Morganwg

Morganwg, or Morgannwg in Welsh, is the Welsh toponym for Glamorgan, a historic region in southern Wales along the Bristol Channel. It denotes a traditional county and cultural area that covers much of the modern South Wales region, including the urban core around Cardiff and the surrounding valleys and coast. The name is closely tied to Glamorgan’s early medieval identity and remains a common Welsh-language reference to the same geographic zone.

Geography and people: The area features the Vale of Glamorgan’s coastal plain, the hills of the Glamorgan coalfield, and the major urban center of Cardiff. It includes coastal towns such as Barry and Penarth and inland communities like Pontypridd and Bridgend. The Glamorgan Heritage Coast forms part of the region’s coastline.

History: Morganwg has roots in the early medieval period, functioning as part of Welsh political formations and later as a marcher region in the Middle Ages. The area developed as a port and industrial center, especially in the 19th century, with coal mining and iron and steel industries shaping its growth. Cardiff grew from a small market town into a principal city and capital of Wales.

Modern administration: The historic name survives in Welsh usage as Morgannwg, even as administrative boundaries have changed. In 1974 Glamorgan was divided into West Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan, and South Glamorgan; since 1996 the area has been covered by the unitary authorities of Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, and Neath Port Talbot. Morgannwg remains a cultural and historical reference for the region.

Notable features: Cardiff Castle and Cardiff Bay are prominent landmarks, and the region includes the South Wales Valleys and the Glamorgan Heritage Coast.