County town


In Great Britain and Ireland, a county town is usually the location of administrative or judicial functions within a county, and the place where public representatives are elected to parliament. Following the establishment of county councils in England in 1889, the headquarters of the new councils were usually established in the county town of each county; however, the concept of a county town pre-dates these councils.
The concept of a county town is ill-defined and unofficial. Some counties in Great Britain have their administrative bodies housed elsewhere. For example, Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, but the county council is in Preston. Owing to the creation of unitary authorities, some county towns in Great Britain are administratively separate from the county. For example, Nottingham is separated from the rest of Nottinghamshire, and Brighton and Hove is separate from East Sussex. On a ceremonial level, both are in their own respective counties geographically.

Great Britain, historic

England

This list shows towns or cities which held county functions at various points in time.

Scotland

  8. Wales

Following the Norman invasion of Wales, the Cambro-Normans created the historic shire system. Many of these counties were named for the centre of Norman power within the new county others were named after the previous medieval Welsh kingdoms. The 1535 Laws in Wales Act established the historic counties in English law, but in Wales they were later replaced with eight preserved counties for ceremonial purposes and the twenty two principal areas are used for administrative purposes. Neither of these subdivisions use official county towns, although their administrative headquarters and ceremonial centres are often located in the historic county town.
Name in EnglishName in WelshCounty town in EnglishCounty town in Welsh
Anglesey

Great Britain, post 19th-century reforms

With the creation of elected county councils in 1889, the administrative headquarters in some cases moved away from the traditional county town. Furthermore, in 1965 and 1974 there were major boundary changes in England and Wales and administrative counties were replaced with new metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties. The boundaries underwent further alterations between 1995 and 1998 to create unitary authorities, and some of the ancient counties and county towns were restored. Before 1974, many of the county halls were in towns and cities that had the status of a county borough i.e. a borough outside the county council's jurisdiction.

England, from 1889

England, from 1965

Wales

  1. Due to its better transport links and more central location, some administrative functions were moved to Llangefni.
  2. Cardigan was often still referred to as 'the county town' due to the name link. However, assizes were held at Lampeter while Aberystwyth housed the administration of the county council. Aberystwyth was therefore the de facto county town.
  3. Due to its better transport links and more central location, some administrative functions were moved to Llandrindod Wells.

    Ireland and Northern Ireland

Republic of Ireland

The follow lists the location of the administration of each of the 31 local authorities in the Republic of Ireland, with 26 of the traditional counties.
CountyCouncilsCounty townNotes
County CarlowCarlow County CouncilCarlow
County CavanCavan County CouncilCavan
County ClareClare County CouncilEnnis
County CorkCork County CouncilCork city
County CorkCork City CouncilCork city
County DonegalDonegal County CouncilLifford
County DublinDublin City CouncilDublin city
County DublinDún LaoghaireUntil 1994, formed Dublin County Council, with its administrative offices in Dublin city
County DublinFingal County CouncilSwordsUntil 1994, formed Dublin County Council, with its administrative offices in Dublin city
County DublinSouth Dublin County CouncilTallaghtUntil 1994, formed Dublin County Council, with its administrative offices in Dublin city
County GalwayGalway City CouncilGalway city
County GalwayGalway County CouncilGalway city
County KerryKerry County CouncilTralee
County KildareKildare County CouncilNaas
County KilkennyKilkenny County CouncilKilkenny
County LaoisLaois County CouncilPortlaoiseCalled Maryborough until 1929
County LeitrimLeitrim County Council
County LimerickLimerick City and County CouncilLimerick
County LongfordLongford County CouncilLongford
County LouthLouth County CouncilDundalk
County MayoMayo County CouncilCastlebar
County MeathMeath County CouncilNavanpreviously Trim was the administrative town
County MonaghanMonaghan County CouncilMonaghan
County OffalyOffaly County CouncilTullamorePrior to 1883, the county town was Daingean, then known as Philipstown
Roscommon County CouncilRoscommon
County SligoSligo County CouncilSligo
Tipperary County CouncilClonmel/NenaghUntil the Local Government Reform Act 2014, these were respectively the administrative towns of South Tipperary County Council and North Tipperary County Council
County WaterfordWaterford City and County CouncilWaterfordPrior to the merger of Waterford County Council with Waterford City Council in 2014, Dungarvan was the county town and administrative centre of County Waterford.
County WestmeathWestmeath County CouncilMullingar
County WexfordWexford County CouncilWexford
County WicklowWicklow County CouncilWicklow

Northern Ireland

Note – Despite the fact that Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland, it is not the county town of any county. Greater Belfast straddles two counties – Antrim and Down.