View source for Conwy County Borough

{{short description|County borough in Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Conwy County Borough
| native_name        = {{native name|cy|Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy}}
| settlement_type    = [[Principal areas of Wales|County borough]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple images
|border=infobox|perrow=1/2/2/2 |total_width=250px
 | image1 = Pen y Gogarth (Great Orme), Llandudno, Sir Conwy county Cymru 13.jpg
 | image2 = Castell Dolwyddelan (48307966647).jpg
 | image3 = The Great Orme Tramway - geograph.org.uk - 2962130.jpg
}}
| imagesize          = 
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = {{ubl|Clockwise from top:|view across the [[River Conwy|Conwy estuary]] to [[Snowdonia]];| a [[Great Orme Tramway|tram]] on the [[Great Orme]], [[Llandudno]]; and|[[Dolwyddelan Castle]]}}
| image_flag         = 
| flag_alt           = 
| image_shield       = Coat of arms of Conwy County Borough.png
| shield_alt         = 
| shield_link        = 
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_size  = 
| blank_emblem_type  = 
| blank_emblem_link  = 
| etymology          = 
| nickname           = 
| motto = {{force singular}} {{langx |cy|Tegwch i Bawb |translation=fairness to all}}
| image_map          = Conwy UK location map.svg
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Conwy shown within [[Wales]]
| coordinates        = {{coord|53|08|26|N|3|46|14|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{{nbsp}}county]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Clwyd]]
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| established_title  = Incorporated
| established_date   = [[Local Government (Wales) Act 1994|1 April 1996]]
| established_title1 = 
| established_date1  = 
| named_for          = [[Conwy]]
| seat_type          = Administrative HQ
| seat               = Conwy
| parts_type         = 
| parts              = <!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = <ref name="Council leadership">{{cite web |url=https://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Council/Council.aspx |title=Council |website=Conwy County Borough Council |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref>
| government_type    = [[Local government in Wales#Principal councils|Principal council]]
| governing_body     = [[Conwy 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=W06000003}}
| leader_title2      = 
| leader_name2       = 
| leader_title3      = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MPs]]
| leader_name3       = {{Collapsible list |title=2 MPs
 |[[Gill German]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
 |[[Claire Hughes]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
 }}
| leader_title4      = [[Member of the Senedd|MSs]]
| leader_name4       = {{Collapsible list |title=2 MSs
 |[[Janet Finch-Saunders]] ([[Welsh Conservatives|C]])
 |[[Darren Millar]] ([[Welsh Conservatives|C]])
 |+4 [[North Wales (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=W06000003}}
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_rank          = [[List of Welsh principal areas|{{Welsh council area rank|GSS=W06000003}}]]
<!-- Population -->| population_footnotes = <ref name="popstats" />
| population_as_of   = {{UK subdivision statistics year}}
| population_total   = {{UK subdivision population|GSS=W06000003}}
| population_rank    = [[List of Welsh principal areas|{{Welsh council population rank|GSS=W06000003}}]]
| population_density_km2 = {{UK subdivision density|GSS=W06000003}}
| 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/W06000003/ |title=How life has changed in Conwy: Census 2021 |date=19 January 2023 |website=Office for National Statistics |access-date=6 August 2024 }}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = Speakers
| demographics2_info1 = 25.9%
| demographics2_title2 = Rank
| demographics2_info2 = [[List of Welsh principal areas by percentage Welsh language|5th]]
| 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-CWY]]
| blank1_name        = [[GSS coding system|GSS code]]
| blank1_info        = W06000003
| website            = {{URL|conwy.gov.uk}}
}}
'''Conwy County Borough''' ({{langx|cy|Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy}}) is a [[Principal areas of Wales|county borough]] in the [[north Wales|north]] of Wales. It borders [[Gwynedd]] to the west and south and [[Denbighshire]] to the east. The largest settlement is [[Colwyn Bay]], and [[Conwy]] is the administrative centre.

Conwy has an area of {{Convert|{{UK subdivision area|GSS=W06000003}}|km2|mi2}} and a population of {{UK subdivision population|GSS=W06000003}} in {{UK subdivision statistics year}},<ref name="popstats" /> making it sparsely populated. The population is concentrated along the coast, along which are several seaside resorts and the county's largest towns: Colwyn Bay (34,284), [[Llandudno]] (20,701), and Conwy (14,753). Inland is much less populous, and the only town is [[Llanrwst]] (3,323).

== Geography ==
The geography of Conwy is shaped by the [[River Conwy]], which forms a wide valley down the western half of the county, bordered by the [[Denbigh Moors]] to the east and the mountains of [[Snowdonia]] [[National parks of the United Kingdom|National Park]] to the west. The [[River Elwy]], a tributary of the [[River Clwyd|Clwyd]], drains the eastern half of the moors. The Conwy forms a wide estuary as it reaches the coast, which has by wide, sandy beaches and the limestone headlands of the [[Great Orme]] and the [[Little Orme]]. The highest peak within the county is [[Carnedd Llewelyn]], at {{Convert|1064|m|ft}}, which is on the boundary with Gwynedd and is the [[Welsh 3000s|third-highest]] summit in Wales. Around [[Betws-y-Coed]] is the [[Gwydir Forest]], which is mainly given over to [[Tree plantation|plantations]]. There are several reservoirs in the valleys, the largest of which is [[Llyn Brenig]], which has an area of  {{Convert|3.7|km2|sqmi}} and extends into Denbighshire.

The [[River Conwy]], after which the county borough is named, lies wholly within the area: rising in [[Snowdonia]] and flowing through [[Llanrwst]] and [[Trefriw]] en route to the [[Irish Sea]] by [[Conwy]]. The river here marks the border between the [[Historic counties of Wales|historic counties]] of [[Caernarfonshire]] and [[Denbighshire (historic)|Denbighshire]].

One third of the land area of the county borough lies in the [[Snowdonia National Park]], and the council appoint three of the 18 members of the Snowdonia National Park Authority. Its total area is {{Convert|1,126|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|sp=us}}, making it slightly larger than [[Hong Kong]].<ref>{{NOMIS2011|id=W06000003|title=CONWY COUNTY population|access-date=5 June 2022}}</ref> The eastern part includes the larger section of [[Denbigh Moors]].

The vast majority of the population live on the coast; the only settlement of any size inland is Llanrwst.

==Welsh language==
According to the [[2001 United Kingdom census|2001 census]] 39.7% of the population of the county borough have "one or more skills" in [[Welsh language|Welsh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/00NE-A.asp|title=2011 Census – ONS}}</ref>
In 2021 census 25.9% reported being able to speak Welsh, which ranks Conwy [[List of Welsh principal areas by percentage Welsh language|5th out of 22]] principal areas in Wales.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/W06000003/ | title=How life has changed in Conwy: Census 2021 }}</ref>
The amount of Welsh spoken in the county borough greatly varies from location to location, with generally the least being spoken on the coastal fringe, in which English is mainly spoken.

Examples of the percentage of people age 3+ speaking Welsh by electoral ward, as of the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 census]]:<ref>{{cite web |title=2011 Census - area profiles - wards (electoral divisions) |url=https://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Council/Statistics-and-research/Census/Census-2011/Area-profiles/2011-Census-area-profiles-wards-electoral-divisions.aspx |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= |website=conwy.gov.uk}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!Ward
!Percentage of<br>Welsh speakers
|-
|Mostyn
|18.4%
|-
|Colwyn
|20.7%
|-
|[[Conwy]]
|28.7%
|-
|[[Trefriw]]
|45.6%
|-
|[[Eglwysbach]]
|54.3%
|-
|[[Uwch Conwy]]
|60.7%
|-
|[[Llangernyw]]
|65.8%
|}

==Government==
{{main|Conwy County Borough Council}}
The county borough was formed on 1 April 1996 by merging the districts of [[Aberconwy (district)|Aberconwy]] and [[Colwyn (district)|Colwyn]]. It was originally named '''Aberconwy and Colwyn''', but its council renamed the district a day later, on 2 April 1996, to '''Conwy'''.

===Politics===
Conwy is represented in the UK Parliament by [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] politicians [[Gill German]] and [[Claire Hughes]] since the [[2024 United Kingdom general election in Wales|2024 election]]. This election implemented new boundaries, making Conwy County Borough be in the [[Bangor Aberconwy (UK Parliament constituency)|Bangor Aberconwy]] and [[Clwyd North (UK Parliament constituency)|Clwyd North]] UK Parliament constituencies.<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> In the [[Senedd]], it is represented by [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] politicians [[Janet Finch-Saunders]] and [[Darren Millar]].
[[File:2024 Wales Conwy Constituencies map.svg|thumb|150x150px|The two UK parliament constituencies covering Conwy County Borough (in pink) from 2024. 1 = [[Bangor Aberconwy (UK Parliament constituency)|Bangor Aberconwy]] and 2 = [[Clwyd North (UK Parliament constituency)|Clwyd North]].]]

===Coat of arms===
[[File:Castell y Waun Chirk castel North Wales 11.jpg|thumb|Arms of Nefydd Hardd, Chirk Castle]]
Conwy County Borough Council was granted a [[coat of arms]] by the [[College of Arms]] in 2001.<ref>Letters Patent dated 27 August 2001</ref> The new arms recall those of both Aberconwy and Colwyn Borough Councils. The main part of the shield depicts blue and silver waves for the river from which the county borough takes its name, and also recalls the gold and blue wavy field of Colwyn's arms. On top of the waves is placed a symbolic red tower, representing [[Conwy Castle]]. The ''chief'' or upper third of the shield is coloured green, the main colour in Aberconwy's arms. In the centre of the chief is a severed head from the heraldry of Marchudd ap Cynan, Lord of Abergele and Rhos. On either side are two black spears ''embrued'', or having drops of blood on their points. These come from the reputed arms of Nefydd Hardd, associated with the [[Nant Conwy]] area. In front of each spear is a golden ''garb'' or wheatsheaf, for the rural areas of the county borough.

Above the shield, placed on the steel helm usual in British civic arms, is the ''crest''. This takes the form of the Welsh red dragon supporting a [[Bible]], rising from a wreath of oak leaves and acorns. The Bible is to commemorate the first Welsh language translation of the book, which originated in the area, while the oak circlet recalls that an oak tree formed the main charge in the arms of Colwyn Borough Council, and its predecessor the [[municipal borough]] of Colwyn Bay.

The motto adopted is ''Tegwch i Bawb'', meaning "Fairness to All".

==Railway==
The [[Conwy Valley Line]], from Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog, runs through the borough.

==See also==
*[[List of places in Conwy County Borough]] for a list of towns and villages
*[[List of churches in Conwy]]
*[[List of schools in Conwy]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Conwy County Borough}}
{{Wikivoyage|Conwy (county)}}

{{Conwy}}
{{Wales subdivisions}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Conwy County Borough| ]]
[[Category:Principal areas of Wales]]
[[Category:County boroughs of Wales]]