Gwent (county)
| Gwent | |
|---|---|
 Gwent shown within Wales | |
| Area | |
| • 2003 | 1,553 km² Ranked 5th |
| Population | |
| • 2007 | 560,500 Ranked 1st |
| History | |
| • Created | 1974 |
| • Abolished | 1996 |
| • Succeeded by | Blaenau Gwent Caerphilly Monmouthshire Newport Torfaen |
| Status | Non-metropolitan county (1974–1996), Preserved county (1996–) |
| Government | Gwent County Council |
| • HQ | Cwmbran |
Gwent is one of the eight preserved counties of Wales.
It was created on 1 April 1974. It was named after the Kingdom of Gwent, an ancient kingdom. In 1996, it was abolished and became five seperate counties and boroughs. These are Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, City of Newport and Torfaen.
The county bordered the Bristol Channel to the south, the English counties of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to the east, Powys to the north-west, Mid Glamorgan to the west and South Glamorgan to the south-west.
The county's county town was Cwmbran, which was the location of its Government HQ. Other settlements in the county included Newport, Abergavenny and Caerphilly.