercwmboi
- Abernant
- Croesbychan
- Cwmaman
- Cwmbach
- Cwmdâr
- Gadlys
- Godreaman
- Hirwaun
- Llwydcoed
- Trecynon
- Penderyn
- Penywaun
- Rhigos
Villages around the town of Mountain Ash
- Abercynon
- Mountain Ash/Aberpennar
- Caegarw
- Carnetown
- Cefnpennar
- Cwmpennar
- Fernhill
- Miskin
- Newtown
- Penrhiwceiber
- Perthcelyn
- Pontcynon
- Tyntetown
- Ynysboeth
References
- ↑ Local government in England and Wales: A Guide to the New System. London: HMSO. 1974. p. 60. ISBN 0-11-750847-0.
- ↑ Registrar General's annual estimated figure mid 1973
- ↑ OPCS Key Population and statistics 1992 cited in Whitaker's Concise Almanack 1995. London: J Whitaker & Sons. 1994. p. 566. ISBN 0-85021-247-2.
- ↑ "2001 Census of Population. Key Statistics for Assembly Constituencies: Cynon Valley" (PDF). Welsh Assembly. April 2003.
- ↑ Local government in England and Wales: A Guide to the New System. London: HMSO. 1974. p. 105. ISBN 0-11-750847-0.
- ↑ The Parliamentary Constituencies (Wales) Order 1983 (S.I. 1983/418)
- ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (Wales) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/1036)". The National Archives.
- ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies and Assembly Electoral Regions (Wales) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/10341)". The National Archives.