Swansea

Swansea

Swansea is officially known as County of Swansea as well as City. It is coastal city and County in Wales. After Cardiff, it is the largest city in Wales. Swansea twenty-fifth largest city located in the United Kingdom. Swansea is situated within boundaries of ancient Welsh commote of Gwyr and Glamorgan. It is located on sandy south-west Wales Coast, area of County include Lliw uplands and Gower peninsula.

Swansea had a population of 241,300 in 2014. Last official census demonstrated that the  combined population of Swansea was 462,000. This made  it the second most populous local authority area in Wales after Cardiff. During the 19th century industrial heydey, Swansea was a major centre of copper and got the name ‘Copperopolis’.

History

Swansea had a population of 134,000 by 1901, and it continued to flourish rapidly during the 20th century. In 1911 Gynn Vivian Art Gallery was opened and in 1906 first council houses were built in Swansea. In the early 20th century the slums were being  demolished. More slums were built after 1945 as well as various private houses also.

The new Guildhall came up in 1934 in Swansea. This city suffered severe damage due to bombing raids during Second World War. Around 387 people were and the city heart was destroyed. It was rebuilt in the 1960s.

During the beginning of 20th century, Swansea port continued to thrive. In 1909 Kings Dock was built. In 1920 Queen dock was established. At the beginning of the 20th-century tinplate industry was growing along with the steel and copper industries. These industries suffered depression in the 1930s, and there was much unemployment in Swansea.

During the Second World War, the economy of Swansea again increased and but after it, metal working industries were plunged. Coal mining was nowhere to be seen  by the end of the 20th century. The Council built new industriesIn 1990 Plantasia was opened. In 1997 Parc Tawe Centre was extended and in 1990s Castle Square was redeveloped. Swansea was thriving in the 21st Century even. In 2005 National Waterfront Museum was opened. Now the population of Swansea is 239,000.

Economy

Technium Centre which is one of the first of new buildings established as part of SA1 development scheme at Swansea Docks. Swansea was developed as a centre for mining and metals, especially copper industry from starting of the 18th century. The industry saw its height in the 1880s when 60% of copper ores imported to Britain were smelted in Lower Swansea Valley. By the end of Second World War, these industries declined.  Around 105,500 people work in the City and County of Swansea. 90% are employed in service sectors with high shares. Other occupations include professional, sales/customer, service occupations and administrative/secretarial. DVLA headquarters based in  Morriston is also located in Swansea, and it employs around 6000 people in the city. Other major businesses in Swansea include Virgin Media, Admiral Group, v, HSBC, and Amazon.co.uk. Virgin Atlantic has its largest worldwide contact centre in Swansea. It  includes services such as customer relations, baggage claims, reservations and sales.