MID GLAMORGAN

county of South Wales, created in 1974 from much of the northern part of the former county of Glamorgan, the former county borough of Merthyr Tydfil, and small parts of the former counties of Brecon and Monmouth. The administrative seat is Cardiff (q.v.), which lies outside the county boundary in South Glamorgan. Mid Glamorgan has six administrative districts (Cynon Valley, Merthyr Tydfil, Ogwr, Rhondda, Rhymney Valley, and Taff-Ely). The county includes a substantial part of the South Wales coalfield. Farther south, it also includes the northern portion of the Vale of Glamorgan (Bro Morgannwg), a transitional zone of dissected and varied relief between the coalfield to the north and the Vale proper in South Glamorgan to the south. The South Wales coalfield is a bleak upland that was used for little but livestock farms before its mineral wealth was exploited. Its parallel northwest-southeast valleys are deeply incised in the hard gritstones that predominate. Among them are Rhymney, Taff, Cynon, and the Rhonddas. Ribbons of settlement, drab terraced housing, canals, railways, and former mine workings are now crowded into these narrow trenches in the high moorlands. Ironworking began in the 18th century but later was overshadowed by coal mining. Mining in the area declined drastically during the Great Depression, presenting long-persisting problems of economic readjustment. Light industries have been established in the coalfield areas in an effort to foster new growth and opportunities for employment. In contrast to the economic and social problems of the coalfield in the north, the county exhibits strong industrial growth in its southern part, in the Vale of Glamorgan. Here a linear city is emerging along the line of the M4 motorway, with focal points at the market town of Bridgend and the industrial village of Llantrissant. Pontypridd is the major shopping and service centre for several of the coalfield's valleys, while Merthyr Tydfil serves the communities at the heads of the valleys. Bridgend is emerging as an important urban centre. Area 393 square miles (1,017 square km). Pop. (1991 prelim.) 526,500.