Swansea (Welsh: Abertawe)

Swansea is a city (the second largest) and a county in south Wales, situated on the coast, immediately to the east of the Gower peninsula in the traditional county of Glamorgan. It has a population of over 230,000 and covers an area of 378 km². 13.4% of the population are Welsh speakers.

Geography

The city boundaries include a large amount of open countryside, and towns like Gorseinon and Loughor, along with the beautiful Gower peninsula.

Industry

In addition to being a popular tourist destination, Swansea is also a commercial centre, and the recently regenerated dock areas are home to some cutting-edge hi-tech industries. The University of Wales has a large campus as well as an Associate College of Higher Education in the city, with a combined student population of around 13,000.During the last 20 years, Swansea has experienced dramatic economic growth that has been generated by a structured investment programme, enhancing the City and its surrounds. The thriving, 470 acres Swansea Vale is one of the most significant development and investment opportunities in the City's history. A Joint Venture between the City and County of Swansea and the Welsh Development Agency, the award -winning development provides a prestigious location for residential and business use. Swansea is a regional shopping centre with a wide catchment area covering the whole of West Wales and as far East as Bridgend.

History

The English name is believed to come from "Sweyn's Ey" ("ey" being a Germanic word for "island") and to have originated in the period when the Vikings plundered the south Wales coast. Swansea grew to importance during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, becoming a centre of heavy industry.