View source for Bridgend County Borough

{{Short description|County borough in Wales}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Bridgend County Borough
| native_name             = {{native name|cy|Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr}}
| settlement_type         = [[Principal areas of Wales|County borough]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image|border=infobox
| perrow            = 2/1
| total_width       = 270
| image1 = The road to Nantymoel (geograph 6618227).jpg
| image2 = Bridgend, St. Mary's Nolton - geograph.org.uk - 5042091 (cropped).jpg
| image3 = Trecco Bay from seat on Newton Point, Porthcawl (geograph 7068564) (cropped).jpg
}}
| image_caption      = Left to right: {{ubl|[[River Ogmore|Ogmore Valley]] to [[Nant-y-moel]]|St Mary's Nolton Church, [[Bridgend]]|[[Trecco Bay]] from Newton Point, [[Porthcawl]]}}
| image_flag              = 
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = Ogwr arms.png
| shield_alt              = 
| shield_link             = 
| image_blank_emblem      = 
| blank_emblem_size       = 
| blank_emblem_type       = 
| blank_emblem_link       = 
| etymology               = 
| nickname                = 
| motto                   = Onward With Confidence
| image_map               = Bridgend UK location map.svg
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Bridgend shown within [[Wales]]
| coordinates             = {{coord|51|33|17|N|03|35|29|W|region:GB_type:adm2nd|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type        = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name        = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Country]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Wales]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Regions of Wales|Region]]
| subdivision_name2       = 
| subdivision_type3       = [[Preserved counties of Wales|Preserved county]]
| subdivision_name3       = [[Mid Glamorgan]]
| subdivision_type4       = 
| subdivision_name4       = 
| established_title       = Incorporated
| established_date        = [[Local Government (Wales) Act 1994|1 April 1996]]
| established_title1      = 
| established_date1       = 
| named_for               = 
| seat_type               = Administrative{{nbsp}}HQ
| seat                    = [[Bridgend]]
| parts_type              = 
| parts                   = 
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes    = <ref name="Council leadership">{{cite web |url=https://www.bridgend.gov.uk/my-council/democracy-and-elections/ |title=Democracy and elections |website=Bridgend County Borough Council |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref>
| government_type         = [[Local government in Wales#Principal councils|Principal council]]
| governing_body          = [[Bridgend County Borough Council]]
| leader_title            = 
| leader_name             = 
| leader_title1           = [[Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom|Control]]
| leader_name1            = {{UK council control|GSS=W06000013}}
| leader_title2           = 
| leader_name2            = 
| leader_title3           = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MPs]]
| leader_name3            = {{Collapsible list |title=3 MPs
 |[[Chris Bryant]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
 |[[Chris Elmore]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
 |[[Stephen Kinnock]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
 }}
| leader_title4           = [[Member of the Senedd|MSs]]
| leader_name4            = {{Collapsible list |title=2 MSs
 |[[Huw Irranca-Davies]] ([[Welsh Labour|L]])
 |[[Sarah Murphy (politician)|Sarah Murphy]] ([[Welsh Labour|L]])
 }}
 +4 [[South Wales West (Senedd electoral region)|regional members]]
<!-- Area -->
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="popstats">{{UK subdivision statistics citation}}</ref>
| area_total_km2          = {{UK subdivision area|GSS=W06000013}}
| area_land_km2           = 
| area_water_km2          = 
| area_rank               = [[List of Welsh principal areas|{{Welsh council area rank|GSS=W06000013}}]]
<!-- Population -->
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="popstats" />
| population_as_of        = {{UK subdivision statistics year}}
| population_total        = {{UK subdivision population|GSS=W06000013}}
| population_rank         = [[List of Welsh principal areas|{{Welsh council population rank|GSS=W06000013}}]]
| population_density_km2  = {{UK subdivision density|GSS=W06000013}}
| population_demonym      = 
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1      = 
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1    = 
| demographics1_info1     = 
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2      = [[Welsh language]] <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/W06000013/ |title=How life has changed in Bridgend: Census 2021 |date=19 January 2023 |website=Office for National Statistics |access-date=6 August 2024 }}</ref>
| demographics2_title1    = Speakers
| demographics2_info1     = 9.2%
| demographics2_title2    = Rank
| demographics2_info2     = [[List of Welsh principal areas by percentage Welsh language|19th]]
| timezone1               = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset1             = +0
| timezone1_DST           = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = +1
<!-- Codes -->
| postal_code_type        = [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcode areas]]
| postal_code             = 
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom|Dialling codes]]
| area_code               = 
| iso_code                = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|GB-BGE]]
| blank1_name             = [[GSS coding system|GSS code]]
| blank1_info             = W06000013
| website                 = {{URL|bridgend.gov.uk}}
}}
'''Bridgend County Borough''' ({{langx|cy|Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr}}) is a [[Principal areas of Wales|county borough]] in the [[South East Wales|south-east]] of [[Wales]].  The county borough was formed in 1996 and contains the town of [[Bridgend]], after which it is named.

The county borough lies at the geographical heart of south Wales. Its land area of 110&nbsp;mi<sup>2</sup> (285&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) stretches 12 miles (20&nbsp;km) from east to west and occupies the Llynfi, Garw and Ogmore valleys. The largest town is Bridgend, followed by Maesteg and Porthcawl. The county borough lies on the [[River Ogmore]] and its tributaries, although the [[Ewenny River|Ewenny]] and [[Ogwr Fach]] rivers form the border with the [[Vale of Glamorgan]] for much of their length.

== Composition ==
Bridgend County Borough was formed on 1 April 1996 under the [[Local Government (Wales) Act 1994]]. It includes all of the former [[Ogwr]] borough apart from the communities of [[Wick, Vale of Glamorgan|Wick]], [[St Brides Major (community)|St Brides Major]] and [[Ewenny]], which went to Vale of Glamorgan. Bridgend County Borough is divided into 20 [[community (Wales)|communities]]: [[Brackla]], [[Bridgend (community)|Bridgend]], [[Cefn Cribwr]], [[Coity Higher]], [[Coychurch Higher]], [[Coychurch Lower]], [[Cornelly]], [[Garw Valley]], [[Laleston]], [[Llangynwyd Lower]], [[Llangynwyd Middle]], [[Maesteg]], [[Merthyr Mawr]], [[Newcastle Higher]], [[Ogmore Valley]], [[Pencoed]], [[Porthcawl]], [[Pyle]], [[St Bride's Minor]] and  [[Ynysawdre]]. The communities of Brackla, Bridgend and Coychurch Lower make up the town of Bridgend.

==Governance==
The region is governed by [[Bridgend County Borough Council]], a [[principal council]] which has its offices in Bridgend.
[[File:2024 Wales Bridgend Constituencies map.svg|thumb|150x150px|The three UK parliament constituencies covering Bridgend County Borough (in pink). 1 = [[Aberafan Maesteg (UK Parliament constituency)|Aberafan Maesteg]], 2 = [[Bridgend (UK Parliament constituency)|Bridgend]] and 3 = [[Rhondda and Ogmore (UK Parliament constituency)|Rhondda and Ogmore]].]]
Since 2024, Bridgend County Borough is within three UK Parliament constituencies – [[Aberafan Maesteg (UK Parliament constituency)|Aberafan Maesteg]], [[Bridgend (UK Parliament constituency)|Bridgend]], and [[Rhondda and Ogmore (UK Parliament constituency)|Rhondda and Ogmore]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 Parliamentary Review - Revised Proposals {{!}} Boundary Commission for Wales |url=https://bcomm-wales.gov.uk/reviews/10-22/2023-parliamentary-review-revised-proposals |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=[[Boundary Commission for Wales]]}}</ref> and two Senedd constituencies – [[Bridgend (Senedd constituency)|Bridgend]] and [[Ogmore (Senedd constituency)|Ogmore]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Election Maps: Great Britain |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |access-date=14 September 2025 |website= |publisher=Ordnance Survey}}</ref>

==Schools==
{{Main|List of schools in Bridgend}}

==Parks and green spaces==
[[Bryngarw Country Park]] is the largest (113 [[acres]]) [[country park]] in the county borough. It offers many amenity based areas including an adventure play area, barbecue and picnic areas, car park, cafe, visitor centre and toilets; as well as a patchwork of [[woodland]], [[grassland]] and [[freshwater]] habitats. Bryngarw Country Park is a Grade II listed Historic Park and Garden and has been designated a 'Green Flag' Park since 2010. The Oriental Garden in the park has been noted as a 'Visit Wales Sustainable Tourism, Historic Gardens Centre of Excellence' by the 'One Historic Garden, Centre of Excellence'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bryngarwhouse.co.uk|title=Welcome to Bryngarw House, Brynmenyn, Bridgend|publisher=Bryngarwhouse.co.uk|access-date=6 August 2011}}</ref>

Kenfig National Nature Reserve with Glamorgan's largest natural lake, Kenfig Pool, is set on the edge of this area, with views from Sker beach across Swansea Bay to [[Gower]]. It is one of the finest wildlife habitats in Wales,{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} and one of the last remnants of a huge dune system that once stretched along the coast from the River Ogmore to the Gower peninsula. The reserve is home to unique wild orchids, as well as insects and wildlife. Kenfig is one of the most important sites in Britain for nature conservation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/web/groups/tourism/documents/marketing/001799.hcsp|title=Country Parks|access-date=8 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902101752/http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/web/groups/tourism/documents/marketing/001799.hcsp|archive-date=2 September 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Parc Slip Nature Reserve is an environment of wetlands, woodlands and meadows at the Parc Slip Nature Park where there is a wealth of wildlife.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} After a century of coal mining on the site, the Wildlife Trust began to manage the land for nature in the late 1980s. Varied habitats have since been created and the park supports an increasing diversity of wildlife.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/web/groups/tourism/documents/marketing/001797.hcsp|title=Country Parks|access-date=8 September 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903075151/http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/web/groups/tourism/documents/marketing/001797.hcsp|archive-date=3 September 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/web/groups/tourism/documents/marketing/001788.hcsp|title=Country Parks|access-date=6 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913014057/http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/web/groups/tourism/documents/marketing/001788.hcsp|archive-date=13 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{main|Category:People from Bridgend}}

==Freedom of the Borough==
The following people and military units have received the [[Freedom of the City|Freedom of the Borough]] of Bridgend:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www1.bridgend.gov.uk/democracy/mayor/freedom-of-the-borough.aspx |title=Freedom of the Borough - Bridgend County Borough Council |access-date=30 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625151830/http://www1.bridgend.gov.uk/democracy/mayor/freedom-of-the-borough.aspx |archive-date=25 June 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{Incomplete list|date=November 2020}}

===Individuals===

===Military units===
* The [[Royal Welsh]]: 30 August 2008
* 2 Company 1st Battalion The [[Welsh Guards]]: 11 May 2011<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/hero-soldiers-honoured-freedom-march-1832929|title = Hero soldiers honoured in freedom march of Bridgend|date = 11 May 2011}}</ref>

==Demographics==
=== Ethnicity ===
As of the [[2021 United Kingdom census]], the county borough's ethnic groups are as follows:<ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=W06000013|title=Bridgend Local Authority|access-date=12 July 2024}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
![[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic group]]
!Percentage
|-
|[[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
|96.8%
|-
|[[British Asians|Asian]]
|1.5%
|-
|[[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
|1.2%
|-
|[[Black British people|Black]]
|0.3%
|-
|[[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Other]]
|0.3%
|}

=== Religion ===
As of the [[2021 United Kingdom census]], the county borough's religious make-up is as follows:<ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
{| class="wikitable"
![[Religion in Wales|Religion]]
!
|-
|[[Irreligion in Wales|No religion]]
|52.3%
|-
|[[Religion in Wales#Christianity|Christianity]]
|40.4%
|-
|[[Islam in Wales|Islam]]
|0.5%
|-
|[[Religion in Wales|Other]]
|0.5%
|-
|[[Buddhism in Wales|Buddhism]]
|0.3%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Wales|Hinduism]]
|0.2%
|-
|[[Sikhism in Wales|Sikhism]]
|0.1%
|-
|[[History of the Jews in Wales|Judaism]]
|0.1%
|-
|not stated
|5.6%
|}

==See also==
*[[List of places in Bridgend County Borough]]
*[[List of scheduled monuments in Bridgend County Borough]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat}}
*[https://www.bavo.org.uk/ Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations]

{{Wales subdivisions}}
{{Bridgend}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bridgend County Borough| ]]
[[Category:Glamorgan]]
[[Category:Principal areas of Wales]]
[[Category:County boroughs of Wales]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in Wales]]