Area 2,395 km2
Administrative HQ Carmarthen
ISO 3166-2 GB-CMN
ONS Code 00NU
Population (Est. 2004) 177,600
Website www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Carmarthenshire is bounded to the north by Ceredigion/Cardiganshire, to the east by Powys/Brecknockshire and West Glamorgan, to the south by the Bristol Channel and to the west by Pembrokeshire. Carmarthenshire has a population of approximately 170,000, 63% of whom are Welsh speakers. The surface generally is upland and mountainous. Fforest Fawr and Black Mountain extend into the east of the county and the Cambrian Mountains into the north. The south coast contains many fishing villages and sandy beaches. The highest point is Carmarthen Fan, 2,525 feet (770 m). Carmarthenshire is the largest historic county by area in Wales.
Principal towns are Ammanford, Burry Port, Carmarthen, Kidwelly, Llanelli, Llandeilo, Newcastle Emlyn Llandovery, Sandy, St. Clears, Whitland and Pendine. The main rivers are the Tywi, the Loughor (which forms the eastern boundary with Glamorgan), and the Gwendraeth Fawr. The principal industries are agriculture, forestry, fishing and tourism.
Carmarthenshire became an administrative county with a county council taking over functions from the Quarter Sessions under the Local Government Act 1888. Under the Local Government Act 1972, the administrative county of Carmarthenshire was abolished on April 1, 1974, and the area of Carmarthenshire became three districts within the new county of Dyfed : Carmarthen, Dinefwr and Llanelli. Under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, Dyfed was abolished on April 1, 1996, and the three districts united to form a unitary authority.
