View source for Swansea

{{short description|City and county in Wales}}
{{other places}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = City and County of Swansea
| native_name             = {{native name|cy|Dinas a Sir Abertawe}}
| settlement_type         = [[Principal areas of Wales|County]] and [[City status in the United Kingdom|city]]
| image_skyline           = {{multiple images |total_width=260 |perrow=1 2 2 1 |align=center |border=infobox
 | image1 = P.3._Swansea_City_Centre_2012.jpg {{!}}[[Swansea City Centre]]
 | image2 = ThreeCliffsBay.jos.500pix.jpg{{!}}[[Three Cliffs Bay]]
 | image3 = Swansea guildhall.jpg{{!}}[[Swansea Guildhall]]
 | image4 = Swansea Castle - geograph.org.uk - 2824368.jpg{{!}}[[Swansea Castle]]
 | image5 = St Thomas, Swansea, Wales (45547798314).jpg{{!}}[[St Thomas Church, Swansea]]
 | image6 = Swansea Marina.jpg{{!}}[[Maritime Quarter]]
 }}
| imagesize               = 
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = Clockwise from top: [[Swansea City Centre]]; [[Swansea Guildhall]]; [[St Thomas Church, Swansea]]; [[Maritime Quarter]]; [[Swansea Castle]] ruins; [[Three Cliffs Bay]]
| image_flag              = 
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = Coat of arms of Swansea.svg
| shield_alt              = 
| shield_link             = 
| image_blank_emblem      = 
| blank_emblem_size       = 
| blank_emblem_type       = 
| blank_emblem_link       = 
| etymology               = 
| nickname                = 
| motto = {{force singular}} {{langx |la|Floreat Swansea |translation=let Swansea flourish}}
| image_map               = Swansea UK location map.svg
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Swansea shown within [[Wales]]
| coordinates             = {{coord|51|37|N|3|57|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       = [[West Glamorgan]]
| subdivision_type4       = 
| subdivision_name4       = 
| established_title       = [[Town charter]]
| established_date        = 1158–1184
| established_title2      = City status
| established_date2       = 1969
| named_for               = 
| seat_type               = Administrative{{nbsp}}HQ
| seat                    = [[Swansea Guildhall|Guildhall]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes    = <ref name="Council leadership">{{cite web |url=https://www.swansea.gov.uk/council |title=Council |website=Swansea Council |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref>
| government_type         = [[Local government in Wales#Principal councils|Principal council]]
| governing_body          = [[Swansea Council]]
| leader_title            = 
| leader_name             = 
| leader_title1           = [[Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom|Control]]
| leader_name1            = {{UK council control|GSS=W06000011}}
| leader_title2           = 
| leader_name2            = 
| leader_title3           = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MPs]]
| leader_name3            = {{Collapsible list |title=3 MPs
 |[[Tonia Antoniazzi]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
 |[[Carolyn Harris (politician)|Carolyn Harris]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
 |[[Torsten Bell]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
 }}
| leader_title4           = [[Member of the Senedd|MSs]]
| leader_name4            = {{Collapsible list |title=3 MSs
 |[[Rebecca Evans (politician)|Rebecca Evans]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
 |[[Mike Hedges (Welsh Politician)|Mike Hedges]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
 |[[Julie James (politician)|Julie James]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
 }}
<!-- 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=W06000011}}
| area_land_km2           = 
| area_water_km2          = 
| area_rank               = [[List of Welsh principal areas|{{Welsh council area rank|GSS=W06000011}}]]
<!-- Population -->
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="popstats" />
| population_as_of        = {{UK subdivision statistics year}}
| population_total        = {{UK subdivision population|GSS=W06000011}}
| population_rank         = [[List of Welsh principal areas|{{Welsh council population rank|GSS=W06000011}}]]
| population_density_km2  = {{UK subdivision density|GSS=W06000011}}
| population_demonym      = 
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1      = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=W06000011|title=Swansea Local Authority|access-date=14 July 2024}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1    = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1     = 
 {{Collapsible list
 | 91.4% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 4.4% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 | 1.6% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
 | 1.4% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 | 1.2% [[Black British people|Black]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2      = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1    = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1     =
 {{Collapsible list
 | 47.3% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
 | 41.3% [[Religion in Wales#Christianity|Christianity]]
 | 3.2% [[Islam in Wales|Islam]]
 | 0.4% [[Hinduism in Wales|Hinduism]]
 | 0.4% [[Buddhism in Wales|Buddhism]]
 | 0.1% [[Sikhism in Wales|Sikhism]]
 | 0.1% [[History of the Jews in Wales|Judaism]]
 | 0.5% [[Religion in Wales|other]]
 | 6.7% not stated
 }}
| 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             = [[SA postcode area|SA]]1–9
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom|Dialling codes]]
| area_code               = 01792
| iso_code                = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|GB-SWA]]
| blank1_name             = [[GSS coding system|GSS code]]
| blank1_info             = W06000011
| website                 = {{URL|swansea.gov.uk}}
}}
'''Swansea''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|w|ɒ|n|z|i}} {{respell|SWON|zee}}; {{langx|cy|Abertawe}} {{IPA|cy|abɛrˈtawɛ|}}) is a coastal [[City status in the United Kingdom|city]] and the [[List of urban areas in the United Kingdom|second-largest city]] of [[Wales]]. It forms a [[Principal areas of Wales|principal area]], officially known as the '''City and County of Swansea''' ({{langx|cy|links=no|Dinas a Sir Abertawe}}).<ref>{{cite web|title=Largest Cities in the UK|url=http://www.ukcities.co.uk/populations/|publisher=UKCities|access-date=13 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022172618/http://www.ukcities.co.uk/populations/|archive-date=22 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The city is the [[List of cities in the United Kingdom|twenty-eighth largest in the United Kingdom]]. Located along [[Swansea Bay]] in south-west Wales, with the principal area covering the [[Gower Peninsula]], it is part of the [[Swansea Bay (region)|Swansea Bay region]] and part of the [[Historic counties of Wales|historic county]] of [[Glamorgan]] and the ancient Welsh [[commote]] of Gŵyr.<ref>W.S.K. Thomas The History of Swansea from Rover Settlement to the Restoration. ISBS 0 86383 600 3</ref>

The principal area is the second most [[List of Welsh principal areas by population|populous local authority area]] in Wales, with an estimated population of {{UK subdivision population|GSS=W06000011}} in {{UK subdivision statistics year}}.<ref name="popstats" /> Swansea, along with [[Neath]] and [[Port Talbot]], forms the [[Swansea urban area]], with a population of 300,352 in 2011. It is also part of the [[Swansea Bay City Region]].

During the 19th-century industrial heyday, Swansea was the key centre of the [[Copper extraction|copper-smelting]] industry, earning the nickname ''Copperopolis''.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/576322/Swansea|title=Swansea|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=9 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122101250/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/576322/Swansea|archive-date=22 January 2009|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Hughes, S. (2000) ''Copperopolis: landscapes of the early industrial period in Swansea'' [[Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales]]</ref>

== Toponymy ==
The [[Welsh toponymy|Welsh name]], ''Abertawe'', translates as ''mouth/estuary of the [[River Tawe|Tawe]]'' and this name was likely used for the area before a settlement was established. The first written record of the Welsh name for the town itself dates from 1150 and appears in the form ''Aper Tyui''.<ref>See Place-Names in Glamorgan, Gwynedd O. Pierce, p 182.</ref>

The name ''Swansea'', pronounced {{IPA|/ˈswɒnzi/}} (Swans-ee, not Swan-sea), is derived from the [[Old Norse]] name of the original [[Viking]] trading post that was founded by King [[Sweyn Forkbeard]] ({{Circa|960}}–1014).<ref name="William2010">{{cite book|author= David William|title= Life in the United Kingdom: The Land and the People|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Rx3ATOg_MSoC&pg=PA247|date= October 2010|publisher= Intercontinental Books|isbn= 978-9987-16-017-4|page= 247}}</ref><ref name="Fraser1952">{{cite book|author= Maxwell Fraser|title= Wales|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=W1sKAQAAMAAJ|year= 1952|publisher= Hale|page= 286}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor= Glanmor Williams |title= Swansea, An Illustrated History |publisher= Christopher Davies |date= 26 July 2007|isbn= 978-0-7154-0714-1}}</ref> It was the name of the king, 'Svein' or 'Sweyn', with the suffix of '-ey' ("island"), referring either to a bank of the river at its mouth or to an area of raised ground in marshland.<ref>Wyn Owen, H. and Morgan, R. (2008) ''Dictionary of the Place-names of Wales''. Llandysul: Gomer.</ref> However, the Norse termination ''-ey'' can mean "inlet", and the name may simply refer to the mouth of the river.<ref>{{cite book|last= Alban|first= JR|title= Swansea 1184–1984|year= 1984|publisher= Swansea City Council}}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Swansea}}

===Ancient history===
The area around Swansea has a unique [[Archaeology|archaeological history]] dating back to the [[Palaeolithic]]. Finds at [[Long Hole Cave]] on the [[Gower Peninsula]] have been interpreted as those of the first modern humans in Britain,<ref name="Dinnis">{{cite journal |last1=Dinnis |first1=R |title=Identification Of Longhole (Gower) As An Aurignacian Site |journal=Lithics: The Journal of the Lithic Studies Society |date=2012 |volume=33| pages=17–29|url=http://journal.lithics.org/index.php/lithics/article/view/347 |access-date=3 August 2016 |archive-date=27 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827010745/http://journal.lithics.org/index.php/lithics/article/view/347|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the same area is also home to the [[Red Lady of Paviland|oldest ceremonial burial]] in Western Europe, discovered at [[Paviland]] in 1823 and dated to 22,000 BC.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Nature|first=Ewen|last=Callaway|title=Archaeology: Date with history|date=2 May 2012 |volume=485 |pages=27–29|issue=7396|doi=10.1038/485027a |pmid=22552075|bibcode=2012Natur.485...27C |doi-access=free}}</ref> The area also has many [[Bronze Age]] and [[Iron Age]] sites, such as the burial mound at Cillibion and the [[hill fort]]s at Llwynheiernin<ref>{{Cite web |title=Llwynheiernin |url=https://www.roman-britain.co.uk/places/llwynheiernin/ |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=Roman Britain |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Atlas of Hillforts: Llwynheiernin |url=https://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk/records/WA1652.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251105185610/https://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk/records/WA1652.html |archive-date=5 November 2025 |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Romano-British Settlement in South-East Wales. Evans. Internet Archaeol. 48. |url=https://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue48/8/1.html |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=intarch.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref> and Cil Ifor.<ref name="Davis-HoW">''A History of Wales'', John Davies, Penguin, 1990 {{ISBN|0-14-014581-8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/An_Inventory_of_the_Ancient_Monuments_in/JNuRLAjn8IwC?hl=en&gbpv=0 |title=An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Glamorgan |date=1976 |publisher=H.M. Stationery Office |volume=1 Part II: The Iron Age and Roman Occupation}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/An_Inventory_of_the_Ancient_Monuments_in/LOHH20BzfmsC?hl=en&gbpv=0 |title=An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Glamorgan |date=1991 |publisher=H.M. Stationery Office |isbn=9780113000357 |volume=3 Part 1a: Medieval Secular Monuments |pages=90–92 |chapter=CR 5: Cil Ifor Ring |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/inventoryofancie0000roya/page/90/mode/2up}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gower066 |url=https://heneb.org.uk/archive/ggat/cadw/historic_landscape/gower/english/Gower_066.htm |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=heneb.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Atlas of Hillforts: Cilifor Top |url=https://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk/records/WA1600.html |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland}}</ref> There are also the remains of a [[Roman villa]] also on the Gower peninsula.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rowe |first=Jennifer Erin |date=2015 |title=The Roman Villas of Wales |url=https://hdl.handle.net/10294/5853 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251105170743/https://uregina.scholaris.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/f1e9a3db-a211-4f66-97a2-e7cafda1f9aa/content |archive-date=5 November 2025 |pages=81–82}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 February 2023 |title=The Romans in Mumbles |url=https://www.storyofmumbles.org.uk/catalogue_item/romans-in-mumbles |website=The Story of Mumbles}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=A History of Mumbles - Romans |url=https://sites.google.com/site/ahistoryofmumbles/ancient-footprints/roman-footprints/romans |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=sites.google.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Medieval Swansea===
The area that would become Swansea was known as the [[Cantref]] Eginog in ancient times, located on the eastern edge of the [[cwmwd]] (commote) of Gwyr, the easternmost cantref of [[Ystrad Tywi]]. This area was noted for its valuable land and was highly contested by the early Welsh kingdoms. During the [[Viking Age]], the mouth of the Tawe became a focus for trade, and a trade post may have been founded sometime between the 9th and 11th centuries.

The settlement remained under Welsh control until the [[Norman invasion of Wales]], when [[Iestyn ap Gwrgant]] ceded the settlement as part of the new [[Gower (Lordship)|Lordship of Gower]] to [[Henry de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Warwick]] in the early 1100s. The Lordship included land around [[Swansea Bay]] as far as the River Tawe, the manor of Kilvey beyond the Tawe, and the peninsula itself.

In the following years, Henry built [[Swansea Castle]] {{circa|1106}}, and minted coins bearing the names ''Swensi'', ''Sweni'' and ''Svenshi'' {{circa|1140}}.<ref>"A hoard of coins found at [[Rhiwbina]] in the north of [[Cardiff]] in 1980 contained ... minted at Swansea ''c.'' 1140 and bore abbreviated forms of the name: SWENSI, SWENS, SVEN, SWENI, SVENSHI." Quoted from ''Place-names in Glamorgan'', Gwynedd O. Pierce, 2002. {{ISBN|1-898937-57-5}}; pg. 182</ref> Swansea was designated chief town of the lordship and received its first [[Municipal charter|borough charter]] sometime between 1158 and 1184 from William de Newburgh, 3rd [[Earl of Warwick]].<ref name="encyclopedia">The Welsh Academy Encyclopedia of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press 2008.</ref> This charter contains the earliest reference in English to ''Sweynesse'' and gave it the status of a [[borough]], granting the townsmen (called [[burgess (title)|burgess]]es) certain rights to develop the area. In 1215 [[John of England|King John]] granted a second charter, in which the name appears as ''Sweyneshe''. A town seal which is believed to date from this period names the town as ''Sweyse''.<ref>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Swansea |volume=26 |page=183}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/GLA/Swansea/Timeline.html | title= Swansea Timeline | publisher= Genuki | year= 2007 | access-date= 29 July 2007 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070705060006/http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/GLA/Swansea/Timeline.html | archive-date= 5 July 2007 | url-status= live }}</ref> Another charter was granted in 1304.

===Industrial Revolution===
[[File:Temple street, Swansea, showing the bank, theatre, post office &c.jpeg|thumb|Temple street, Swansea, showing the bank, theatre and post office (1865)]]
[[File:View of Swansea and railway bridge.jpeg|thumb|Docks and railway bridge (1850)]]
[[File:View of the Copper-works, Swansea, Glamorganshire.jpeg|thumb|A romanticised depiction of early copper smelting works in the [[Lower Swansea Valley]] {{circa|1800}}]]

From the early 1700s to the late 1800s, Swansea was the world's leading [[Copper extraction|copper-smelting]] area.<ref>W. H. Dennis, ''100 Years of Metallurgy'' (Chicago: Aldine, 1963) 128.</ref> Numerous smelters along the River Tawe received copper and other metal ores shipped from Cornwall and Devon, as well as from North and South America, Africa, and Australia. The industry declined severely in the late 1800s, and none of the smelters are now active.

The port of Swansea initially traded in wine, hides, wool, cloth and later in coal.<ref name="encyclopedia"/> After the invention of the [[reverbatory furnace]] in the late 1600s, copper smelting could use coal rather than the more expensive charcoal. At the same time, the mines of Cornwall were increasing copper production. Swansea became the ideal place to smelt the Cornish copper ores, being close to the coalfields of South Wales and having an excellent port to receive ships carrying Cornish copper ore. Because each ton of copper ore smelted used about three tons of coal, it was more economical to ship the copper ore to Wales rather than sending the coal to Cornwall.<ref>John C. Symonds, The Mining and Smelting of Copper in England and Wales, Thesis, Coventry University, Jan. 2003, p.92.</ref>

The first copper smelter at Swansea was established in 1717, followed by many more.<ref>Robert Hunt, British Mining (London: Crosby Lockwood, 1887) 101.</ref> Once smelting was established, the smelters began receiving high-grade ore and ore concentrates from around the world. More [[coal mine]]s opened to meet demand from northeast Gower to{{clarify|date=March 2024}} [[Clyne Valley Country Park|Clyne]] and [[Llangyfelach]]. In the 1850s Swansea had more than 600 furnaces, and a fleet of 500 oceangoing ships carrying out Welsh coal and bringing back metal ore from around the world. At that time most of the copper matte produced in the United States was sent to Swansea for refining.<ref name="H. Dennis 1963">W. H. Dennis, 100 Years of Metallurgy (Chicago: Aldine, 1963) 128.</ref>

Smelters also processed arsenic, zinc, tin, and other metals. Nearby factories produced [[tinplate]] and pottery. The Swansea smelters became so adept at recovering gold and silver from complex ores that in the 1800s they received ore concentrates from the United States, for example from Arizona in the 1850s, and Colorado in the 1860s.<ref>Otis E. Young Jr., ''Western Mining'', (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1970) 143, 202.</ref>

The city expanded rapidly in the 18th and 19th centuries, and was termed "Copperopolis".<ref name="encyclopedia"/> From the late 17th century to 1801, Swansea's population grew by 500%—the first official census (in 1841) indicated that, with 6,099 inhabitants, Swansea had become significantly larger than [[Glamorgan]]'s county town, [[Cardiff]], and was the second most populous town in Wales behind [[Merthyr Tydfil]] (which had a population of 7,705). However, the census understated Swansea's true size, as much of the built-up area lay outside the contemporary boundaries of the borough; the total population was actually 10,117. Swansea's population was later overtaken by Merthyr in 1821 and by Cardiff in 1881, although in the latter year Swansea once again surpassed Merthyr.<ref name="encyclopedia"/> Much of Swansea's growth was due to migration from within and beyond Wales—in 1881 more than a third of the borough's population had been born outside Swansea and Glamorgan, and just under a quarter outside Wales.<ref>Rosser, C. and Harris, C.C. (1998) ''The Family and Social Change: A Study of Family and Kinship in a South Wales Town''. Routledge</ref>

Copper smelting at Swansea declined in the late 1800s for a number of reasons: copper mining in Cornwall declined; the price of copper dropped from £112 in 1860 to £35 in the 1890s; in the early 1900s, mining shifted to lower-grade copper deposits in North and South America, and the lower-grade ore could not support transportation to Swansea.<ref name="H. Dennis 1963"/>
The [[Swansea and Mumbles Railway]] was built in 1804 to move limestone from the quarries of Mumbles and coal from the [[Clyne valley]] to Swansea and to the markets beyond. It carried the world's first fare-paying rail passengers on the same day the British Parliament abolished the transportation of slaves from Africa. It later moved from horse power to steam locomotion, and finally converting to electric trams, before closing in January 1960, in favour of motor buses.

===20th century===
Through the 20th century, heavy industries in the town declined, leaving the [[Lower Swansea Valley]] filled with derelict works and mounds of waste products from them. The Lower Swansea Valley Scheme (which still continues) reclaimed much of the land. The present [[Swansea Enterprise Park|Enterprise Zone]] was the result and, of the many original docks, only those outside the city continue to work as docks; North Dock is now [[Parc Tawe]] and South Dock became the [[Maritime Quarter|Marina]].
[[File:High Street Swansea the palace.png|thumb|High Street (1915)]]

In the [[Second World War]], Swansea's industrial importance made it a target of German bombing; much of the town centre was destroyed during the [[Swansea Blitz]] on the 19, 20 and 21 February 1941 (the ''Three Nights Blitz'').<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/sites/local_history/pages/swansea_blitz.shtml| title= Swansea's Three Nights Blitz| access-date= 24 May 2008| publisher= BBC| date= 3 September 2005| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081014004938/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/sites/local_history/pages/swansea_blitz.shtml| archive-date= 14 October 2008| url-status= live}}</ref>)

In 1969, Swansea was granted [[city status in the United Kingdom|city status]]<ref>London Gazette, issue no. 44986, 12 December 1969</ref> to mark [[Charles III of the United Kingdom|Prince Charles]]'s investiture as the [[Prince of Wales]]. The Prince made the announcement on 3 July 1969 during a tour of Wales.<ref>Prince announces city status for Swansea,''The Times'' 4 July 1969.</ref> Swansea obtained the further right to have a [[Lord Mayor]] in 1982.<ref>London Gazette, issue no. 48932, 25 March 1982</ref>

Within the city centre are the ruins of the [[Swansea Castle|castle]], the Marina, the [[Glynn Vivian Art Gallery]], [[Swansea Museum]], the [[Dylan Thomas Centre]], the [[Environment Centre (Swansea)|Environment Centre]], and the [[Swansea Market|Market]], which is the largest covered market in Wales.<ref>{{cite news 
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/3148686.stm |title= Tourism joins shopping at the market
|work= BBC News |access-date= 27 July 2007 |date= 29 September 2003 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20031003205511/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/3148686.stm |archive-date= 3 October 2003 |url-status= live }}</ref>
It backs onto the [[Quadrant Shopping Centre]], which opened in 1978, and the adjoining [[St. David's Shopping Centre (Swansea)|St David's Centre]] opened in 1982. Other notable modern buildings include the BT Tower (formerly the GPO tower) built around 1970, Alexandra House opened in 1976, County Hall opened in July 1982. [[Swansea Leisure Centre]] opened in 1977; it has undergone extensive refurbishment which retained elements of the original structure and re-opened in March 2008.

==Governance==
[[File:Guildhall and Brangwyn Hall, Swansea.jpg|thumb|[[Swansea Guildhall]]]]
[[File:Swansea 3.93929W 51.61792N.jpg|thumb|Satellite photo of Swansea]]

The ''City and County of Swansea'' local authority area is bordered by unitary authorities of [[Carmarthenshire]] to the north, and [[Neath Port Talbot]] to the east. The Urban Subdivision of Swansea covers all urbanised areas within the city boundary, with a population of 179,485, it is considerably smaller than the unitary authority.

The local government area is {{convert|378|km2|sqmi|0}} in size, about 2% of the area of Wales. It includes a large amount of open countryside and a central urban and suburban belt.<ref name="PhisicalDescription">{{cite web |url = http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=139
|title = Physical Description |publisher = City and County of Swansea |date = 21 August 2006 |access-date = 26 July 2007 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070808122346/http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=139 |archive-date=8 August 2007 |df = dmy-all}}</ref>

===Local government===
{{Main|City and County of Swansea Council}}

{{See also|List of portreeves and mayors of Swansea}}
In 1887, Swansea was a township at the mouth of the river Tawe, covering {{convert|4562|acre|ha|abbr=off}} in the county of [[Glamorgan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/place_page.jsp?p_id=1126&st=swansea|title=History of Swansea in Glamorgan&nbsp;– Map and description|work=visionofbritain.org.uk|access-date=11 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116095601/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/place_page.jsp?p_id=1126&st=swansea|archive-date=16 November 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> There were three major extensions to the boundaries of the borough: the first in 1835, when [[Morriston]], [[St Thomas, Swansea|St Thomas]], [[Landore]], St John-juxta-Swansea and part of [[Llansamlet]] parish were added; again in 1889, when areas around [[Cwmbwrla]] and Trewyddfa were included; and when the borough was enlarged in 1918 to include the whole of the ancient parish of Swansea, the southern part of Llangyfelach parish, all of Llansamlet parish, [[Oystermouth]] Urban District and Brynau parish.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/fulldesc_nofr?inst_id=34&coll_id=76539&expand=|title=Borough/County Borough / City of Swansea records|work=archivesnetworkwales.info |access-date=9 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605140817/http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/fulldesc_nofr?inst_id=34&coll_id=76539&expand= |archive-date=5 June 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10288680&c_id=10001043 |title=Swansea CB Glamorgan through time – Boundaries of Local Government District}} {{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 1889, Swansea attained [[county borough]] status<ref>The Welsh Academy Encyclopedia of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press 2008</ref> and it was granted [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] in 1969, which was inherited by the [[District of Swansea|Swansea district]] when it was formed by the merger of the borough and [[Gower Peninsula|Gower Rural District]] in 1974.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1582 |title=Swansea – Login|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |access-date=11 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122083811/http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1582 |archive-date=22 January 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1996, Swansea became one of 22 [[Subdivisions of Wales|unitary authorities]] with the addition of part of the former [[Lliw Valley]] Borough. The new authority received the name ''City and County of Swansea'' ({{langx|cy|Dinas a Sir Abertawe}}).<ref name="footnote_2">see [http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1 Swansea City and County] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708205506/http://swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1 |date=8 July 2014 }} and [http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/ncarules/rules3.htm National Council on Archives: Rules for the construction of place names] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051229000240/http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/ncarules/rules3.htm |date=29 December 2005 }}</ref>

Swansea was once a staunch stronghold of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] which, until 2004, had overall control of the council for 24 years.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3806811.stm | title=Council leader resigns after defeat | work=BBC News | access-date=29 July 2007 | date=15 June 2004 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040630093006/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3806811.stm | archive-date=30 June 2004 | url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] were the largest group in the administration that took control of Swansea Council in the 2004 local elections until the [[2012 United Kingdom local elections|2012 council elections]] saw the council return to Labour control. For 2009/2010, the [[Lord Mayor]] of Swansea was Councillor Alan Lloyd, and in 2010/2011 Richard Lewis was the Lord Mayor.{{update inline |date=March 2024}} The Lord Mayor changes in May each year.

===Senedd===
The [[Senedd]] constituencies are:
[[File:2024 Wales Swansea Constituencies map.svg|thumb|The three UK parliamentary constituencies covering the Swansea municipality from 2024: 1 = [[Gower (UK Parliament constituency)|Gower]], 2 = [[Swansea West (UK Parliament constituency)|Swansea West]] and 3 = [[Neath and Swansea East (UK Parliament constituency)|Neath and Swansea East]].<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=20 June 2023 |website=[[Boundary Commission for Wales]]}}</ref>]]
* [[Gower (Senedd constituency)|Gower]], current [[Member of the Senedd|MS]] is [[Rebecca Evans (politician)|Rebecca Evans]], [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] since 2016
* [[Swansea East (Senedd constituency)|Swansea East]], current MS is [[Mike Hedges (Welsh Politician)|Mike Hedges]], Labour since 2011
* [[Swansea West (Senedd constituency)|Swansea West]], current MS is [[Julie James (politician)|Julie James]], Labour since 2011.

The city also falls under the [[South Wales West (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales West regional constituency]] which is served by [[Tom Giffard]] ([[Welsh Conservative Party|Conservative]]), [[Sioned Williams]] ([[Plaid Cymru]]), [[Altaf Hussain (Welsh politician)|Altaf Hussain]] (Conservative) and [[Luke Fletcher (politician)|Luke Fletcher]] (Plaid Cymru).

===UK parliament===
The [[UK parliament]]ary constituencies covering Swansea and their [[Member of Parliament|MP]]s are:
* [[Gower (UK Parliament constituency)|Gower]]: [[Tonia Antoniazzi]], Labour
* [[Neath and Swansea East (UK Parliament constituency)|Neath and Swansea East]]: [[Carolyn Harris (politician)|Carolyn Harris]], Labour 
* [[Swansea West (UK Parliament constituency)|Swansea West]]: [[Torsten Bell]], Labour.

==Geography==
{{See also|List of places in Swansea|Geology of the Gower Peninsula}}
[[File:Mumbles Pier and Lifeboat Station - geograph.org.uk - 868363.jpg|thumb|Mumbles Pier]]
[[File:Three cliffs bay gower rb 200507.jpg|thumb|[[Three Cliffs Bay]]]]
[[File:The lock bridge and the Tawe - geograph.org.uk - 1606421.jpg|thumb|Trafalgar bridge and lock over the [[River Tawe]]]]

Swansea may be divided into four physical areas. The geology is complex, providing diverse scenery. The [[Gower Peninsula]] was the first area in the United Kingdom to be designated as an [[Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]] (AONB). Apart from the southeast corner, the whole of the Gower Peninsula is within the AONB.<ref name="SwanseaGeography"/> Swansea has numerous urban and country parklands.<ref>{{cite web |title = Swansea&nbsp;– Tourist Information |website = iknow-wales.co.uk
 |url = http://www.iknow-wales.co.uk/tourist_information/cardiff_south_wales/swansea/swansea_tourist_information.htm |access-date = 23 June 2008 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080518113138/http://www.iknow-wales.co.uk/tourist_information/cardiff_south_wales/swansea/swansea_tourist_information.htm |archive-date = 18 May 2008 |df = dmy-all}}</ref> The region has featured regularly in the Wales in Bloom awards.<ref>{{cite web |title = Wales in Bloom |publisher = Wales in Bloom |url = http://www.walesinbloom.org.uk/home-e.html |access-date = 23 June 2008 |url-status = dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080512082333/http://www.walesinbloom.org.uk/home-e.html |archive-date = 12 May 2008
|df = dmy-all}}</ref>

To the north are the Lliw uplands which are mainly open moorland, reaching the foothills of the [[Black Mountain (range)|Black Mountain]] range. To the east is the coastal strip around [[Swansea Bay]].  Cutting through the middle from the south-east to the north-west is the urban and suburban zone stretching from the [[Swansea city centre]] to the towns of [[Gorseinon]] and [[Pontarddulais]]. The most populated areas of Swansea are [[Morriston]], [[Sketty]] and the [[Swansea city centre|city centre]]. The chief urbanised area radiates from the city centre towards the north, south and west; along the coast of Swansea Bay to [[Mumbles]]; up the Swansea Valley past [[Landore]] and Morriston to [[Clydach, Swansea|Clydach]]; over [[Townhill, Swansea|Townhill]] and [[Mayhill]] to [[Cwmbwrla]], [[Penlan]], [[Treboeth]] and [[Fforestfach]]; through [[Uplands, Swansea|Uplands]], Sketty, [[Killay, Swansea|Killay]] to [[Dunvant]]; and east of the river from [[St. Thomas, Swansea|St. Thomas]] to [[Bonymaen]], [[Llansamlet]] and [[Birchgrove, Swansea|Birchgrove]]. A second urbanised area is focused on a triangle defined by [[Gowerton]], [[Gorseinon]] and [[Loughor]] along with the satellite communities of [[Penllergaer]] and [[Pontarddulais]]. About three-quarters of Swansea is on the coast—the [[River Loughor|Loughor Estuary]], Swansea Bay and the [[Bristol Channel]].

The geology of the Gower Peninsula ranges from [[Carboniferous Limestone]] cliffs along its southern edge from Mumbles to [[Rhossili|Worm's Head]] and the salt-marshes and dune systems of the [[Loughor estuary]] to the north. The eastern, southern and western coasts of the peninsula are lined with numerous sandy beaches both wide and small, separated by steep cliffs. The [[South Wales Coalfield]] reaches the coast in the Swansea area. This had a great bearing on the development of the city of Swansea and other nearby towns such as Morriston. The inland area is covered by large swathes of grassland common overlooked by [[sandstone]] [[Heath (habitat)|heath]] [[ridge]]s including the prominent [[Cefn Bryn]]. The traditional agricultural landscape consists of a patchwork of fields characterised by walls, stone-faced banks and hedgerows. Valleys cut through the peninsula and contain rich [[deciduous]] [[woodland]].<ref name="SwanseaGeography">{{cite web | url=http://www.visitswanseabay.com/media/pdf/o/j/student_info_geography_1.pdf |title=Student information&nbsp;– Swansea geography |publisher=City and County of Swansea |year=2007 |access-date=26 July 2007 |url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808205931/http://www.visitswanseabay.com/media/pdf/o/j/student_info_geography_1.pdf |archive-date=8 August 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Much of Swansea is hilly, with the main area of upland being located in the council ward of [[Mawr]]. Areas up to {{convert|185|m|ft|0}} in elevation range across the central section: [[Kilvey Hill]], [[Townhill, Swansea|Townhill]] and [[Llwynmawr, Swansea|Llwynmawr]] separate the centre of Swansea from its northern suburbs. [[Cefn Bryn]], a ridge of high land, is the backbone of the Gower Peninsula. Rhossili Down, Hardings Down and [[Llanmadoc Hill]] are up to {{convert|193|m|ft|0}} high. The highest point is located [[Penlle'r Castell]] at {{convert|374|m|ft|0}} on the northern border with [[Carmarthenshire]].
{{Panorama
|image = File:Swansea Wikivoyage banner 2.jpg
|fullwidth = 1006
|fullheight = 283
|caption = Swansea marina, Tawe basin
|height = 200
}}

===Climate===
Swansea has a [[temperate]] [[oceanic climate]] (''Cfb''). As part of a coastal region, it experiences a milder [[Climate of the United Kingdom|climate]] than inland. Swansea is exposed to rain-bearing winds from the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]], also cooling summer temperatures.

{{Weather box|location = Swansea/Mumbles Head (1991–2020 normals), extremes since 1973
|metric first = y
|single line = y
|Jan record high C = 13.5
|Feb record high C = 13.7
|Mar record high C = 19.5
|Apr record high C = 21.8
|May record high C = 24.1
|Jun record high C = 29.0
|Jul record high C = 29.0
|Aug record high C = 31.2
|Sep record high C = 25.4
|Oct record high C = 22.4
|Nov record high C = 16.9
|Dec record high C = 15.0
|year record high C = 31.2
|Jan high C = 8.3
|Feb high C = 8.3
|Mar high C = 9.8
|Apr high C = 12.4
|May high C = 15.2
|Jun high C = 17.8
|Jul high C = 19.6
|Aug high C = 19.7
|Sep high C = 18.0
|Oct high C = 14.7
|Nov high C = 11.5
|Dec high C = 9.1
|year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 6.3
|Feb mean C = 6.2
|Mar mean C = 7.0
|Apr mean C = 9.2
|May mean C = 12.4
|Jun mean C = 15.0
|Jul mean C = 16.9
|Aug mean C = 17.0
|Sep mean C = 15.4
|Oct mean C = 12.4
|Nov mean C = 9.4
|Dec mean C = 7.1
|year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 4.3
|Feb low C = 4.1
|Mar low C = 5.1
|Apr low C = 6.9
|May low C = 9.5
|Jun low C = 12.2
|Jul low C = 14.1
|Aug low C = 14.2
|Sep low C = 12.7
|Oct low C = 10.1
|Nov low C = 7.3
|Dec low C = 5.1
|year low C = 
|Jan record low C = -9.0
|Feb record low C = -6.5
|Mar record low C = -5.0
|Apr record low C = -2.0
|May record low C = 0.0
|Jun record low C = 4.0
|Jul record low C = 8.0
|Aug record low C = 7.3
|Sep record low C = 5.0
|Oct record low C = 0.4
|Nov record low C = -2.9
|Dec record low C = -5.5
|year record low C = -9.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 102.5
|Feb precipitation mm = 73.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 69.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 59.9
|May precipitation mm = 64.5
|Jun precipitation mm = 68.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 73.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 87.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 76.4
|Oct precipitation mm = 112.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 117.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 114.1
|year precipitation mm = 
|unit precipitation days = 1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 15.6
|Feb precipitation days = 12.1
|Mar precipitation days = 12.8
|Apr precipitation days = 10.6
|May precipitation days = 10.4
|Jun precipitation days = 10.3
|Jul precipitation days = 10.5
|Aug precipitation days = 12.0
|Sep precipitation days = 11.4
|Oct precipitation days = 14.9
|Nov precipitation days = 16.0
|Dec precipitation days = 15.9
|year precipitation days = 
|source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcjjm7j5g|title=Mumbles Head (Swansea) UK climate averages|publisher=[[Met Office]]|access-date=26 September 2023}}</ref> Infoclimat<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie/annee/1973/mumbles/valeurs/03609.html |title=Climatologie de l'année à Mumbles |publisher=Infoclimat |language=fr |access-date=26 September 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demography==
[[File:Swansea population pyramid 2021.svg|thumb|Population pyramid of the Swansea local authority]]
From 1804 until the 1920s, Swansea experienced continuous population growth. The 1930s and 1940s was a period of slight decline. In the 1950s and 1960s, the population grew and then fell in the 1970s. The population grew again in the 1980s only to fall again during the second half of the 1990s. In the 21st century, Swansea is experiencing a small amount of population growth; the local authority area had an estimated population of 228,100 in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wales.gov.uk/docs/statistics/2009/090326walespop09en.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514052919/http://wales.gov.uk/docs/statistics/2009/090326walespop09en.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 May 2009|title=Wales's Population A Demographic Overview 2009|access-date=11 January 2018}}</ref> However, by the 2021 census, this population growth has reversed its trend very slightly with the population declining by 0.2%<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population and household estimates, England and Wales - Office for National Statistics |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/bulletins/populationandhouseholdestimatesenglandandwales/census2021#population-growth-of-england-and-wales-between-2011-and-2021= |access-date=29 June 2022 |website=www.ons.gov.uk}}</ref>
Around 82% of the population were born in Wales and 13% born in England;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdf/1/9/CCS.pdf|title=2001 Census Socio Economic Profile|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327121419/http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdf/1/9/CCS.pdf|archive-date=27 March 2009}}</ref> 13.4% were [[Welsh language|Welsh]] speakers.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=140&articleaction=print | title=2004 Mid Year Estimates, Population Estimates Unit, ONS. Crown Copyright. | publisher=City and County of Swansea | year=2007 | access-date=26 July 2007 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927213648/http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=140&articleaction=print | archive-date=27 September 2007 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The population of the Swansea built-up area within the unitary authority boundaries in 2011 was about 179,485 and the council population was 238,700. The other built-up areas within the unitary authority are centred on Gorseinon and Pontarddulais. In 2011, the Gorseinon built-up area had a population of 20,581 and the Pontarddulais built-up area had a population of 9,073.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011 |title=2011 Census|work=nomisweb.co.uk |access-date=27 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728142532/http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011 |archive-date=28 July 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The wider [[Swansea urban area|urban area]], including most of [[Swansea Bay]], has a total population of 300,352, making it the third largest urban area in Wales and the [[List of urban areas in the United Kingdom|27th largest urban area]] in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/ks101ew | title=Census 2011 Usual Resident Population | publisher=National Statistics Office | year=2013 | access-date=27 July 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130706183236/http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/ks101ew | archive-date=6 July 2013 | url-status=live }}</ref> Over 218,000 individuals are [[White British|white]]; 1,106 are of [[British Mixed|mixed race]]; 2,215 are [[British Asian|Asian]]&nbsp;– mainly [[British Bangladeshi|Bangladeshi]] (1,015); 300 are [[Black British|black]]; and 1,195 belong to [[Other ethnic group (United Kingdom Census)|other ethnic groups]].<ref>[http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=276868&c=Swansea&d=13&e=13&g=417281&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1245079835090&enc=1&dsFamilyId=87 Population and Migration&nbsp;– Ethnic groups (Swansea)] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901235710/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=276868&c=Swansea&d=13&e=13&g=417281&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1245079835090&enc=1&dsFamilyId=87 |date=1 September 2012 }} Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 15 June 2009.</ref>
The Office for National Statistics 2010 mid-year population estimate for the City & County of Swansea is 232,500.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdf/7/q/MYE_2010_Briefing_Note_Aug-11.pdf |title=2010 Mid Year Estimates of Population |archive-url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121104190316/http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdf/7/q/MYE_2010_Briefing_Note_Aug%2D11.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 November 2012 |access-date=30 December 2011 }}</ref>

=== Religion ===
[[File:St Marys Church Swansea.JPG|thumb|[[St Mary's Church, Swansea|St. Mary's Church]] in St. Mary's Square]]
In 2001, 158,457 people in the local authority area (71 per cent) stated their religion to be [[Christians|Christian]], 44,286 (20 per cent) [[Irreligion|no religion]], 16,800 (7.5 per cent) did not state a religion and 2,167 were [[Muslim]] There are small communities of other religions, each making up a little under 1 per cent of the total population.<ref name="census religion table">{{cite web |title=2001 Census Key Statistics: Table KS07: Religion |url=http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=15008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004223507/http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=15008 |archive-date=4 October 2012}}</ref> Since 2001, there has been a significant shift in religious affiliation. According to the 2021 census, the proportion of Christians has declined to 41 per cent, while nearly half of residents (47 per cent) report no religious affiliation.<ref name="ons.gov.uk">{{cite web | url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS030/editions/2021/versions/1 | title=Religion - Office for National Statistics }}</ref>

[[File:Swansea Norwegian Church.JPG|thumb|[[Norwegian Church, Swansea|Swansea Norwegian Church]]]]
Swansea is part of the [[Church in Wales|Anglican]] [[Diocese of Swansea and Brecon]] and the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Menevia]]. The Catholic [[Episcopal see|see]] is based in Swansea at [[St Joseph's Cathedral, Swansea|St Joseph's Cathedral]] in the Greenhill area and the oldest Catholic church in the city is [[St David's Priory Church, Swansea|St David's Priory Church]], built in 1847.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St David's Priory - Swansea University |url=https://www.swansea.ac.uk/library/richard-burton-archives/information-about-our-collections/st-davids-priory/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=www.swansea.ac.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>
[[File:Christ Church Swansea - geograph.org.uk - 3674150.jpg|thumb|Christ Church (Church in Wales)<ref>Church in Wales church viewed across Oystermouth Road. The foundation stone was laid on 28 June 1871. Because of the shape of the restricted site, the church is unusual in having its altar on the north side, instead of the customary east side. The original bell turret was dismantled long ago because its weight made the walls bulge. The single bell seen here was erected in 1932. It is rung before every main service to call people to worship.</ref>]]

Swansea, like Wales in general, has seen many [[Nonconformist (Protestantism)|Non-conformist]] religious [[Christian revival|revivals]]. In 1904, [[Evan Roberts (minister)|Evan Roberts]], a miner from [[Loughor]] (Llwchwr), just outside Swansea, was the leader of what has been called one of the world's greatest [[Protestant]] religious revivals. Within a few months, about 100,000 people were converted. This revival in particular had a profound effect on Welsh society. Swansea is covered by the [[Methodist Circuit|Swansea and Gower Methodist Circuit]].

The [[Baptists|Ebenezer Baptist Church]] dates from November 1875 when the foundation stone was laid for Tabernacle chapel in Skinner Street. The first pastor, the Rev. J. D. Jones, was called in February 1876 and the new building was opened in July that year. The church was served by a number of ministers until 1911 when the Rev. R. J. Willoughby came to the church.<ref>{{cite web |date=17 January 2016 |title=More about the church&nbsp;– Ebenezer Baptist Church, Swansea |url=http://www.ebenezer.org.uk/about/more-about-the-church/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131050739/http://www.ebenezer.org.uk/about/more-about-the-church/ |archive-date=31 January 2016 |access-date=25 January 2016 |publisher=Ebenezer.org.uk}}</ref> The church has an organ by [[Harrison & Harrison]].<ref>{{youTube|LAGOu1xKfmk|The Organ of Ebenezer Baptist Church Swansea}}</ref>

The [[Norwegian Church, Swansea|Norwegian Church]] is a Grade II [[listed building]] in the [[Swansea docks|docklands]] area of the city. The church building was originally located at [[Newport Docks]]. The building consists of a [[Sailor|Seaman]]'s [[Mission (Christian)|Mission]] to the west end and a single [[Gothic architecture|gothic]] church to the east end. It was originally built as a place of worship [[Norwegian Church Abroad|for Norwegian sailors]] when they visited the UK. It was relocated to Swansea in 1910 at a site directly opposite the [[Sainsbury's]] supermarket on the River Tawe.

The city is home to 10% of the total Welsh [[Muslim]] population;<ref>{{cite web |date=20 July 2012 |title=Welsh Government – Home |url=http://wales.gov.uk/docrepos/40382/40382313/statistics/other/sa10a.pdf?lang=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720000426/http://wales.gov.uk/docrepos/40382/40382313/statistics/other/sa10a.pdf?lang=en |archive-date=20 July 2012}}</ref> Swansea's Muslim community is raising money to [[Swansea Mosque|open a new central mosque]] and community centre in the former St. Andrew's United Reformed Church. This would replace the existing central Mosque on St Helens Road and be in addition to the other three existing mosques (Swansea University Mosque, Hafod Mosque, Imam Khoei Mosque).<ref>{{cite news |date=23 December 2004 |title=New mosque 'would benefit all' |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/4118901.stm}}</ref>

Swansea is represented in [[Buddhism]] with the Dharmavajra Kadampa Buddhist Centre, Pulpung Changchub Dargyeling (Kagyu Tradition) and a branch of the international Dzogchen Community (Nyingma Tradition). Swansea Synagogue and [[Jehovah's Witness]] Kingdom Hall are both located in the [[Uplands, Swansea|Uplands]] area. Around 160 people in Swansea indicated they were Jewish in the 2011 census.<ref>{{cite web |title=Swansea – UK Census Data 2011 |url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/swansea-w06000011#sthash.7NGiUQ3a.cE8A1DYG.dpbs |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315140037/http://www.ukcensusdata.com/swansea-w06000011#sthash.7NGiUQ3a.cE8A1DYG.dpbs |archive-date=15 March 2016 |access-date=26 April 2019}}</ref>

The following table shows the religious identity of residents residing in Swansea according to the 2001, 2011 and the 2021 censuses:

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Religion
!colspan="2"|2001<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/query/construct/summary.asp?mode=construct&version=0&dataset=1607 |title=KS007 - Religion  |access-date=30 January 2016}}</ref>
!colspan="2"|2011<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/QS208EW/view/1946157259?cols=measures |title=2011 census – theme tables |access-date=8 January 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062523/https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/QS208EW/view/1946157259?cols=measures |url-status=live }}</ref>
!colspan="2"|2021<ref name="ons.gov.uk"/>
|-
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Irreligion|No religion]] || 44,286 || 19.8|| 81,219|| 34.4 || 112,687 || 47.3
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Christianity|Christian]] || 158,457 || 71.0 || 131,451 || 51.0 || 98,492 || 41.3
|-
|style="text-align:left" | Religion not stated || 16,800 || 7.5 || 17,823 || 7.5 || 15,985||6.7
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Islam|Muslim]] || 2,167 || 1.0 || 5,415 || 2.3 || 7,694|| 3.2
|-
|style="text-align:left" | Other religion || 447 || 0.2|| 1,042|| 0.4|| 1,175 || 0.5
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Hinduism|Hindu]] || 282 || 0.1 || 780 || 0.3 || 1,010|| 0.4
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Buddhist|Buddhism]] || 539 || 0.2 || 856|| 0.4|| 942 || 0.4
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Sikhism|Sikh]] || 153|| 0.1|| 278 || 0.1 || 346|| 0.1
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Judaism|Jewish]] || 170 || 0.1 || 159 || 0.1 || 159 || 0.1
|- class=sortbottom style="font-weight:bold;"
|style="text-align:left" | Total || 223,301 || 100.00% || 239,023 ||100.00% || 238,491|| 100.0%
|}

=== Ethnicity ===
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! rowspan="3" |Ethnic Group
! colspan="8" |Year (local authority boundaries)
|-
! colspan="2" |1991<ref name=":412">Data is taken from United Kingdom [http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/index.htm Casweb Data services] of the United Kingdom [http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/step1.cfm 1991 Census on Ethnic Data for England, Scotland and Wales] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405213012/http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/step1.cfm |date=5 April 2022 }} (Table 6)</ref>
! colspan="2" |2001<ref>{{cite web |title=Office of National Statistics; 2001 Census Key Statistics |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/census-2001-key-statistics/local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/local-authorities-ks06--ethnic-group.xls |access-date=2021-09-07 |website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk |archive-date=5 January 2016 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/census-2001-key-statistics/local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/local-authorities-ks06--ethnic-group.xls |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2011<ref name=":36">{{Cite web |title=2011 Census: Ethnic Group, local authorities in England and Wales |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks201ew.xls |access-date=2021-12-15 |website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk |archive-date=5 January 2016 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks201ew.xls |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2021<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ethnic group - Office for National Statistics |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS021/editions/2021/versions/1/filter-outputs/d2f0a39a-75b6-4995-b4bd-a5b68ff79027#get-data |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=www.ons.gov.uk}}</ref>
|-
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
![[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]: Total
!178,639
!98.2%
!218,495
!97.8%
!224,697
!94%
!218,052
!91.4%
|-
|White: [[White British|British]]
|–
|–
|213,736
|95.7%
|218,655
|91.4%
|208,703
|87.5%
|-
|White: [[White Irish|Irish]]
|–
|–
|1,290
|
|1,101
|
|1,111
|0.5%
|-
|White: [[White Gypsy or Irish Traveller|Gypsy or Irish Traveller]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|85
|
|93
|0.0%
|-
|White: Roma
|
|
|
|
|
|
|117
|0.0%
|-
|White: [[Other White|Other]]
|–
|–
|3,469
|
|4,856
|
|8,028
|3.4%
|-
![[British Asian|Asian or Asian British]]: Total
!2,232
!1.2%
!2,840
!1.3%
!7,803
!3.2%
!10,451
!4.4%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Indians|Indian]]
|409
|
|544
|
|1,477
|
|2,172
|0.9%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Pakistanis|Pakistani]]
|168
|
|322
|
|591
|
|954
|0.4%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Bangladeshis|Bangladeshi]]
|762
|
|1,015
|
|1,944
|
|2,865
|1.2%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Chinese|Chinese]]
|471
|
|625
|
|2,052
|
|1,932
|0.8%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: Other Asian
|422
|
|334
|
|1,739
|
|2,528
|1.1%
|-
![[Black British people|Black or Black British]]: Total
!328
!0.2%
!290
!0.1%
!1,983
!0.8%
!2,797
!1.1%
|-
|Black or Black British: [[British African-Caribbean people|African]]
|125
|
|192
|
|1,707
|
|2,227
|0.9%
|-
|Black or Black British: [[British African-Caribbean people|Caribbean]]
|77
|
|77
|
|172
|
|235
|0.1%
|-
|Black or Black British: [[Classification of ethnicity in the United Kingdom|Other Black]]
|126
|
|21
|
|104
|
|335
|0.1%
|-
![[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed or British Mixed]]: Total
!–
!–
!1,106
!0.5%
!2,160
!0.9%
!3,808
!1.6%
|-
|Mixed: White and Black Caribbean
|–
|–
|238
|
|548
|
|669
|0.3%
|-
|Mixed: White and Black African
|–
|–
|101
|
|280
|
|674
|0.3%
|-
|Mixed: White and Asian
|–
|–
|427
|
|781
|
|1,285
|0.5%
|-
|Mixed: Other Mixed
|–
|–
|340
|
|551
|
|1,180
|0.5%
|-
!Other: Total
!707
!0.4%
!570
!0.3%
!2,380
!1%
!3,383
!1.5%
|-
|Other: Arab
|–
|–
|–
|–
|1,694
|
|1,578
|0.7%
|-
|Other: Any other ethnic group
|707
|0.4%
|570
|0.3%
|686
|
|1,805
|0.8%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
!Total
!181,906
!100%
!223,301
!100%
!239,023
!100%
!238,491
!100%
|}

==Transport==
{{See also|Transport in Wales}}

===Road===
The [[M4 motorway]], with junctions 44 to 47, [[Bypass (road)|bypasses]] Swansea, replacing the [[A48 road|A48]] as the main east–west route. Both the M4 and the A48 connect with [[Neath]], [[Port Talbot]] and [[Cardiff]] to the east and [[Carmarthen]] to the west. The [[A483 road|A483]] [[dual carriageway]] links the city centre with the motorway at junction 42 to the east and junction 47 to the north-west.

On departing Swansea to the north, the A483 multiplexes with the A48 before continuing through mid Wales and terminating at [[Chester]]. The [[A4067 road|A4067]] connecting [[Mumbles]] with the city centre and continuing up the [[Swansea Valley]] towards [[Brecon]] is also a dual carriageway for much of its route through Swansea. Other notable local roads include the [[A484 road|A484]], which provides a link from [[Fforestfach]] west to [[Llanelli]], and the [[A4118 road|A4118]], the main route westwards from the city centre across Gower to [[Port Eynon]].

===Railway===
[[Swansea railway station]] is served by two [[train operating companies]]: 
* [[Transport for Wales Rail|Transport for Wales]] operates services to [[Llanelli railway station|Llanelli]], [[Carmarthen railway station|Carmarthen]], [[Haverfordwest railway station|Haverfordwest]], [[Milford Haven railway station|Milford Haven]], [[Tenby railway station|Tenby]], [[Pembroke Dock railway station|Pembroke Dock]] and [[Fishguard Harbour railway station|Fishguard Harbour]] (connecting with the [[Stena Line]] to [[Rosslare Europort railway station|Rosslare Europort]] and [[Irish Rail]] to [[Dublin Connolly railway station|Dublin Connolly]]). There are also suburban services to {{rws|Gowerton}}, {{rws|Llansamlet}} and {{rws|Pontarddulais}}. Inter-city services connect the city with [[Hereford railway station|Hereford]], [[Shrewsbury railway station|Shrewsbury]], [[Crewe railway station|Crewe]] and [[Manchester Piccadilly railway station|Manchester Piccadilly]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timetables |work=Transport for Wales |date=2 June 2024 |access-date=15 November 2024 |url=https://tfw.wales/service-status/timetables}}</ref>
* [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] operates [[inter-city rail|inter-city]] services to Carmarthen, [[Cardiff Central railway station|Cardiff Central]], [[Newport railway station|Newport]], [[Bristol Parkway railway station|Bristol Parkway]], [[Swindon railway station|Swindon]], [[Reading railway station|Reading]] and [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Train Times |work=Great Western Railway |date=2 June 2024 |access-date=15 November 2024 |url=https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/train-times }}</ref>

===Buses and coaches===
[[File:Swansea Bus Station.jpg|thumb|Swansea bus station]]
Bus routes in the area are operated predominantly by [[First Cymru]], with smaller operators such as [[Adventure Travel (bus company)|Adventure Travel]], South Wales Transport and DANSA also operate some routes in the city, most of which serve [[Swansea bus station]].

Local bus routes run throughout the city, including to [[Morriston Hospital]], [[Singleton Hospital]] and [[Swansea University]]. Regional routes connect the area with Brecon, [[Bridgend]], Mumbles and Cardiff.<ref name="RT">{{cite web |url=https://bustimes.org/localities/swansea |website=bustimes.org |title=Swansea bus services |access-date=15 November 2024}}</ref>

Coach services include:<ref name="RT"/>
* [[National Express Coaches]] operates services to [[Heathrow Airport]], [[Gatwick Airport]], London, [[Birmingham]], Cardiff, [[Bristol]], Llanelli, Carmarthen and Haverfordwest
* [[FlixBus]] operates to Cardiff, [[Newport, Wales|Newport]], Bristol, Heathrow Airport and London.

====Park and ride====
[[Park and ride]] services are operated from car parks at [[Landore]] and [[Fabian Way]].<ref>{{cite web
|title=Park and Ride |publisher=City and County of Swansea council |date=2 April 2008 |url=http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=22673
|access-date=27 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125191945/http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=22673
|archive-date=25 January 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> During busy periods of the year, additional services are operated from the [[Brynmill]] recreation ground.
Subsidised services to [[Fforestfach]] were cut in 2015 due to local authority financial constraints.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fforestfach Park And Ride Axed |publisher=The Wave |date=24 March 2016 |url=http://www.thewave.co.uk/news/local/fforestfach-park-and-ride-axed/ |access-date=6 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806222519/http://www.thewave.co.uk/news/local/fforestfach-park-and-ride-axed/
|archive-date=6 August 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Air===
[[Swansea Airport]] is a minor aerodrome situated in the [[Gower Peninsula|Gower]] providing recreational flights only. Further development of the airport is strongly resisted by the local communities and environmental groups.<ref>{{cite web |title = Swansea Airport No Expansion |publisher = WildlifeWebSite.com |url = http://www.wildlifewebsite.com/sane/ |access-date = 3 July 2008|url-status = dead |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130105073952/http://www.wildlifewebsite.com/sane/ |archive-date = 5 January 2013
|df = dmy-all}}</ref>

[[Cardiff Airport]], {{convert|44|mi|km|}} to the east in the [[Vale of Glamorgan]], provides scheduled domestic and international flights. It is approximately 40 minutes away by road or 70 minutes by rail.

[[Pembrey Airport]], {{convert|17|mi|km|}} to the west, is available for private flights.

===Sea===
[[File:SwanseaMarina.jpg|thumb|South Dock at Swansea Marina]]
[[Swansea Marina]] to the south of the city centre has berths for 410 leisure boats.<ref>{{cite web |title = Marina expansion plans get underway |publisher = City and County of Swansea |url=http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=11399
|access-date = 27 June 2008 |url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125191915/http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=11399 |archive-date = 25 January 2009 |df = dmy-all}}</ref> An addition 200 berths for leisure boats are located near the mouth of the River Tawe.<ref>{{cite web |title = Swansea Marina: Development Projects |publisher = City and County of Swansea |url = http://www.swanseamarina.org.uk/index.cfm?Articleid=9516 |access-date = 27 June 2008|url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124192740/http://www.swanseamarina.org.uk/index.cfm?Articleid=9516 |archive-date = 24 January 2009 |df = dmy-all
}}</ref> Further leisure boating berths are being constructed at the Prince of Wales Dock in the [[Swansea Docks]] complex. The Swansea Docks complex is owned and operated by Associated British Ports and is used to handle a range of cargo ranging from agribulks and coal to timber and steel.<ref>{{cite web |title=Port of Swansea |publisher=Associated British Ports |url=http://www.abports.co.uk/custinfo/ports/swansea.htm
|access-date=27 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514202801/http://www.abports.co.uk/custinfo/ports/swansea.htm |archive-date=14 May 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Swansea Docks consists of three floating docks and a ferry terminal.

[[Fastnet Line]] operated a [[Swansea Cork Ferry]] [[roll-on/roll-off]] service until November 2011, when the service was ended.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-16854680 |title=Swansea-Cork ferry: Fastnet Line to close service with loss of 78 jobs |work=BBC News |access-date=21 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119214943/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-16854680 |archive-date=19 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> A proposal for a catamaran-based passenger ferry service from [[Ilfracombe]] to Swansea, scheduled to begin in time for Easter in 2010, has yet to launch. It would have had two return trips a day taking around 50 minutes each way and carried cycles.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/8329714.stm |title=Spring launch for new fast ferry |work=BBC News}}</ref>

===Cycling===
There are four dedicated cycle routes in the local authority's area:
* [[Swansea Bay]]: The [[Maritime Quarter]] to the Knab Rock near the [[Mumbles Pier]].
* [[Clyne Valley Country Park]]: [[Blackpill, Swansea|Blackpill]] to [[Gowerton]] forming part of [[National Cycle Network]] (NCN) [[NCR 4|Route 4]].
* Along the east bank of the [[River Tawe]] forming the start of [[NCR 43|NCN, Route 43]], which terminates at Abercraf. [[Sustrans]] advise that it will continue northwards to [[Builth Wells]] once complete.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/route-43/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402152317/http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/route/route-43 |url-status=dead |title=Route 43 |archive-date=2 April 2015|website=Sustrans}}</ref>
* Adjacent to the [[Fabian Way]]: Forming part of NCN Route 4 and extending as the [[Celtic Trail]] to [[Chepstow]] and London.

City cruiser pedal vehicles are being introduced to the [[Swansea city centre|city centre]] in a joint venture between the council and Swansea [[Business Improvement District]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdf/p/d/03_-_Minutes__-_19_September_2008.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111014022905/http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdf/p/d/03_-_Minutes__-_19_September_2008.pdf |url-status=dead|archive-date=14 October 2011|title=City and County of Swansea&nbsp;– Minutes of the Licensing Committee, Friday 19 September 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swanseabid.co.uk/projects.php|title=Swansea BID – Projects. Retrieved 27 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317075219/http://www.swanseabid.co.uk/projects.php |archive-date=17 March 2012}}</ref>

In November 2007, a new bridge was completed over the Fabian Way which provides a one way park and ride bus lane and a shared-use pedestrian and NCN route 4 cycleway. The leaf-shaped bridge was shortlisted for the 2008 [[British Constructional Steelwork Association]] Structural Steel Design Awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=2171 |title=WAN:: Fabian Way Bridge by Studio Bednarski Ltd in Swansea, United Kingdom |work=worldarchitecturenews.com |access-date=6 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917042429/http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=2171 |archive-date=17 September 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Culture==
{{See also|List of cultural venues in Swansea|List of people from Swansea|List of public art in Swansea}}
[[File:Brangwyn hall.jpg|thumb|right|Brangwyn Hall's main entrance]]
The [[Royal Institution of South Wales]] was founded in 1835 as the Swansea Literary and Philosophical Society.

===Performing arts===
[[File:-SeneddSwansea (22524551390).jpg|thumb|Brangwyn Hall, one of the Senedd buildings]]
The [[Swansea Grand Theatre|Grand Theatre]] in the centre of the city is a Victorian theatre which celebrated its centenary in 1997 and which has a capacity of a little over a thousand people. It was opened by the celebrated opera singer [[Adelina Patti]] and was refurbished from 1983 to 1987. The annual programme ranges from pantomime and drama to opera and ballet.

Fluellen Theatre Company is a professional theatre company based in Swansea who perform at the Grand Theatre and the Dylan Thomas Centre. The [[Taliesin Arts Centre|Taliesin building]] on the university campus has a theatre, opened in 1984.

Other theatres include the Dylan Thomas Theatre (formerly the Little Theatre), near the marina, and one in Penyrheol Leisure Centre near [[Gorseinon]]. In the summer, outdoor Shakespeare performances are a regular feature at [[Oystermouth Castle]]; [[Singleton Park]] is the venue for a number of parties and concerts, from dance music to outdoor [[Proms]]. A folk festival is held on Gower.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/festivals_000.htm |title=The Living Tradition Festival Listing, 2007 | publisher=The Living Tradition |year=2007 |access-date=26 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070730050914/http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/festivals_000.htm | archive-date=30 July 2007 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Standing near Victoria Park on the coast road is the [[Patti Pavilion]]; this was the Winter Garden from Adelina Patti's Craig-y-Nos estate in the upper Swansea valley, which she donated to the town in 1918. It is used as a venue for music shows and fairs. The [[Brangwyn Hall]] is a multi-use venue, with events such as the graduation ceremonies for [[Swansea University]]. Every autumn, Swansea hosts a Festival of Music and the Arts, when international orchestras and soloists visit the Brangwyn Hall. The Brangwyn Hall is praised for its acoustics for recitals, orchestral pieces and chamber music alike.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/sites/swansea/pages/brangwyn.shtml | title=Brangwyn Hall & The Empire Panels | publisher=BBC | year=2006 | access-date=27 July 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060405174517/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/sites/swansea/pages/brangwyn.shtml | archive-date=5 April 2006 | url-status=live }}</ref>

Swansea is home to the [[Palace Theatre, Swansea|Palace Theatre]]. Located at 156 High Street, it is recognisable for its distinctive wedge shape. Originally built in 1888 as a traditional music hall, the building's original name was the ''Pavilion''. During its lifetime, the building has been used as a bingo hall as well as a nightclub.

In 2018, Singleton Park, Swansea was the home-city for BBC Music's 'Biggest Weekend' featuring [[Ed Sheeran]], [[Taylor Swift]], [[Sam Smith (singer)|Sam Smith]], [[Florence + The Machine]] and others. Priority was given to Swansea residents in purchasing tickets for this one-off 'day festival' (over 2 days); tickets were priced at £18 a day and all 60,000 tickets (30,000 for each day) sold out almost instantly.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/tickets-swanseas-biggest-weekend-sold-14277218|title=Tickets for Swansea's Biggest Weekend sold out in minutes |author=Katie Bellis |website=WalesOnline |access-date=27 May 2018 |date=12 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527202504/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/tickets-swanseas-biggest-weekend-sold-14277218 |archive-date=27 May 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Festivals===
[[File:St david's day swansea 2009.jpg|thumb|Red fountain water during the celebration of St David's Day]]

Swansea hosted the [[National Eisteddfod]] in 1863, 1891, 1907, 1926, 1964, 1982 and 2006. The 2006 event occupied the site of the former [[Felindre, Swansea|Felindre]] tinplate works to the north of the city and featured a strikingly pink main tent. In 2009 Swansea Council launched Wales's only week long [[St David's Week]] festival in venues throughout the city. ''The Beginning'' and ''Do Not Go Gentle'' are Festivals in the Uplands area of the city, where Dylan Thomas was born and lived for 23 years.

Swansea is known for its celebration of [[Beaujolais Day]], with people booking tables in restaurants and bars for the day up to a year in advance to ensure they can sample the year's newly released Beaujolais wine.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/one-welsh-city-goes-mad-13789041 |title=Why Swansea goes mad for Beaujolais Day |last1=Rees |first1=Mark|last2=Bellis |first2=Katie |date=20 November 2019 |website=[[Walesonline]]|access-date=12 June 2021}}</ref> Historian [[Peter Stead (writer)|Peter Stead]] argues that its rise in popularity there can be traced to the city's ''No Sign Bar'', owned in the 1960s by former [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales rugby union]] captain [[Clem Thomas]], who owned a house in Burgundy and could transport Beaujolais quickly and cheaply to south Wales, and suggests that it reflected Swansea's efforts to "gentrify and intellectualise itself" at the time. In 2015, it was estimated that Beaujolais Day contributed £5&nbsp;million to the local economy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-38000337 |title=Why is Swansea leading a Beaujolais Day revival? |last=Prior |first=Neil |date=17 November 2016 |website=[[bbc.co.uk]] |access-date=12 June 2021}}</ref>

===Welsh language===
There are many [[Welsh language]] chapels in the area. Welsh-medium education is a popular and growing choice for both English- and Welsh-speaking families. Just over 1,600 secondary pupils were educated through the medium of Welsh in 2017. Nearly double this figure, 3,063 pupils, are currently educated through the medium of Welsh in the primary sector. The 2014 Swansea Pre-School survey showed that 35% of parents across the city and county of Swansea would select a Welsh education for their children if there was a local Welsh school available to them. 45% of the rural council ward [[Mawr]] are able to speak [[Welsh language|Welsh]], as can 38% of the ward of [[Pontarddulais (electoral ward)|Pontarddulais]]. [[Clydach (electoral ward)|Clydach]], [[Kingsbridge, Swansea|Kingsbridge]] and [[Upper Loughor]] all have levels of more than 20%. By contrast, the urban [[St. Thomas, Swansea|St. Thomas]] has one of the lowest figures in Wales, at 6.4%, a figure only barely lower than [[Penderry]] and [[Townhill, Swansea|Townhill]] wards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bwrdd-yr-iaith.org.uk/download.php?id=2082.6 |title=Results of the 2001 Census of Population on the Language in Electoral Wards |publisher=Welsh Language Board |year=2007 |access-date=26 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060220090448/http://www.bwrdd-yr-iaith.org.uk/download.php?id=2082.6 |archive-date=20 February 2006 }}</ref>

===Food===
{{See also|Cuisine of Swansea}}
Local produce includes [[cockle (bivalve)|cockle]]s and [[laverbread]] sourced from the [[River Loughor#Estuary|Loughor estuary]]. [[Salt marsh]] [[Lamb and mutton|lamb]], raised in the salt marshes of the estuary, is also a local speciality.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article4198041.ece ''Food detective: Salt marsh lamb''] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013155445/http://timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article4198041.ece |date=13 October 2008 }}- ''The Times''</ref>

===Listed buildings===
[[File:SwanseaCastle.jpg|thumb|[[Swansea Castle]] ruins]]
The city has three [[Listed building|Grade One listed buildings]]: [[Swansea Castle]], the [[Tabernacle Chapel, Morriston]] and the [[Swansea Guildhall]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1524 |title=Listed building index |publisher=City and County of Swansea |access-date=30 April 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809215656/http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1524 |archive-date=9 August 2014}}</ref> Swansea Castle was an impressive building occupying a strategic position above the River Tawe. The ruins that are visible today date from the late 13th and early 14th centuries. Today, the castle is hemmed in by modern buildings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.castlewales.com/swansea.html |title=Swansea Castle |author=Thomas, Jeffrey L. |year=2009 |work=Castles of Wales |access-date=30 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509055841/http://www.castlewales.com/swansea.html |archive-date=9 May 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Tabernacle Chapel at Morriston was built in 1872 by John Humphreys of Swansea. A unique feature is the use of semi-circular arches. The building has been described as the "Nonconformist Cathedral of Wales" and has been listed as Grade I on the basis that it is "the most ambitious grand chapel in Wales, its interior and fittings remain virtually unaltered".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.llgc.org.uk/ardd/pensaeri/arch010.htm |title=Libanus (Tabernacle) Chapel, Morriston |work=Religious Architecture |publisher=The National Library of Wales |access-date=30 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601040751/https://www.llgc.org.uk/ardd/pensaeri/arch010.htm |archive-date=1 June 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Guildhall is one of the main office buildings in the centre of the city and was designed by [[Percy Thomas]] and opened in 1934. It is faced in white [[Portland stone]] and includes a tall clock-tower which makes it a landmark. The building comprises the City Hall, the [[Brangwyn Hall]] concert venue and the County Law Courts. It is considered "the most important building in Wales of its period".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-14594-swansea-new-guildhall-uplands |title=Swansea New Guildhall |publisher=British Listed Buildings |access-date=30 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304235749/http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-14594-swansea-new-guildhall-uplands |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:Wind Street, Swansea (Recreated) - geograph.org.uk - 361107.jpg|thumb|Wind Street]]
In addition to these, there are a number of Grade II* listed buildings; Ebenezer Baptist Chapel and its Hall in Ebenezer Street; the [[Glynn Vivian Art Gallery]]; the Midland Bank building; the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Kingsway, along with its Hall and School blocks; the Offices of Associated British Ports in Pier Street; the Royal Institution of South Wales building, now [[Swansea Museum]] in Victoria Road; and the Old Guildhall in Somerset Place.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wales/swansea/castle#.VyQ-UOTGA4D |title=Listed Buildings in Swansea, Wales |publisher=British Listed Buildings |access-date=30 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519124103/http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wales/swansea/castle#.VyQ-UOTGA4D |archive-date=19 May 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Sport==
{{Further|Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea RFC|Ospreys (rugby union){{!}}Ospreys}}
[[File:New Morfa Stadium - geograph.org.uk - 32243.jpg|thumb|The Swansea.com Stadium, formerly known as the Liberty Stadium]]
Swansea City A.F.C. was founded in 1912 and is the city's main football association team. Originally playing at the [[Vetch Field]], they moved to the [[Swansea.com Stadium]] (then known as the Liberty Stadium) at the start of the 2005–06 season, winning promotion to League One in their final year at their old stadium. The team presently play in the [[English Championship]], after spending seven seasons in the English [[Premier League]]. The Football Association of Wales had decided that for the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, Wales would play all of their home ties at either the [[Cardiff City Stadium]] or the Liberty Stadium.

Swansea has four association football clubs that play in the [[Welsh football league system]]: [[Swansea University F.C.]], [[Garden Village F.C.|Garden Village]], [[South Gower A.F.C.|South Gower]] and [[West End F.C.|West End]].

[[File:Swansea Cricket and Football Club - geograph.org.uk - 1485873.jpg|thumb|Swansea Rugby and Cricket Club]]

Swansea is home to Swansea Rugby Football Club (Swansea RFC), a founder member of the [[Welsh Rugby Union]] and one of the most important teams in the early history of Welsh [[rugby union]]. Playing out of [[St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground]] the club not only produced several of the greatest Welsh rugby superstars, including [[Billy Bancroft]] and [[Billy Trew]], they also hosted national touring sides from Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. Known as the ''All Whites'', Swansea kept a constant supply of players that filled the Welsh ranks in the early history of the game. In 1935 Swansea became the first club side to beat the [[New Zealand national rugby union team|All Blacks]].

In 2003, Swansea RFC merged with [[Neath RFC]] to form the ''Ospreys''. Swansea RFC remained at St Helen's in semi-professional form, but the Ospreys moved into the Liberty Stadium in Landore for the start of the 2005–06 season. Neath-Swansea rugby games used to be hotly contested matches, such that there was some debate about whether a team incorporating both areas was possible. The team came fifth in the [[Pro14|Celtic League]] in their first year of existence and topped that league in their second year. By 2012, they had won the league a then-record four times.

[[St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground]] is the home of [[Swansea RFC]] and [[Glamorgan County Cricket Club]] have previously played matches there.<ref>{{cite web |title = Glamorgan First-Class Matches played on St Helen's, Swansea |publisher = Cricket Archive |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/Grounds/780_f.html |access-date = 27 June 2006 |url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070515133143/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/Grounds/780_f.html
 |archive-date = 15 May 2007 |df = dmy-all}}</ref> In this ground, Sir [[Garfield Sobers]] hit six sixes in one over; the first time this was achieved in a game of [[first-class cricket]]. The final ball landed on the ground past the Cricketers' pub just outside the ground.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/homes/antiques/tm_headline=two-pieces-of-welsh-sporting-history-auctioned&method=full&objectid=18102661&siteid=50082-name_page.html | title=Two pieces of Welsh sporting history auctioned | publisher=icWales.co.uk |year=2006| access-date=27 July 2007 }}</ref> It is also the home of the tallest floodlight stand in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/History/St_Helens/pictures/st_helens_6.jpg |title=Cricket archive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107020047/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/History/St_Helens/pictures/st_helens_6.jpg |archive-date=7 November 2012}}</ref>

Swansea's [[rugby league]] side plays {{convert|13|mi|km|0|abbr=off}} from Swansea in the small town of [[Ystalyfera]]. They are known as the ''Swansea Valley Miners'', but were formed as the ''Swansea Bulls'' in 2002.

The [[Swansea Bowls Stadium]] opened in early 2008. The stadium hosted the World Indoor Singles and Mixed Pairs Championship in April 2008 and the Gravelles Welsh International Open Bowls Championships in 2009.

==Future plans==
[[File:The Tower, Meridian Quay 2015.JPG|thumb|upright=.7|[[The Tower, Meridian Quay]] – tallest building in Wales]]
Swansea city centre is undergoing a £1&nbsp;billion transformation scheme.<ref>[http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=21491] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812231325/http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=21491|date=12 August 2014}}</ref> A large area of the city is earmarked for redevelopment. A new city-centre retail precinct is planned involving demolition of the dilapidated [[St. David's Shopping Centre (Swansea)|St. David's Shopping Centre]] which has three or four traders, about 13% of the retail space in the centre and the [[Quadrant Shopping Centre]]. Including relocation of the [[Tesco]] Superstore near to the city's [[Sainsbury's]] store in [[Parc Tawe]], the new retail precinct will be almost four times the size of the Quadrant Centre. The city centre is also being brightened up with street art and new walkways, along with the first phase of the David Evans&nbsp;– Castle Street development. New green spaces will be provided in conjunction with the proposed Quadrant Square and Grand Theatre Square. Redevelopment of the Oxford Street car park and Lower Oxford Street arcades are also planned.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=13786 |title = City Centre Strategic Framework |publisher = City and County of Swansea |year=2007 |access-date = 27 July 2007 |url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808165234/http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=13786 |archive-date = 8 August 2007 |df = dmy-all}}</ref>

At the sea front, [[The Tower, Meridian Quay]] is now Wales's tallest building at a height of {{convert|107|m|ft|}} with a restaurant on the top (29th) floor. It was under construction adjacent [[Swansea Marina]] until 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.skyscrapernews.net/news.php?ref=641 |title = Work Begins on Wales Tallest |access-date = 24 May 2008
|publisher = Skyscrapernews.com |date = 26 June 2006
|url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090121035156/http://www.skyscrapernews.net/news.php?ref=641 |archive-date = 21 January 2009|df = dmy-all}}</ref>

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Swansea}}

[[File:Technium from sainsbury.JPG|thumb|The Technium centre, one of the first of the new buildings built as part of the SA1 development scheme at Swansea Docks]]
[[File:Technium Square Swansea - geograph.org.uk - 1605758.jpg|thumb|Part of the Swansea Waterfront developments]]

Swansea originally developed as centre for [[metals]] and mining, especially the copper industry, from the beginning of the 18th century. The industry reached its apogee in the 1880s, when 60% of the copper ores imported to Britain were smelted in the [[Lower Swansea valley]].<ref>Jenkins, P (1992) A History of Modern Wales 1536–1990. Harlow: Longman.</ref> However, by the end of the [[Second World War]] these heavy industries were in decline, and over the post-war decades Swansea shared in the general trend towards a post-industrial, [[service sector]] economy.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Joseph |first=S. Gordon|title=Swansea and Cardiff: Industry and Amenity |date=1959 |journal=Official Architecture and Planning |volume=22 |issue=6 |pages=257–264|jstor=44128324}}</ref>

Of the 105,900 people estimated to work within the City and County of Swansea, over 90% are employed in the service sectors, with relatively high shares (compared to the Welsh and UK averages) in ''public administration, education & health'' and ''banking, finance & insurance'',<ref name="Profile Oct 08">{{cite web |url=http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdf/9/g/Swansea_Economic_Profile_Oct08.pdf |title=Swansea Economic Profile October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327121427/http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdf/9/g/Swansea_Economic_Profile_Oct08.pdf |archive-date=27 March 2009}}</ref> and correspondingly high proportions of employment in occupations associated with the service sector, including professional, administrative/secretarial and sales/customer service occupations. The local authority believes this pattern reflects Swansea's role as a service centre for South West Wales.<ref name="Profile Oct 08"/>

Economic activity and employment rates in Swansea were slightly above the Welsh average in October 2008, but lower than the UK average.<ref name="Profile Oct 08"/> In 2005, [[Gross value added|GVA]] per head in Swansea was £14,302&nbsp;– nearly 4% above the Welsh average but 20% below the UK average.<ref name="Profile Oct 08"/> Median full-time earnings in Swansea were £21,577 in 2007, almost identical to the Welsh average.<ref name="Profile Oct 08"/>

Swansea is home to the [[DVLA]] headquarters in [[Morriston]], which employs around 6,000 people in the city. Other major employers in the city are [[Admiral Group]], [[HSBC]], [[Virgin Media]], [[Swansea Bay University Health Board]], [[BT Group|BT]] and [[Amazon.co.uk]]. [[Virgin Atlantic]] also maintains its largest worldwide contact centre in Swansea; including reservations, sales, baggage claims and customer relations.

==Education==
[[File:Swansea Observatory.JPG|thumb|right|The [[observatory]]]]

===Further and higher education===
[[Swansea University]] has a campus in [[Singleton Park]] overlooking Swansea Bay. Its engineering department is recognised as a centre of excellence with work on computational techniques for solving engineering design problems.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.wda.co.uk/index.cfm/technium_sustainable_technologies/academic_expertise/en6579 | title=Academic Expertise | publisher=WDA | year=2007 | access-date=27 July 2007 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200257/https://www.wda.co.uk/index.cfm/technium_sustainable_technologies/academic_expertise/en6579 | archive-date=27 September 2007 | df=dmy-all }}; {{cite web | url=http://www.swan.ac.uk/engineering/Research/CivilandComputationalEngineeringCentre/KnowledgeTransfer/ | title=Knowledge Transfer from the Civil and Computational Engineering Centre and''' Future Interaction Technologies''' | publisher=Swansea University | year=2007 | access-date=27 July 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930231911/http://www.swan.ac.uk/engineering/Research/CivilandComputationalEngineeringCentre/KnowledgeTransfer/ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> | archive-date=30 September 2007 }}</ref> The department of physics is known for its research at the frontiers of theoretical physics, particularly in the areas of elementary particle physics and string theory. In 2015, [[Swansea University]] opened a new Bay Campus situated in the Jersey Marine area of Swansea. In 2017, [[Swansea University Medical School]] was ranked as the third best medical school in the United Kingdom, behind Oxford and Cambridge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swansea.ac.uk/medicine/|title=Swansea University Medical School|website=swansea.ac.uk|access-date=7 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610103146/http://www.swansea.ac.uk/medicine/|archive-date=10 June 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Other institutions include the [[University of Wales Trinity Saint David]], [[Gower College Swansea]] and Swansea College.  Trinity Saint David was formed in 2010 through the merger of University of Wales Lampeter and Trinity University college Carmarthen under Lampeter's royal charter of 1828. In 2013, Swansea Metropolitan University became part of University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD). Swansea Metropolitan University was particularly well known for its Architectural Glass department, as well as its Teaching and Transport & Logistics degrees.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} Trinity Saint David also took over the [[Swansea Business School]], which was formerly part of the Metropolitan University. Swansea Sixth Form College Wales (''sscwales'') was founded in 2013 and changed its name to Swansea College in 2021.

===Schools===
{{See also|List of schools in Swansea}}
In the local authority area, there is one nursery school, six infant schools and five junior schools. There are 77 primary schools, ten of which are [[Welsh-medium education|Welsh-medium]], and six of which are voluntary aided. There are 14 comprehensive schools under the remit of the local education authority, of which two are Welsh-[[Medium of instruction|medium]]. In addition, there are six special schools.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdf/4/d/School_List_2006-2007.pdf | title=List of Schools 2006/2007 | publisher=City and County of Swansea | year=2006 | access-date=27 July 2007 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808205931/http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdf/4/d/School_List_2006-2007.pdf | archive-date=8 August 2007 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The oldest school in Swansea is [[Bishop Gore School]], founded in 1682. The largest comprehensive school is [[Olchfa School]]. There is one Roman Catholic comprehensive school&nbsp;– [[Bishop Vaughan Catholic Comprehensive School]]. Other secondary schools include Birchgrove Comprehensive School, Cefn Hengoed Community School, Dylan Thomas School, Pentrehafod Comprehensive School, [[Morriston Comprehensive School]] and Gowerton School. There are 2 [[List of schools in Swansea#Welsh medium secondary schools|Welsh-medium secondary schools in Swansea]]: [[Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Gŵyr]] and [[Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bryn Tawe]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Swansea – Welsh medium secondary schools|url=https://www.swansea.gov.uk/welshmediumsecondaryschools|access-date=12 February 2021|website=www.swansea.gov.uk}}</ref>

Independent schools in Swansea include [[Ffynone House School]] and [[Oakleigh House School]].

==Media==
The local newspaper is the Swansea edition of the [[South Wales Evening Post]]. The [[Swansea Herald of Wales]] was a free newspaper which was distributed every week to residential addresses until 2011 when the paper ceased to be in print.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nsdatabase.co.uk/newspaperdetail.cfm?paperid=1027 |title=Newspaper Reports |work=nsdatabase.co.uk |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303173759/http://www.nsdatabase.co.uk/newspaperdetail.cfm?paperid=1027 |archive-date=3 March 2016}}</ref> The Cardiff edition of the free daily paper [[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] is distributed throughout the city. The council also produces a free monthly newspaper called the Swansea Leader. [[Swansea Life]] is a monthly lifestyle magazine published and distributed in Swansea.

Swansea is served by five [[Independent Local Radio]] stations: [[Hits Radio South Wales]], its sister station [[Greatest Hits Radio South Wales]], [[Swansea Bay Radio UK|Swansea Bay Radio]], [[Heart South Wales]] and [[Nation Radio Wales]]. A community radio station, [[Radio Tircoed]], serves the city's western suburbs. Patients and staff at [[Singleton Hospital]] can listen to the hospital radio station, [[Radio City 1386AM]], and Swansea University runs its own radio station, [[Xtreme Radio]]. Providing the [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]] service, the local multiplex called [[Swansea SW Wales (DAB Multiplex)|Swansea SW Wales]] is broadcast from [[Kilvey Hill transmitting station|Kilvey Hill]]. This transmitter also provides digital terrestrial television in the Swansea area. As well as Kilvey Hill, the city is in the catchment areas of the [[Wenvoe transmitting station|Wenvoe]] transmitter (in the [[Vale of Glamorgan]]) and the Carmel transmitter in [[Carmarthenshire]].

The local television service, [[That's Swansea Bay]], went on air in July 2016, becoming the second local television station in Wales after [[Made in Cardiff]]. Bay TV Swansea is based near the [[University of Wales Trinity Saint David]]'s primary campus in Swansea.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-36764631 |title=Swansea's new local TV station goes on air |first=Huw |last=Thomas |date=12 July 2016 |website=BBC News |access-date=3 January 2024}}</ref>

Since 1924, the [[BBC]] has maintained a studio in the city;<ref name="encyclopedia"/> [[Dylan Thomas]] worked here in the interwar years, when the studio was used for the [[BBC Regional Programme]].<ref>Morgan, K. (2002) Rebirth of a Nation: A History of Modern Wales. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p.251.</ref> Currently it has facilities to broadcast live radio and television and is listed as a BBC regional studio.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.rts.org.uk/doclib/tvgeogaddresses.pdf| title= Royal Television Society Archive}} {{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In mid-2008, the BBC included Swansea in its ''Big Screen'' project and a large live permanent television screen has been sited in Castle Square.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/sites/swansea/pages/bigscreen.shtml|title=South West Wales|work=BBC News |access-date=5 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712150103/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/sites/swansea/pages/bigscreen.shtml |archive-date=12 July 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Independent filmmakers [[Undercurrents (news)|Undercurrents]] and Studio8 are based in Swansea, and the city plays host to the BeyondTV Film Festival.  Swansea has also hosted the annual Swansea Bay Film Festival, where past-winning directors have included Gareth Evans, Anthony James, Alun D Pughe and [[Andrew Jones (filmmaker)|Andrew Jones]].{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

===In popular culture===
Swansea has been used as a location for films such as ''[[Only Two Can Play]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056308/|title=Only Two Can Play (1962)|date=20 March 1962|publisher=IMDb|access-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029210131/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056308/|archive-date=29 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Submarine (2010 film)|Submarine]]'' and ''[[Twin Town]]'', the TV series ''[[Mine All Mine]]'' and in episodes of ''[[Doctor Who]]''.<ref>{{cite web
|url= http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_objectid=14669189&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=ex-doctor-who-baker--may-return-as-villain--name_page.html |title= Ex-Doctor 'may return as villain'
|access-date= 24 May 2008 |author= Robin Turner |date= 22 September 2004 |publisher= icWales.co.uk |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130801082425/http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_objectid%3D14669189%26method%3Dfull%26siteid%3D50082%26headline%3Dex-doctor-who-baker--may-return-as-villain--name_page.html |archive-date= 1 August 2013 |url-status= dead}}</ref>

Swansea was the first city in Wales to feature in its own version of the board game [[Monopoly (game)|Monopoly]]. The Swansea edition of Monopoly features 33 local landmarks, including the [[Mumbles Pier]] and the [[National Waterfront Museum]]; the game has been produced in both English and Welsh.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/4375562.stm |title=City launch for Swansea Monopoly |date=26 October 2005 |work=BBC News |access-date=21 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208150151/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/4375562.stm |archive-date=8 December 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Swansea was also featured in a television documentary, titled ''Swansea Love Story'', as part of the Rule Britannia series on [[VBS.tv]]. The film is of a rather graphic nature and features heroin users, as well as community members affected by the narcotic, while trying to provide some explanation for the increase in use.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/02/21/vbs.swansea.love.story/index.html |title=Swansea Love Story |publisher=CNN |access-date=25 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225030335/http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/02/21/vbs.swansea.love.story/index.html |archive-date=25 February 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Swansea is the hometown of Edward Kenway, the main protagonist of the video game ''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]''. This is because [[Matt Ryan (actor)|Matt Ryan]], the voice actor of Edward, is from Swansea.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/pirate-hero-new-assassins-creed-6074652|title=Pirate hero in new Assassin's Creed is a Welshman&nbsp;– Wales Online |author=Kathryn Williams |date=22 September 2013 |work=walesonline |access-date=19 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209075133/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/pirate-hero-new-assassins-creed-6074652 |archive-date=9 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Public services==
[[File:Swansea Crown Court.jpg|thumb|Swansea Crown Court]]
Swansea is policed by the [[South Wales Police]]. The regional headquarters for the Swansea area is [[Swansea Central Police Station]].

Ambulance services are provided by the [[Welsh Ambulance Service]], and fire services by the [[Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service]]. [[Swansea Airport]] is one of the country's three Wales Air Ambulance bases, the others being [[Welshpool Airport|Welshpool]] and [[Caernarfon Airport|Caernarfon]].<ref>{{cite web |title = Introduction to the Air Ambulances in Wales |publisher = Wales Air Ambulance |url=http://www.walesairambulance.com/index.php?p=information&sp=introduction |access-date = 27 June 2008
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403200606/http://www.walesairambulance.com/index.php?p=information&sp=introduction |archive-date = 3 April 2008 |url-status = dead |df = dmy-all}}</ref>

Local public healthcare services are operated by [[Swansea Bay University Health Board]], which operates two hospitals in Swansea: [[Singleton Hospital]] and [[Morriston Hospital]]; the latter provides [[Emergency department|Accident and Emergency]] services. Singleton Hospital has one of Wales's three radiotherapy departments.

[[Waste management]] services are coordinated by the local council, which deals with refuse collection and recycling and operates five [[civic amenity site]]s.

The electricity [[distribution network operator]] supplying Swansea is [[Western Power Distribution]].

[[Welsh Water]] provides [[drinking water]] supply and [[wastewater]] services to Swansea. There is a water treatment works at [[Crymlyn Burrows]]. Reservoirs which supply Swansea include the [[Cray reservoir]] and the Lliw Reservoirs, which are operated by Welsh Water.

The Local Gas Distribution company is Wales and West Utilities.

==Public order==
There was a high rate of car crime during the 1990s, with Swansea being dubbed as the "car crime capital of the United Kingdom". In 2002, the BBC described Swansea as a "black spot for car crime".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/in_depth/uk/2002/cracking_crime/2262344.stm | title=Police 'not soft' on car crime | work=BBC News | access-date=26 July 2007 | date=16 September 2002 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060530021606/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/in_depth/uk/2002/cracking_crime/2262344.stm | archive-date=30 May 2006 | url-status=live }}</ref> Car crime is a central theme in the film ''[[Twin Town]]'', which was set in and around Swansea and Port Talbot.

The football violence that Swansea experienced during the 1970s–1990s has considerably reduced; the only major clashes occurring between Swansea City supporters and Cardiff City supporters. Many matches between these sides have ended in violence in both Swansea and Cardiff. These two clubs have a long history of intense rivalry,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://website.lineone.net/~view_from_the_terrace/britsce.html | title=British Hooligan Scene | publisher=view from the terrace |year=1997| access-date=27 July 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070704103034/http://website.lineone.net/~view_from_the_terrace/britsce.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 4 July 2007}}</ref> so much so that it is described in the media as "tribal".

==Leisure and tourism==
[[File:LC building, Swansea.jpg|thumb|The [[LC, Swansea|LC]] leisure centre]]
A number of beaches around [[Gower]] are promoted to visitors.<ref>{{cite web |title=Swansea Bay Beach Guide |url=http://visitswanseabay.com/media/pdfwithtranslation/8/6/Beaches_Guide_English.pdf |publisher=City and County of Swansea |access-date=27 August 2010}} {{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Surfing is possible at [[Langland Bay]], [[Caswell Bay]] and [[Llangennith]], with the latter winning accolades from two national newspapers for the quality of its waves.<ref>{{cite web|title=Swansea Bay Sports and Activities&nbsp;– Watersports |url=http://www.abayoflife.com/en/visitingsports-and-activities/#water |publisher=Swansea Bay Futures |access-date=27 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707074115/http://www.abayoflife.com/en/visitingsports-and-activities/#water |archive-date=7 July 2011}}</ref> The {{convert|5|mi|km|0|abbr=off|spell=on|adj=on}} promenade from the Marina to Mumbles offers views across Swansea Bay.<ref>{{cite web |title=Swansea Prom |url=http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdfwithtranslation/3/j/Swansea_Prom_Brochure.pdf |publisher=City and County of Swansea |access-date=27 August 2010}} {{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The seaside village of [[Mumbles]] has a [[Victorian era|Victorian]] [[Mumbles Pier|pier]], small independent shops and boutiques, restaurants and cafes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mumbles|url=http://visitswanseabay.com/mumbles |publisher=City and County of Swansea|access-date=27 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605080900/http://visitswanseabay.com/Mumbles |archive-date=5 June 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The south coast of Gower is the chief magnet for walkers, with a path stretching from Mumbles Head across the cliff tops, beaches and coastal woodland to [[Rhossili]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Conduit |first=Brian |title=Pembrokeshire and Gower Walks |year=1998 |publisher=Jarrold / Ordnance Survey |isbn=0-7117-0611-5 |pages=12–13}}</ref>
[[File:Exhibition Hall, National Waterfront Museum - Swansea - geograph.org.uk - 1460400.jpg|thumb|The National Waterfront Museum]]
On the waterfront, Swansea Bay has a {{convert|5|mi|km|0|abbr=off|spell=on|adj=on}} sweep of coastline<ref>{{cite web |title = Swansea Bay |publisher = Explore Gower |url = http://www.explore-gower.co.uk/Content/pa=showpage/pid=57 |access-date = 27 June 2008}} {{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> which features a beach, promenade, children's lido, leisure pool, marina and maritime quarter featuring the museums the [[National Waterfront Museum]] and [[Swansea Museum]], the oldest museum in Wales.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://swanseamuseum.wordpress.com/|title=Swansea Museum |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212013757/http://swanseamuseum.wordpress.com/ |archive-date=12 December 2013}}</ref> Also situated in the maritime quarter is the [[Dylan Thomas Centre]], which celebrates the life and work of the author with its permanent exhibition 'Dylan Thomas&nbsp;– Man and Myth',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dylanthomas.com/index.cfm?articleid=4458&splashpage=false |title=Dylan Thomas Centre |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115132954/http://www.dylanthomas.com/index.cfm?articleid=4458&splashpage=false |archive-date=15 November 2013}}</ref> and [[Mission Gallery]], a unique [[art gallery]] also in the heart of the Maritime Quarter which hosts a range of exhibitions from various art disciplines; it also host a craft space, with ranging works from local and international artists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.missiongallery.co.uk/ |title=Mission Gallery |work=missiongallery.co.uk |access-date=19 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509104015/http://www.missiongallery.co.uk/ |archive-date=9 May 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Dylan Thomas Centre is the focal point for the annual Dylan Thomas Festival (27 October&nbsp;– 9 November). There is a permanent exhibition at the ''Dylan Thomas Birthplace and Home'' for 23 years in Uplands, which has been restored to its condition as a new house when bought by the Thomas family in 1914, a few months before Dylan was born in the front bedroom. The [[SA1 Waterfront]] area is the latest development for living, dining and leisure.<ref>[http://www.sa1swanseawaterfront.com/ SA1 Swansea Waterfront] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130104155138/http://www.sa1swanseawaterfront.com/ |date=4 January 2013}}</ref>
[[File:SwanseaBay.jpg|thumb|Sunset over Swansea Bay]]
Swansea Bay, Mumbles and Gower are home to various parks and gardens and almost 20 nature reserves.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=12116 |title=Swansea – Nature Reserves|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510070216/http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=12116 |archive-date=10 May 2013}}</ref> [[Clyne Valley Country Park|Clyne Gardens]] is home to a collection of plants set in parkland and host to 'Clyne in Bloom' in May. [[Singleton Park]] has acres of parkland, a botanical garden, a boating lake with pedal boats, and crazy golf. [[Plantasia]] is a tropical hothouse pyramid featuring three climatic zones, housing a variety of unusual plants, including several species which are extinct in the wild, and monkeys, reptiles, fish and a butterfly house. Other parks include [[Cwmdonkin Park]], where Dylan Thomas played as a child, and [[Victoria Park, Swansea|Victoria Park]] which is close to the promenade on the seafront.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1145|title=Swansea&nbsp;– Parks and green spaces|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=19 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507092034/http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1145|archive-date=7 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Oxwich Bay]] on the [[Gower Peninsula]] was named the most beautiful beach in the United Kingdom by travel writers who visited more than 1,000 beaches around the world in search of the perfect sands (2007). ''The Travel Magazine'' praised Oxwich for "magnificent and unspoilt" scenery and as a "great place for adults and children to explore".<ref>{{cite web |title=And the most beautiful beach in Britain is... |work=The Travel Magazine
|date=27 February 2007 |url=http://www.thetravelmagazine.net/i-941--and-the-most-beautiful-beach.html |access-date=27 June 2008
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606235229/http://www.thetravelmagazine.net/i-941--and-the-most-beautiful-beach.html |archive-date=6 June 2008 |url-status=dead
}}</ref> It has over three miles (5&nbsp;km) of sand and ''[[The Guardian]]'' named it one of Britain's blue-riband top 10 category beaches (2007).<ref>{{cite news
|title=10 sandy beaches |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2007/jul/14/beach.uk |access-date=27 June 2008 |location=London |date=13 July 2007 |first=Matthew |last=McCracken
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005112416/http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2007/jul/14/beach.uk |archive-date=5 October 2014 |url-status=live
}}</ref> ''[[The Independent]]'' newspaper hailed [[Rhossili Bay]] as "the British supermodel of beaches" (2006) and the best beach in Britain for breathtaking cliffs (2007),<ref>{{cite news
|title=The 50 Best: UK beaches (26–50)
|work=The Independent |date=26 June 2006
|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/the-50-best-uk-beaches-2650-480373.html |access-date=27 June 2008
|location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609032925/http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/the-50-best-uk-beaches-2650-480373.html |archive-date=9 June 2008 |url-status=live
}}</ref> whilst ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' listed it as one of the 25 best beaches in the world (2006).<ref name="hillend">{{cite web |title=Hillend Camping Park
|publisher=Hillend Camping  |url=http://www.hillendcamping.co.uk/camping.html
|access-date=27 June 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080513103100/http://www.hillendcamping.co.uk/camping.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 13 May 2008}}</ref> Thanks to its clear air and lovely golden sand, this romantic stretch of sand was voted the best place in the UK to watch the sun set (''[[Country Living (magazine)|Country Living]]'' magazine 2005)<ref name="hillend"/> and one of the top romantic spots in the country (''The Guardian'' 2007).<ref>{{cite news |title=10 Romantic Settings
|newspaper=The Guardian |date=14 July 2007
|url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2007/jul/14/beach.cornwall |access-date=27 June 2008 |location=London
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005112346/http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2007/jul/14/beach.cornwall
|archive-date=5 October 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Rhossili Bay|Llangennith Beach]], with its soft sands, consistent beach break and great facilities, was listed as the best place to learn how to surf in Britain by [[The Observer]] (2006)<ref>{{cite news |title=Learning to surf
|work=The Observer |date=13 August 2006
|url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2006/aug/13/surfing.watersports.unitedkingdom |access-date=27 June 2008
|location=London |first1=Demi |last1=Taylor |first2=Chris
|last2=Nelson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925095222/http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2006/aug/13/surfing.watersports.unitedkingdom |archive-date=25 September 2014
|url-status=live }}</ref> and one of the 10 'classic surfing beaches by ''The Guardian'' (2007).<ref>{{cite news |title=Top 10 UK surf spots |work=The Guardian
|date=11 October 2007 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2007/oct/11/surfing.top10 |access-date=27 June 2008 |location=London
|first=Alf |last=Alderson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827042712/http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2007/oct/11/surfing.top10
|archive-date=27 August 2013 |url-status=live
}}</ref> Gower also claims Britain's Best Beach, [[Three Cliffs Bay]]. The Gower landmark topped the BBC Holiday Hit Squad nationwide competition (2006)<ref>{{cite web |last=Turner |first=Robin |title=We love... Three Cliffs Bay |publisher=WalesOnline |date=26 September 2006
|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_objectid=17818375&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=three-cliffs-bay-name_page.html |access-date=27 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013075910/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_objectid%3D17818375%26method%3Dfull%26siteid%3D50082%26headline%3Dthree-cliffs-bay-name_page.html |archive-date=13 October 2012 |url-status=live
}}</ref> and was voted Britain's best camping beach by ''The Independent'' thanks to its superb setting and quiet location (2007).<ref>{{cite news |title=The 50 Best: Camping sites |work=The Independent
|date=26 June 2006 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/the-50-best-camping-sites-125-480374.html |access-date=27 June 2008
|location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630092625/http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/the-50-best-camping-sites-125-480374.html |archive-date=30 June 2008 |url-status=live
}}</ref> [[Three Cliffs Bay]] also made the final of the [[ITV (television)|ITV]] series ''Britain's Favourite View''&nbsp;– the only nomination in Wales and backed by singer [[Katherine Jenkins]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Gower Peninsula
|publisher=ITV |date=6 August 2007 |url=https://www.itv.com/Entertainment/reality/BritainFavouriteView/Weekone/TheGowerPeninsula/default.html
|access-date=27 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803202348/http://www.itv.com/Entertainment/reality/BritainFavouriteView/Weekone/TheGowerPeninsula/default.html |archive-date=3 August 2008 |url-status=live
}}</ref> Nearby [[Brandy Cove]] came sixth in an online poll to find the UK's top beach for the baby boomer generation (2006).<ref>{{cite web |title=Welsh beaches a mecca for the over-50s |publisher=WalesOnline
|date=17 August 2006 |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_objectid=17575780&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=dynamic-baby-boomers-vote-four-wales-beaches-into-the-uk-s-top-six-leaving--elderly--bournemouth-behind---name_page.html |access-date=27 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013075935/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_objectid%3D17575780%26method%3Dfull%26siteid%3D50082%26headline%3Ddynamic-baby-boomers-vote-four-wales-beaches-into-the-uk-s-top-six-leaving--elderly--bournemouth-behind---name_page.html |archive-date=13 October 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Beaches which won 2006 [[Blue Flag Beach]] Awards are: [[Bracelet Bay]], [[Caswell Bay]], [[Langland Bay]], [[Port Eynon Bay]] and Swansea Marina (one of the few Blue Flag Marinas in Wales). All of these beaches also won a [[Seaside Award]] 2006. [[Limeslade]] was awarded the Rural Seaside Award and the [[Green Coast Award]]. Other Green Coast Awards went to Pwll Du, [[Rhossili Bay]] and [[Tor Bay]].

===Activities===
Swansea has a range of facilities for activities including [[sailing]], [[water skiing]], [[surfing]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visitswanseabay.com/index.cfm?Articleid=13019 |title=Visit Swansea Bay&nbsp;– Watersports |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028161655/http://www.visitswanseabay.com/index.cfm?articleid=13019 |archive-date=28 October 2008}}</ref> [[walking]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visitswanseabay.com/index.cfm?Articleid=13016 |title=Visit Swansea Bay&nbsp;– Walking |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916185710/http://www.visitswanseabay.com/index.cfm?articleid=13016 |archive-date=16 September 2008}}</ref> and cycling.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visitswanseabay.com/index.cfm?Articleid=12997 |title=Visit Swansea Bay&nbsp;– Cycling and Mountain Biking |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122085455/http://www.visitswanseabay.com/index.cfm?Articleid=12997 |archive-date=22 January 2009}}</ref> Part of the [[Celtic Trail]] and the [[National Cycle Network]], Swansea Bay provides a range of traffic-free cycle routes including along the seafront and through [[Clyne Valley Country Park]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visitswanseabay.com/media/pdf/q/d/Cycling_Map.jpg.pdf |title=Swansea Cycling Map|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030183341/http://www.visitswanseabay.com/media/pdf/q/d/Cycling_Map.jpg.pdf|archive-date=30 October 2008}}</ref> The Cycling Touring Club [[Cyclists' Touring Club|CTC]] has a local group in the area.<ref>{{cite web |title=CTC- (Cyclist Touring Club) Swansea and West Wales Member Group |url=http://swanseacycling.webs.com/ |access-date=20 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327194607/http://swanseacycling.webs.com/ |archive-date=27 March 2012
|url-status=dead}}</ref> Swansea Bay, Mumbles and Gower have a selection of [[golf course]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visitswanseabay.com/index.cfm?Articleid=13004 |title=Visit Swansea Bay&nbsp;– Golf|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028161431/http://www.visitswanseabay.com/index.cfm?articleid=13004 |archive-date=28 October 2008}}</ref>

Prior to closure in 2003, [[Swansea Leisure Centre]] was one of the top ten visitor attractions in the Wales; it has been redeveloped as an indoor waterpark, rebranded the ''LC'',<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/3265851.stm | title=Swansea Leisure Centre to shut |work=BBC News |access-date=26 July 2007 |date=13 November 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313152055/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/3265851.stm |archive-date=13 March 2007 | url-status=live }}</ref> and was officially opened by Queen [[Elizabeth II]] on 7 March 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=10883 |title = Swansea's New Leisure Centre |publisher = City and County of Swansea |year = 2007 |access-date = 6 December 2007 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071102193320/http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=10883 |archive-date = 2 November 2007 |df = dmy-all}}</ref> The [[Wales National Pool]] is in Swansea.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/3913383.stm |title=National Pool 'not just for elite' | work=BBC News |access-date=27 July 2007 |date=21 July 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408155809/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/3913383.stm | archive-date=8 April 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Nightlife===
Swansea has a number of pubs, bars, clubs, restaurants and a casino.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grosvenorcasinos.com/casinodetails/?action=show_facilities&casino_code=208 |title=Grosvenor Casino Swansea &#124; One amazing venue&nbsp;– One great night out |publisher=Grosvenorcasinos.com |date=11 June 2013 |access-date=12 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124201713/http://www.grosvenorcasinos.com/casinodetails/?action=show_facilities&casino_code=208 |archive-date=24 January 2013  }}</ref> Swansea had two casinos until 30 August 2012 when Aspers closed. The majority of city centre bars are situated on [[Wind Street]]. Some venues feature live music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitswanseabay.com/index.cfm?Articleid=24785|title=Visit Swansea Bay&nbsp;– Nightlife|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122085602/http://www.visitswanseabay.com/index.cfm?Articleid=24785|archive-date=22 January 2009}}</ref> The [[Mumbles]] Mile, described by the BBC as "one of Wales's best-known [[pub crawl]]s", declined in the early 21st century and a number of local pubs were converted into flats or restaurants.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/6313023.stm |title=Closures shrink famous pub crawl |date=31 January 2007 |work=BBC News |access-date=29 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019230659/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/6313023.stm |archive-date=19 October 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Twinning==
Swansea is [[Town twinning|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.want2getaway.net/downloads/student_info_tourism.pdf|title=City & County of Swansea Economic Development Division, Tourism Student Information Pack|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627175806/http://www.want2getaway.net/downloads/student_info_tourism.pdf|archive-date=27 June 2013}}</ref>
* [[Cork (city)|Cork]], Ireland<ref name="Cork twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://www.corkcity.ie/services/corporateaffairs/internationalrelations/|title= Cork&nbsp;– International Relations|access-date=28 August 2013|last=Mulcahy|first=Noreen|work=Cork City Council|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130518004019/http://www.corkcity.ie/services/corporateaffairs/internationalrelations/ | archive-date=18 May 2013}}</ref>
* [[Mannheim]], [[Baden-Württemberg]], Germany;<ref name="Mannheim twinnings">{{cite web|url=https://www.mannheim.de/stadt-gestalten/partnerstaedte-staedtepartnerschaften-partnerstadt|title=Partner und Freundesstädte|access-date=26 July 2013|work=Stadt Mannheim|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108234147/https://www.mannheim.de/stadt-gestalten/partnerstaedte-staedtepartnerschaften-partnerstadt|archive-date=8 November 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques|Pau]], [[Pyrénées-Atlantiques]], [[Nouvelle-Aquitaine]], France
* [[Bydgoszcz]], [[Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship]], Poland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/twinning/twin-town-search.do|title=Local Government Association: Twin Town search|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119024519/http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/twinning/twin-town-search.do|archive-date=19 November 2011}}</ref>

It also has a friendship link with [[Nantong]], China.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jiangsu.net/news/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=305:nantongs-twin-city-swansea-wales-of-uk&catid=38:nantong&Itemid=37 |title=Nantong's twin city: Swansea, Wales of UK |publisher=Jiangsu.net |date=12 September 2009 |access-date=12 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115803/http://www.jiangsu.net/news/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=305:nantongs-twin-city-swansea-wales-of-uk&catid=38:nantong&Itemid=37 |archive-date=26 August 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{see also|Category:People from Swansea|List of people from Swansea}}
[[File:Statue of Dylan Thomas, Swansea.JPG|thumb|left|upright=.8|Statue of Dylan Thomas|alt=A bronze statue of Dylan Thomas in the Maritime Quarter, Swansea]]
* The poet [[Dylan Thomas]] is perhaps the best-known person from Swansea. He was born in the town and grew up at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, Uplands, where he lived for 23 years. He produced two-thirds of his published work from his bedroom, which has been recreated as it may have been in 1934; it is open for tours. There is a memorial to him in nearby [[Cwmdonkin Park]]. He described Swansea as an "ugly lovely town". In the 1930s, Thomas was a member of a group of local artists, writers and musicians known as [[The Kardomah Gang]], which met in the [[Kardomah Café]] in Castle Street, until it was bombed in the Second World War.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/dylan-thomas-and-the-kardomah-set-525736.html |title=Dylan Thomas and the Kardomah set |work=The Independent |access-date=15 September 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907032951/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/dylan-thomas-and-the-kardomah-set-525736.html|archive-date=7 September 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* Throughout the 19th century, the [[Vivian family (baronets and barons)|Vivian family]] did much to develop Swansea. Their wealth and influence came from large copper-mining, smelting and trading businesses in Swansea ([[Vivian & Sons]]), and is still visible today in their former family residences: [[Singleton Abbey]] (now used by [[Swansea University]]), [[Sketty Hall]], [[Clyne Castle]] and [[Clyne Gardens]]. [[Henry Vivian, 1st Baron Swansea|Henry Vivian]] became the first [[Baron Swansea|Lord Swansea]] in 1893.
* [[Rowan Williams]], former [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], was born in Swansea. He was educated at the state-sector [[Dynevor School, Swansea]] before reading theology at [[Christ's College, Cambridge]]. 
* [[Catherine Zeta-Jones]] was born and raised in Swansea and still owns a home in Mumbles. 
* Swansea is the home town of [[Non Stanford]], the 2013 ITU Triathlon World Champion.
* The thriller writer, [[Mark Ellis (Welsh author)|Mark Ellis]], was educated in Swansea.
* The American-born philosopher of Welsh descent [[Rush Rhees]] taught at Swansea University from 1940 to 1966 and is buried at [[Oystermouth Cemetery]] in [[Mumbles]].
* ''[[Doctor Who]]'' screenwriter [[Russell T Davies]] was born in Swansea.
* [[Princess Lilian, Duchess of Halland|Princess Lilian of Sweden, Duchess of Halland]] (1912–2013), married to His Royal Highness [[Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland|Prince Bertil of Sweden, Duke of Halland]].
* Actor [[Matt Ryan (actor)|Matt Ryan]] ([[Assassin's Creed]] [[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag|Black Flag]]/[[Constantine (TV series)|Constantine]]) is from Swansea. When Ubisoft was casting [[Edward Kenway]] for Assassin's Creed Black Flag, he was originally written to be from London. Matt auditioned with a London accent and got the part. When he went to record, they asked him where he was from and liked his actual accent so much they rewrote Edward Kenway to be from Swansea as well.
* Singer/guitarist [[Pete Ham]] and singer/drummer [[Mike Gibbins]] from the 1970s [[power pop]] band [[Badfinger]] were both born in Swansea. There is a [[Pete Ham#Blue Plaque|blue plaque commemorating Pete Ham]] in the city.
* [[Paul Grant (bodybuilder)|Paul Grant]], bodybuilder, featured in the documentary [[Pumping Iron]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Paul Grant |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1448319/Paul-Grant.html|website=The Daily Telegraph |date=3 December 2003}}</ref>

People from Swansea are known locally as "Swansea Jacks", or just "Jacks"; the source of this nickname is not clear. Some attribute it to [[Swansea Jack]], the life-saving dog.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swanseahistoryweb.org.uk/subheads/jack.htm|title=Swansea Jack&nbsp;– Swansea History Web |access-date=30 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024004833/http://www.swanseahistoryweb.org.uk/subheads/jack.htm |archive-date=24 October 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tourismswanseabay.co.uk/FAQ/index.asp#11|title=Tourism Swansea Bay |work=tourismswanseabay.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821111712/http://www.tourismswanseabay.co.uk/FAQ/index.asp#11 |archive-date=21 August 2008}}</ref>

==Freedom of the City==
The following people and military units have received the [[Freedom of the City]] of Swansea.

===Individuals===
* [[Vice-admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Lord Nelson]]: 14 August 1802.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/people-who-freedom-swansea-what-15831860|title = All the people who have the Freedom of Swansea and what it actually means|date = 20 February 2019}}</ref>
* [[William Hamilton (diplomat)|Sir William Hamilton]]: 14 August 1802.
* [[John Henry Vivian]]: 6 October 1834.
* [[William Ewart Gladstone]]: 26 May 1887.
* [[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]] [[Francis Grenfell, 1st Baron Grenfell|Sir Francis Grenfell]]: 11 October 1889.
* [[Henry Morton Stanley|Sir Henry Morton Stanley]]: 16 July 1890.<ref>{{cite web |title=FREEDOM OF THE BOROUGH OF SWANSEA, October 1892 |url=https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-3976005 |website=www.christies.com |access-date=27 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Henry Vivian, 1st Baron Swansea|Lord Swansea]]: 20 July 1893.
* [[John Jones Jenkins, 1st Baron Glantawe|Sir John Jones Jenkins]]: 19 June 1895.
* [[Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery|Lord Rosebery]]: 29 November 1901.
* [[Samuel Evans (British politician)|Sir Samuel Evans]]: 18 March 1908.
* [[Adelina Patti]]: 15 November 1911.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.breconbeacons.org/plan/visitor_information/craig-y-nos_visitor_centre/adelina_patti_exhibition |title=Adelina Patti Exhibition - Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales |access-date=26 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926034317/http://www.breconbeacons.org/plan/visitor_information/craig-y-nos_visitor_centre/adelina_patti_exhibition |archive-date=26 September 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Sir John Dillwyn-Llewellyn, 1st Baronet|Sir John Dillwyn-Llewellyn]]: 21 January 1914.
* [[David Davies, 1st Baron Davies|David Davies]]: 21 January 1914.
* Roger Beck: 21 January 1914.
* John Dyer: 21 January 1914.
* [[David Lloyd George]]: 19 June 1918.
* [[Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig|Lord Haig]] : 17 May 1922.
* [[Alderman]] David Matthews: 15 July 1924.
* [[David Williams (Swansea East MP)|David Williams]]: 15 July 1924.
* [[Harry McGowan, 1st Baron McGowan|Lord McGowan]]: 15 March 1939.
* William Owen: 15 March 1939.
* David John Davies: 15 March 1939.
* [[Robert Menzies|Sir Robert Menzies]]: 29 April 1941.
* [[Peter Fraser]]: 16 July 1941.
* [[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]] [[Bernard Montgomery|Lord Montgomery of Alamein]]: 16 June 1948.
* [[David Grenfell]]: 18 February 1953. 
* Daniel Evans: 18 February 1953.
* George William Peacock: 18 February 1953. 
* [[Percy Morris]]: 19 February 1958.
* [[James Callaghan|Lord Callaghan of Cardiff]]: 29 November 1993.
* [[Charles III of the United Kingdom|Charles III, King of the United Kingdom]]: 24 May 1994.
* President [[Jimmy Carter|James Earl Carter Jr.]]: 11 August 1995.
*  Gerhard Widder of Mannheim: 18 November 1995.
* [[Donald Anderson, Baron Anderson of Swansea|Donald Anderson]]}: 11 February 2000.
* [[John Charles]]: 4 March 2001.
* [[Rowan Williams]]: 31 July 2010.
* [[Mel Nurse]]: 28 April 2016.
* [[Chris Coleman (footballer)|Chris Coleman]]: 20 October 2016.
* [[Karl Jenkins|Sir Karl Jenkins]]: 4 October 2018.
* [[Alun Wyn Jones]]: 13 June 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2019-06-13/wales-captain-alun-wyn-jones-awarded-freedom-of-the-city-for-swansea/ |title=Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones awarded Freedom of the City for Swansea |date=13 June 2019 |access-date=11 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011010806/https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2019-06-13/wales-captain-alun-wyn-jones-awarded-freedom-of-the-city-for-swansea/ |archive-date=11 October 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Catherine Zeta-Jones]]: 24 July 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-49087213 |title=Catherine Zeta-Jones: Swansea freedom for Hollywood star |work=BBC News |date=24 July 2019 |access-date=26 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010095900/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-49087213 |archive-date=10 October 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Archived copy">{{Cite web |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/people-who-freedom-swansea-what-15831860 |title=All the people who have the Freedom of Swansea and what it actually means |date=20 February 2019 |access-date=26 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926013707/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/people-who-freedom-swansea-what-15831860 |archive-date=26 September 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Kevin Johns: 8 December 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/swansea-kevin-johns-council-freedom-25708493 |title=Kevin Johns 'humbled and honoured' as he's given the honorary freedom of Swansea  |last=Youle |first=Richard |date=8 December 2022 |website=Wales Online |access-date=11 December 2022 }}</ref>

===Military units===
* The [[Welsh Guards]]: 15 September 1948.
* The [[Welch Regiment]]: 17 February 1960.
* The [[Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers]]: 15 April 1978.
* The [[Royal Regiment of Wales]]: 20 February 1981.
* [[HMS Arethusa (F38)|HMS ''Arethusa'']], [[Royal Navy|RN]]: 27 June 1981.
* [[Her Majesty's Coastguard]] (Swansea Station): 8 December 1982.
* [[The Mumbles Lifeboat Station]], [[Royal National Lifeboat Institution|RNLI]]: 23 April 1987.
* The [[Royal Welch Fusiliers]]: 20 January 1994.
* [[HMS Scott (H131)|HMS ''Scott'']], [[Royal Navy|RN]]: 15 September 2006.
* The [[Royal Welsh]]: 13 September 2008.
* 215 (City of Swansea) Squadron [[Air Training Corps]]: 12 March 2016. 
* [[HMS Cambria (shore establishment)|HMS ''Cambria'']], [[Royal Naval Reserve|RNR]]: 17 March 2018.<ref name="Archived copy" />
* [[157 (Welsh) Regiment RLC|157 (Welsh) Regiment]], [[Royal Logistic Corps|RLC]]: 27 July 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.swansea.gov.uk/article/52079/157-Welsh-Regiment-of-the-Royal-Logistic-Corp-set-for-freedom-march |title=Swansea - 157 (Welsh) Regiment of the Royal Logistic Corp set for freedom march |access-date=26 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926035655/https://www.swansea.gov.uk/article/52079/157-Welsh-Regiment-of-the-Royal-Logistic-Corp-set-for-freedom-march |archive-date=26 September 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.swansea50.co.uk/army-reserve-regiment-awarded-freedom-of-city/ |title=Army Reserve Regiment Awarded Freedom of City |access-date=26 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926035649/https://www.swansea50.co.uk/army-reserve-regiment-awarded-freedom-of-city/ |archive-date=26 September 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Wales}}
*[[Swansea Philharmonic Choir]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Swansea}}
{{Wikivoyage|Swansea}}
* [https://www.swanseacitycentre.com Swansea City Centre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129222550/http://www.swanseacitycentre.com/ |date=29 November 2020 }} (website run by council) (county)
* {{Cite NSRW|short=x|wstitle=Swansea}}

{{Swansea}}
{{Culture in Swansea}}
{{Economy and Industry of Swansea}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Swansea| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Wales]]
[[Category:Counties of Wales]]
[[Category:Glamorgan]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Wales]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 12th century]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Wales]]
[[Category:Principal areas of Wales]]
[[Category:Seaside resorts in Wales]]
[[Category:Swansea Bay]]