Counties of Wales facts for kids
The counties of Wales refer to different ways the country is divided up. These divisions help with things like local government, history, and even special ceremonies. It can be a bit confusing because Wales has changed how it organizes its land over many years!
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Principal areas of Wales, created in 1996.
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Preserved counties of Wales, used for special events.
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Historic and Administrative Counties of Wales, showing older boundaries.
Contents
What Are Principal Areas of Wales?
The most important way Wales is divided today is into principal areas. These are like the main local government areas. They were created in 1996 to help manage services for people living in Wales.
What Do Principal Areas Do?
Each principal area has its own local council. This council is in charge of many important things that affect your daily life. For example, they look after:
- Schools and education
- Local roads and transport
- Collecting rubbish and recycling
- Libraries and leisure centres
- Social care for families and older people
There are 22 principal areas in Wales. Some are called "counties," and others are called "county boroughs." They all do the same kind of work.
What Are Preserved Counties of Wales?
Besides the principal areas, Wales also has preserved counties. These are used for special, non-governmental purposes. They are not involved in running schools or collecting rubbish.
Why Do We Have Preserved Counties?
Preserved counties are mainly used for ceremonial events. For example, the King's representative in an area, called the Lord-Lieutenant, is appointed for a preserved county. They help with royal visits and other important local ceremonies. There are eight preserved counties in Wales.
What Are Historic Counties of Wales?
Wales also has historic counties. These are much older divisions of the land. They were set up hundreds of years ago and were used for many things in the past.
How Are Historic Counties Used Today?
Even though they are not used for local government anymore, historic counties are still important. People often use them to describe where they are from or to talk about local history and culture. For example, sports teams or historical societies might still use these old county names.
What Were Former Administrative Counties?
Over time, how Wales was governed changed. Before the principal areas were created in 1996, there were other types of administrative counties. These were also used for local government, but their boundaries and names changed several times throughout history.
Why Did Administrative Counties Change?
Governments often change how areas are divided to make sure services are delivered in the best way. As populations grew and moved, and as the needs of communities changed, the old administrative counties were updated or replaced. This shows how local government in Wales has evolved to serve its people better.
