Editing Vale of Glamorgan

{{Short description|County borough in Wales}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Vale of Glamorgan County Borough
| native_name             = {{native name|cy|Bwrdeistref Sirol Bro Morgannwg}}
| settlement_type         = [[Principal areas of Wales|County borough]]
| image_skyline           = {{multiple image |border=infobox |perrow=1/2 |total_width=270
 | image1 = Nash Point, Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales (26088435901).jpg
 | image2 = Penarth Pier Pavilion in the Rain - geograph.org.uk - 3872296.jpg
 | image3 = Ogmore Castle Castell Ogwr.jpg
 }}
| imagesize               = 
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = {{ubl|Left to Right:|Near [[Nash Point]] on the [[Glamorgan Heritage Coast|heritage coast]]|[[Penarth Pier]] and its pavilion|[[Ogmore Castle]]}}
| image_flag              = 
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = Glamorganarms.PNG
| shield_alt              = 
| shield_link             = 
| image_blank_emblem      = 
| blank_emblem_size       = 
| blank_emblem_type       = 
| blank_emblem_link       = 
| etymology               = 
| nickname                = 
| motto                   = 
| image_map               = Vale of Glamorgan UK location map.svg
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Vale of Glamorgan shown within [[Wales]]
| coordinates             = {{coord|51|27|N|03|25|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       = [[South Glamorgan]]
| subdivision_type4       = 
| subdivision_name4       = 
| established_title       = Incorporated
| established_date        = [[Local Government Act 1972|1 April 1974]]
| established_title1      = Unitary authority
| established_date1       = [[Local Government (Wales) Act 1994|1 April 1996]]
| named_for               = 
| seat_type               = Administrative{{nbsp}}HQ
| seat                    = [[Barry, Vale of Glamorgan|Barry]]
| parts_type              = 
| parts                   = 
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes    = <ref name="Council leadership">{{cite web |url=https://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/our_council/our_council.aspx |title=Council |website=Vale of Glamorgan Council |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref>
| government_type         = [[Local government in Wales#Principal councils|Principal council]]
| governing_body          = [[Vale of Glamorgan Council]]
| leader_title            = 
| leader_name             = 
| leader_title1           = [[Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom|Control]]
| leader_name1            = {{UK council control|GSS=W06000014}}
| leader_title2           = 
| leader_name2            = 
| leader_title3           = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MPs]]
| leader_name3            = {{Collapsible list |title=2 MPs
 |[[Stephen Doughty]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
 |[[Kanishka Narayan]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
 }}
| leader_title4           = [[Member of the Senedd|MSs]]
| leader_name4            = {{Collapsible list |title=2 MSs
 |[[Vaughan Gething]] ([[Welsh Labour|L]])
 |[[Jane Hutt]] ([[Welsh Labour|L]])
 }}
 +4 [[South Wales Central (Senedd electoral region)|regional members]]
<!-- Area -->
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="popstats">{{UK subdivision statistics citation}}</ref>
| area_total_km2          = {{UK subdivision area|GSS=W06000014}}
| area_land_km2           = 
| area_water_km2          = 
| area_rank               = [[List of Welsh principal areas|{{Welsh council area rank|GSS=W06000014}}]]
<!-- Population -->
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="popstats" />
| population_as_of        = {{UK subdivision statistics year}}
| population_total        = {{UK subdivision population|GSS=W06000014}}
| population_rank         = [[List of Welsh principal areas|{{Welsh council population rank|GSS=W06000014}}]]
| population_density_km2  = {{UK subdivision density|GSS=W06000014}}
| population_demonym      = 
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1      = 
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1    = 
| demographics1_info1     = 
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2      = 
| demographics2_footnotes = 
| demographics2_title1    = 
| demographics2_info1     = 
| 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             = [[CF postcode area|CF]]
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom|Dialling codes]]
| area_code               = 01656
| iso_code                = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|GB-VGL]]
| blank1_name             = [[GSS coding system|GSS code]]
| blank1_info             = W06000014
| website                 = {{URL|valeofglamorgan.gov.uk}}
}}
The '''Vale of Glamorgan''' ({{langx|cy|Bro Morgannwg}} {{IPA|cy|ˈbroː mɔrˈɡanʊɡ|}}), locally referred to as ''The Vale'', is a [[Principal areas of Wales|county borough]] in the [[South East Wales|south-east]] of [[Wales]]. It borders [[Bridgend County Borough]] to the west, [[Cardiff]] to the east, [[Rhondda Cynon Taf]] to the north, and the [[Bristol Channel]] to the south. With an economy based largely on agriculture and chemicals, it is the southernmost [[unitary authority]] in Wales. Attractions include [[Barry Island Pleasure Park]], the [[Barry Tourist Railway]], Medieval wall paintings in [[St Cadoc's Church, Llancarfan]], [[Porthkerry Park]], [[St Donat's Castle]], [[Cosmeston Lakes Country Park]] and [[Cosmeston Medieval Village]]. The largest town is [[Barry, Vale of Glamorgan|Barry]]. Other towns include [[Penarth]], [[Llantwit Major]], and [[Cowbridge]]. There are many villages in the county borough.

==History==
The area is the southernmost part of the county of [[Glamorgan]]. Between the 11th century and 1536 the area was part of the Lordship of Glamorgan.

In medieval times, the village of [[Cosmeston Medieval Village|Cosmeston]], near what is today [[Penarth]] in the south east of the county, grew up around a [[fortified manor house]] constructed sometime around the 12th century by the De Costentin family.{{sfn| Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |2000|p=475}} The De Costentins, who originated on the Cotentin peninsula in northern France,{{sfn|Barrow|1980|p=66}} were among the first [[Normans|Norman]] [[Norman invasion of Wales|invaders of Wales]] in the early 12th century following [[William the Conqueror]]'s invasion of neighbouring England in 1066. The village would have consisted of a number of small stone round houses, or crofts, with [[thatching|thatched]] roofs.<ref>{{cite book|title=Annual Report|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8fZVAAAAYAAJ|year=1988|publisher=The Group|page=24}}</ref>

[[Clemenstone]], to the west, was the seat of several high sheriffs of [[Glamorgan]]shire, including John Curre who was known to have occupied the estate in 1712. William Curre, known to have lived in Clemenstone in 1766, was also an occupant of [[Itton Court]] in [[Monmouthshire (historic)|Monmouthshire]].{{sfn|Burke|1847|p=295}} In the early 19th century, Lady Sale née Wynch, wife of Sir [[Robert Sale]], spent much of her early life on the Clemenstone Estate.{{sfn|Spectator|1842|p=1184}}

In 1974, the Vale of Glamorgan Borough was created, with a population of 103,000.<ref name="Western Mail who-does-what">{{cite news|author=Jack Broom |title=Who-does-what rows drag on to the 11th hour – Duties of the Districts |work=[[Western Mail (Wales)|Western Mail]] |page=THE NEW WALES (supplement) p.3 |no-pp=y|date=27 March 1974 }}</ref> The Vale of Glamorgan was a second tier [[Districts of Wales|district]], part of the new county of [[South Glamorgan]],<ref name="Western Mail who-does-what" /> under the [[Local Government Act 1972]]. It created several problems in local governance, between the [[South Glamorgan County Council]], [[Cardiff City Council]] and the [[Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council]] owing to their conflicting interests. It was a turbulent time for governance in the city of Cardiff, as for the first time in its history it had to share authority with the county council, which was larger and better resourced.{{sfn|Hooper|Punter|2006|p=32}} In April 1996, the Vale of Glamorgan became a [[county borough]] (unitary authority) of Wales.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/501/made|title=The Local Government Reorganisation (Wales) (Staff) Order 1996|publisher=Legislation.gov.uk|access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Southerndownbeach1.jpg|thumb|left|[[Southerndown]] beach]]

Located immediately to the west of Cardiff between the [[M4 motorway]] and the [[Severn Estuary]], the county borough of Vale of Glamorgan covers 33,097 hectares (130 square miles) and has {{convert|53|km|abbr=on}} of coastline. The [[physiographic region|physiographical district]] from which the modern administrative area derives its name is the slightly larger, generally low-lying area which extends from the River Kenfig in the west, eastwards as far as the [[Rhymney River|Rhymney]]. The [[Pennant Sandstone]] scarp forms its northern boundary.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Goudie |first1=Andrew |title=The Landforms of England and Wales |date=1990 |publisher=Basil Blackwell |location=Oxford |isbn=9780631173069 |pages=136–7}}</ref>
The largest centre of population in the borough is [[Barry, Vale of Glamorgan|Barry]] (51,502 inhabitants). Other towns include [[Cowbridge]] (6,180), [[Dinas Powys]] (7,799), [[Llantwit Major]] (10,621) and [[Penarth]] (22,083).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/our_council/council/vale_facts_and_figures/vale_facts_and_figures.aspx|title=Vale of Glamorgan Facts and Figures|publisher=Vale of Glamorgan Council|access-date= 6 April 2016}}</ref> Much of the population inhabits villages, hamlets and individual farms. The area is low-lying, with a maximum height of {{convert|137.3|m}} above sea level at Tair Onen to the east of Cowbridge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?rf=5554|title=Tair Onnen [Tair Onen (Pantylladron)]|publisher=Hill Bagging|access-date=6 April 2016 }}</ref>

The borough borders [[Cardiff]] to the north east, [[Rhondda Cynon Taf]] to the north, [[Bridgend County Borough|Bridgend]] to the north west and the [[Bristol Channel]] to the south.

The yellow-grey cliffs on the [[Glamorgan Heritage Coast]] (which stretches between [[Gileston]] and [[Ogmore-by-Sea]]) are unique on the [[Celtic Sea]] coastline (i.e. [[Cornwall]], [[Wales]], Ireland and [[Brittany]]) as they are formed of a combination of [[Lias Group|Liassic]] [[limestone]], shale and [[Carboniferous Limestone]]. The rocks were formed between 360 and 200 million years ago when the whole area lay underneath a warm, shallow sea at the start of the [[Jurassic]] period. Thus today the cliffs contain traces of Jurassic sea creatures, such as ammonites. The [[calcium carbonate]] ([[limestone]]) in the soil allows crops to be grown which would be difficult elsewhere in Wales. The Liassic limestone and Carboniferous Limestone are also used in the Vale as building materials; in previous centuries it was taken by [[sloop]]s across the Bristol Channel to North Cornish ports such as Bude, [[Boscastle]] and [[Port Isaac]] to fertilise Cornwall's poor [[slate]] soils; the hard Devonian slate was brought back from Cornwall as a roofing material for houses in the Vale.

As the Glamorgan Heritage Coast faces westwards out to the Atlantic, it bears the brunt of onshore (westerly and south-westerly) winds: ideal for surfing, but a nuisance for ships sailing up the [[Bristol Channel]] to [[Cardiff]]. As in North Cornwall and South-West Ireland, the fierce Atlantic gales created ideal conditions for [[Wrecking_(shipwreck)#Britain|deliberate shipwrecking]], which until 100 years ago was very common along the coast.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}} [[Nash Point]], [[Southerndown]] and [[Ogmore-by-Sea]] have some of the highest shipwreck victims on the coast of Wales; as recently as 1962 an oil tanker, the BP Driver, crashed into Nash Point during a violent westerly storm, was torn to shreds by the reefs and eventually sank, although the crew were saved by various Bristol Channel lifeboats and helicopters.<ref name=Times010262>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Grounded Tanker Crew Scramble to Safety |date=1 February 1962 |page=6  |issue=55304 |column=A }}</ref>

==Economy==
The Vale of Glamorgan was determined to be the wealthiest area in Wales in a 2003 survey conducted by [[Barclays PLC|Barclays Bank]] that measured [[disposable income]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/3025749.stm|title=Vale tops Wales rich list|publisher=BBC|date=14 May 2003|access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref> Chemical industries are located to the east of the port of Barry<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dowcorning.com/content/about/aboutcomm/barrycommunityhomepage.aspx|title=Dow Corning Barry Site|publisher=Dow Corning|access-date=6 April 2016 }}</ref> while further inland the main activity is agriculture, especially beef and dairy cattle, with marketing facilities at Cowbridge.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.britannica.com/place/Vale-of-Glamorgan|title=Vale of Glamorgan|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=6 April 2016 }}</ref>

==Government==
The Vale of Glamorgan [[Vale of Glamorgan (UK Parliament constituency)|UK parliament]] and [[Vale of Glamorgan (Senedd Cymru constituency)|Senedd]] constituencies (which do not include [[Penarth]] and [[Sully, Vale of Glamorgan|Sully]] which are in the constituency of [[Cardiff South and Penarth (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff South and Penarth]]) sway between [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] control and [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] control in both the [[Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament|Senedd]] and Westminster. The UK parliament constituency was created in 1983 and the Welsh Assembly (later Senedd) constituency in 1999. There is substantial Labour support in the east of the constituency and in the town of [[Barry, Vale of Glamorgan|Barry]], and substantial Conservative support in the agricultural area in the west.

Since 1996 local government is led by [[Vale of Glamorgan Council]]. The Labour Party had a large majority initially, though between 1999 and 2012 the Conservatives were the largest group.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vale of Glamorgan Council Election Results 1995-2012|url=http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Vale-of-Glamorgan-1995-2012.pdf |publisher=The Elections Centre ([[Plymouth University]]) }}</ref> Since 2017, there has been no overall political majority on council.

===Communities===
All except one (Rhoose) of the Vale's [[Community (Wales)|communities]] elects a community (or town) council,<ref>{{cite web|title=Town and Community Councils |url=https://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/our_council/Town-and-Community-Councils.aspx |publisher=Vale of Glamorgan Council |accessdate=29 June 2021}}</ref> the lowest tier of local government.
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Barry, Vale of Glamorgan|Barry]] (town)
* [[Colwinston]]
* [[Cowbridge with Llanblethian]] (town)
* [[Dinas Powys]]
* [[Ewenny]]
* [[Llanmaes]]
* [[Llancarfan]]
* [[Llandough, Penarth|Llandough]]
* [[Llandow]]
* [[Llanfair, Vale of Glamorgan|Llanfair]]
* [[Llangan]]
* [[Llantwit Major]] (town)
* [[Michaelston-le-Pit and Leckwith]]
* [[Penarth]] (town)
* [[Pendoylan]]
* [[Penllyn, Vale of Glamorgan|Penllyn]]
* [[Peterston-super-Ely]]
* [[Rhoose]]
* [[St Athan]]
* [[St Brides Major (community)|St Bride's Major]]
* [[St Donats]]
* [[St Georges-super-Ely]]
* [[St Nicholas with Bonvilston]]
* [[Sully and Lavernock]]
* [[Welsh St Donat's]]
* [[Wenvoe]]
* [[Wick, Vale of Glamorgan|Wick]]
{{div col end}}

==Villages and hamlets==
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Aberthaw]]
* [[Aberthin]]
* [[Broughton, Vale of Glamorgan|Broughton]]
* [[Bonvilston]]
* [[Boverton]]
* [[Clawdd Coch]]
* [[Clemenstone]]
* [[Colwinston]]
* [[Corntown]]
* [[Culverhouse Cross]]
* [[Dinas Powys]]
* [[Downs, Vale of Glamorgan|Downs]]
* [[Drope]]
* [[Dyffryn, Vale of Glamorgan|Dyffryn]]
* [[Eglwys Brewis]]
* [[Ewenny]]
* [[Flemingston]]
* [[Fonmon]]
* [[Font-y-Gary]]
* [[Frampton, Vale of Glamorgan|Frampton]]
* [[Gileston]]
* [[Goldsland]]
* [[Graig Penllyn]]
* [[Great Hamston]]
* [[Gwern-y-Steeple]]
* [[Kenson, Vale of Glamorgan|Kenson]]
* [[Lavernock]]
* [[Lidmore]]
* [[Llampha]]
* [[Llanmaes]]
* [[Llanbethery]]
* [[Llancadle]]
* [[Llancarfan]]
* [[Llandough, Llanfair|Llandough (near Cowbridge)]]
* [[Llandough, Penarth|Llandough (near Penarth)]]
* [[Llandow]]
* [[Llangan]]
* [[Llanmihangel]]
* [[Llansannor]]
* [[Llantrithyd]]
* [[Llantwithyn]]
* [[Llysworney]]
* [[Maendy, Vale of Glamorgan|Maendy]]
* [[Marcross]]
* [[Michaelston-le-Pit]]
* [[Middlecross]]
* [[Moulton, Vale of Glamorgan|Moulton]]
* [[Newton, Vale of Glamorgan|Newton]]
* [[Northcliff, Vale of Glamorgan|Northcliff]]
* [[Nurston]]
* [[Ogmore, Vale of Glamorgan|Ogmore]]
* [[Ogmore-by-Sea]]
* [[Pancross]]
* [[Pendoylan]]
* [[Penmark]]
* [[Pentre Meyrick]]
* [[Peterston-super-Ely]]
* [[Pen-y-Lan, Vale of Glamorgan|Pen-y-Lan]]
* [[Picketston]]
* [[Prisk, Vale of Glamorgan|Prisk]]
* [[Rhoose]]
* [[Sigingstone]]
* [[St. Andrews Major]]
* [[St Brides Major]]
* [[Southerndown]]
* [[St Athan]]
* [[St Donats|St Donat's]]
* [[St Georges-super Ely]]
* [[St Hilary, Vale of Glamorgan|St Hilary]]
* [[St Mary Church, Vale of Glamorgan|St Mary Church]]
* [[St Mary Hill]]
* [[St. Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan|St. Nicholas]]
* [[St Lythans]]
* [[Sully, Vale of Glamorgan|Sully]]
* [[Sutton, Vale of Glamorgan|Sutton]]
* [[The Herberts]]
* [[Tre-Aubrey]]
* [[Tredodridge]]
* [[Treguff]]
* [[Trerhyngyll]]
* [[Twyn-yr-Odyn]]
* [[Walterston]]
* [[Welsh St Donat's]]
* [[Wenvoe]]
* [[Wick, Vale of Glamorgan|Wick]]
* [[Wrinstone]]
* [[Ystradowen]]

{{div col end}}

==Landmarks==
{{see also|Listed buildings in the Vale of Glamorgan|List of Scheduled Monuments in Vale of Glamorgan}}

==Sport==
[[File:Jenner Park Stadium, Barry.jpg|thumb|Jenner Park Stadium]]
The principal football club in the Vale is [[Barry Town United F.C.]], of the [[Cymru Premier]] who play their home games at [[Jenner Park Stadium]] in Barry. The club was founded in 1912 and enjoyed success in the 1990s, when they won the [[Cymru Premier|League of Wales]] and the [[Welsh Cup]]. The club experienced declining fortunes in the following decade and were relegated to [[Welsh Football League Division Two]], but were promoted to [[Welsh Football League Division One|Division One]] after winning the league in the 2014–15 season. In 2014 it was announced that Jenner Park stadium would undergo a £350,000 plus development with the laying of a synthetic pitch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/barry-towns-jenner-park-stadium-7276194|title=Barry Town's Jenner Park stadium in line for new £350,000 pitch |publisher=Walesonline.co.uk|date=16 June 2014|access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref> There are several other smaller football clubs in the county such as [[Llantwit Major F.C.]], established in 1962,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.welshleague.org.uk/2014-15%20club%20info%20llantwit%20major1.pdf|title=Llantwit Majora brief history|publisher=Welshleague.org.uk|access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref> which competes in the [[Cymru South]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/amateur-rugby/sse-swalec-division-3-central-9722097|title=SSE SWALEC Division 3 Central East A fixtures 2015/16 season |publisher=Walesonline.co.uk|date=24 July 2015|access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref> and Penarth Town AFC in the [[Vale of Glamorgan League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://penarthtownfc.co.uk/|title=Penarth Town AFC|publisher=Penarthtownfc.co.uk|access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref>

[[Rugby union|Rugby]] has a strong presence in the county, though none of its clubs compete in the higher leagues. As of the 2015–6 season, [[Penarth RFC]] competes in the [[WRU Division Three South East]], [[Llantwit Major RFC]] in [[WRU Division Four South East]], and [[Old Penarthians RFC]] and [[Cowbridge RFC]] in the [[WRU Division Five South East]]. Several of the clubs are feeders for [[Cardiff Blues]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/3877085.stm|title=Wales' regional rugby map|publisher=BBC|date=8 July 2004|access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref>
There are cricket grounds in [[Cowbridge Cricket Ground|Cowbridge]] and [[Sully Centurions Cricket Club Ground|Sully]] and several golf clubs, including the [[Glamorganshire Golf Club|Glamorganshire]], [[Southerndown Golf Club|Southerndown]] and [[Wenvoe Castle Golf Club|Wenvoe Castle]] clubs.

==Transport==
[[File:Bmibaby.b737.arp.G-BYZJ.jpg|thumb|[[Bmibaby]] launched operations from Cardiff Airport in 2002 then closed in 2011]]

===Road===
Owing to its close proximity to Cardiff, most of the major roads in the county borough [[Arterial road|originate]] in the capital.

Running east–west, the [[A48 road|A48]] runs through the centre portion of the Vale of Glamorgan between [[Cardiff]] and [[Bridgend]], passing along the northern edge of [[Cowbridge]]. The [[M4 motorway]] also runs east–west along the northern edge of the Vale, linking the area to major cities such as London, Bristol, [[Newport, Wales|Newport]], and [[Swansea]]. Junctions 33 ([[Cardiff West services|Cardiff West]]) and 34 ([[Llantrisant]]) provide direct access to the Vale of Glamorgan.

The M4 is economically important to the county borough as it "facilitates the movements of goods and people" from the region to other areas of the UK, enabling local firms "access to domestic and international markets." The county borough benefits from its location in the [[M4 corridor|M4 technology corridor]], according to the Welsh Government.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 2016|title=M4 Corridor around Newport: Wider Economic Impact Assessment|url=https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2017-09/m4-corridor-around-newport-wider-economic-impact-assessment-report.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606213128/https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2017-09/m4-corridor-around-newport-wider-economic-impact-assessment-report.pdf|archive-date=6 June 2020|access-date=6 June 2020|website=[[Welsh Government]]}}</ref>

===Rail===
The [[Vale of Glamorgan Line]] is the county borough's principal rail connection. The line runs between [[Cardiff Central railway station|Cardiff Central]] and [[Bridgend railway station|Bridgend]], with spurs to [[Barry Island railway station|Barry Island]] and [[Penarth railway station|Penarth]]. All services on the line are operated by [[Transport for Wales Rail|Transport for Wales]], linking the Vale directly to other areas of the capital region, including [[Cardiff Queen Street railway station|Cardiff Queen Street]], [[Pontypridd railway station|Pontypridd]], and [[Merthyr Tydfil railway station|Merthyr Tydfil]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020|title=Transport for Wales Network Map|url=https://tfwrail.wales/sites/tfwrail.wales/files/2020-03/TfW%20Network%20Map.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606213255/https://tfwrail.wales/sites/tfwrail.wales/files/2020-03/TfW%20Network%20Map.pdf|archive-date=6 June 2020|access-date=6 June 2020|website=[[Transport for Wales Rail|Transport for Wales]]}}</ref> Railway stations in the Vale of Glamorgan are:
{{Columns-list|*[[Barry Docks railway station|Barry Docks]]
*[[Barry Island railway station|Barry Island]]
*[[Barry railway station|Barry]]
*[[Cadoxton railway station|Cadoxton]]
*[[Cogan railway station|Cogan]]
*[[Dinas Powys railway station|Dinas Powys]]
*[[Dingle Road railway station|Dingle Road]]
*[[Eastbrook railway station|Eastbrook]]
*[[Llantwit Major railway station|Llantwit Major]]
*[[Penarth railway station|Penarth]]
*[[Rhoose Cardiff International Airport railway station|Rhoose Cardiff International Airport]] {{rint|air}}|colwidth=18em}}
The [[South Wales Main Line]] passes through the Vale, but trains do not stop. The nearest stations on the South Wales Main Line are (from east to west): Cardiff Central; [[Pontyclun railway station|Pontyclun]]; [[Llanharan railway station|Llanharan]]; [[Pencoed railway station|Pencoed]]; Bridgend. Most services are operated by Transport for Wales, but Bridgend and Cardiff are additionally served by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] services between Swansea and [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]]. Cardiff Central is further served by Great Western Railway services to destinations in [[South West England]] and [[CrossCountry]] services to [[Midlands|the Midlands]].

The [[Barry Tourist Railway]] is a short [[heritage railway]] and museum on Barry Island.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Barry Rail Centre|url=http://barryrailcentre.co.uk/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606213423/http://barryrailcentre.co.uk/|archive-date=6 June 2020|access-date=6 June 2020|website=[[Barry Tourist Railway]]}}</ref>

===Bus===
Bus services in the Vale of Glamorgan are principally operated by [[New Adventure Travel]] (NAT) and [[Cardiff Bus]]. <ref>{{Cite web|title=Barry and Penarth Network Map|url=https://images.cardiffbus.com/2019-04/Barry%20Penarth%20network%20map%20feb19-web.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607112644/https://images.cardiffbus.com/2019-04/Barry%20Penarth%20network%20map%20feb19-web.pdf|archive-date=7 June 2020|access-date=7 June 2020|website=[[Cardiff Bus]]}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web|title=Routes|url=https://www.trawscymru.info/routes/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406175510/https://www.trawscymru.info/routes/|archive-date=6 April 2020|access-date=7 June 2020|website=[[TrawsCymru]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Cymru Clipper (Network Map)|url=https://www.firstgroup.com/uploads/maps/Cymru%20Clipper%20network%20map%20may19.pdf|access-date=7 June 2020|website=[[First Cymru]]}}</ref>

The Vale of Glamorgan Council operates a community '[[Dial-A-Ride|on-demand]]' transport service in rural communities called Greenlinks.

===Air===
[[Cardiff International Airport|Cardiff Airport]] is in the Vale of Glamorgan, near Rhoose.

In 2019, Cardiff Airport claimed to have a £135 million direct economic benefit to the region.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Annual update 2019|url=https://www.cardiff-airport.com/uploads/Annual%20update%20flyer%202019%20FINAL.PDF|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607112838/https://www.cardiff-airport.com/uploads/Annual%20update%20flyer%202019%20FINAL.PDF|archive-date=7 June 2020|access-date=7 June 2020|website=[[Cardiff Airport]]}}</ref> Destinations from Cardiff Airport at the time included [[Alicante]], [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Amsterdam]], [[Anglesey Airport|Anglesey]], [[Dublin Airport|Dublin]], and [[Doha]]. A "Masterplan" for the airport sets out the Welsh Government's ambition to grow the airport's passenger numbers and freight operations by 2040.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2040 Masterplan|url=https://www.cardiff-airport.com/uploads/Masterplan%20Report%20FINAL%20JUNE19%20lower_compressed%20%281%29.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607112947/https://www.cardiff-airport.com/uploads/Masterplan%20Report%20FINAL%20JUNE19%20lower_compressed%20%281%29.pdf|archive-date=7 June 2020|access-date=7 June 2020|website=[[Cardiff Airport]]}}</ref>

[[MOD St Athan]] is also situated in the Vale of Glamorgan.

==International links==
{{unreferenced section|date=July 2024}}
The Vale of Glamorgan is twinned with:
*[[Rheinfelden (Baden)|Rheinfelden]], Germany<ref>{{Cite web|title=50 Jahre Städtepartnerschaft: Broschure|url= https://www.rheinfelden.de/ceasy/resource/?id=16368&download=1|access-date=8 September 2024}}</ref>
*[[Mouscron|Mouscron/Moeskroen]], Belgium
*[[Fécamp]], France
and has friendship agreements with:
*[[Jurbarkas]], Lithuania
*[[Neumarkt, South Tyrol|Neumarkt/Egna]], Italy
*[[Putnok]], Hungary

==Freedom of the Borough==
The following people and military units have received the [[Freedom of the City|Freedom of the Borough]] of the Vale of Glamorgan.

{{Expand list|date=November 2021}}

===Individuals===
* [[Raymond Gower|Sir Raymond Gower]]: 13 April 1977.
* [[Cennydd Traherne|Sir Cennydd Traherne]]: 19 March 1984.
* [[Boothby baronets|Sir Hugo Boothby]]: 19 March 1984.
* Susan Eva Williams: 4 March 1991.

===Military units===
* [[MOD St Athan|RAF St Athan]]: 18 May 1974.
* [[Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)|Merchant Navy]] Association (Wales): 16 April 2005.
* The [[Welsh Guards]]: 16 March 2006.
* The [[Royal Welsh]]: 21 February 2009.
* [[203 (Welsh) Field Hospital]] ([[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Volunteers]]) [[Royal Army Medical Corps|RAMC]]: 17 April 2010.
* [[HMS Cambria (shore establishment)|HMS Cambria]], [[Royal Navy|RN]]: 31 March 2012.

<ref>{{cite web |title=Honorary Freedom and Freedom of Entry  |url=https://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/our_council/Council-Structure/The-Mayor/Honorary-Freedom.aspx |website=Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council |access-date=1 November 2021}}</ref>

==Demographics==
=== Ethnicity ===
As of the [[2021 United Kingdom census]], the county borough's ethnic groups are as follows:<ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=W06000014|title=Vale of Glamorgan Local Authority|access-date=12 July 2024}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
![[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic group]]
!Percentage
|-
|[[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
|94.6%
|-
|[[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
|2.3%
|-
|[[British Asians|Asian]]
|2.1%
|-
|[[Black British people|Black]]
|0.5%
|-
|[[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Other]]
|0.5%
|}

=== Religion ===
As of the [[2021 United Kingdom census]], the county borough's religious make-up is as follows:<ref name="2021 Nomis"/>

{| class="wikitable"
![[Religion in Wales|Religion]]
!Percentage
|-
|[[Irreligion in Wales|No religion]]
|47.9%
|-
|[[Religion in Wales#Christianity|Christianity]]
|44.1%
|-
|[[Islam in Wales|Islam]]
|0.9%
|-
|[[Religion in Wales|Other]]
|0.5%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Wales|Hinduism]]
|0.3%
|-
|[[Buddhism in Wales|Buddhism]]
|0.3%
|-
|[[Sikhism in Wales|Sikhism]]
|0.1%
|-
|[[History of the Jews in Wales|Judaism]]
|0.1%
|-
|not stated
|5.7%
|}

==See also==

*[[List of places in Vale of Glamorgan]] for all villages and towns.
*[[List of schools in the Vale of Glamorgan]]
*[[Bibliography of the Vale of Glamorgan]] – list of books and reference material for further reading

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
*{{cite book|last=Barrow|first=G. W. S.|title=The Anglo-Norman era in Scottish history|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KHVnAAAAMAAJ|date=14 August 1980|publisher=Clarendon Press|isbn=978-0-19-822473-0}} 
*{{cite book|last=Burke|first=John|title=Burke's genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YdIKAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA295|access-date=28 June 2011|year=1847|publisher=H. Colburn}}
*{{cite book|last1=Hooper|first1=Alan|last2=Punter|first2=John|title=Capital Cardiff 1975-2020: Regeneration, Competitiveness and the Urban Environment|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hvud9bNwTisC&pg=RA1-PA32|year=2006|publisher=University of Wales Press|isbn=978-0-7083-2063-1}}
*{{cite book|last=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales|title=An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Glamorgan: Volume III – Part 1b: Medieval Secular Monuments the Later Castles from 1217 to the present|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mhnYtVAUhQEC&pg=PA475|year=2000|publisher=[[Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales]]|isbn=978-1-871184-22-8}}
*{{cite book|last=Spectator|first=The|title=The Spectator|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OskhAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA1184|year=1842}}

{{Commons category|Vale of Glamorgan County Borough}}

{{Vale of Glamorgan}}
{{Wales Districts}}
{{Wales subdivisions}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vale of Glamorgan}}
[[Category:Vale of Glamorgan| ]]
[[Category:Principal areas of Wales]]
[[Category:County boroughs of Wales]]
[[Category:1974 establishments in Wales]]