Brecknockshire
| Brecknockshire Welsh: Sir Frycheiniog |
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|---|---|
 Ancient extent of Brecknockshire |
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| Area | |
| • 1831 | 460,158 acres (1,862.19 km2) |
| • 1911 | 469,281 acres (1,899.11 km2) |
| • 1961 | 469,281 acres (1,899.11 km2) |
| Population | |
| • 1831 | 47,763 |
| • 1901 | 54,213 |
| • 1971 | 53,381 |
| • 2011 | 43,376 |
| Density | |
| • 1831 | 0.1/acre |
| History | |
| • Origin | Brycheiniog |
| • Created | 1535 |
| • Abolished | 1974 |
| • Succeeded by | Brecknock, Powys |
| Chapman code | BRE |
| Government | Brecknockshire County Council (1889-1974) |
| • HQ | Brecon |
| • Motto | Undeb Hedd Llwyddiant (Unity, Peace, Prosperity) |
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Brecknockshire (Welsh: Sir Frycheiniog), also known as the County of Brecknock, Breconshire, or the County of Brecon is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, and a former administrative county, and one of three counties that make up modern day Powys.
Brecknockshire is bounded to the north by Radnorshire, to the east by Herefordshire and Monmouthshire, to the south by Monmouthshire and Glamorgan, and to the west by Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire. The county is predominantly rural and mountainous. The Black Mountains occupy the southeast of the area, the Brecon Beacons the central region, Fforest Fawr the southwest and Mynydd Epynt the north. The highest point is Pen y Fan, 2907 ft (886 m). The River Wye traces nearly the whole of the northern boundary, and the Usk flows in an easterly direction through the central valley. The main towns are Brecon, Builth Wells, Crickhowell, Hay-on-Wye, Llanwrtyd Wells, Talgarth and Ystradgynlais the largest town, at the edge of the South Wales valleys.
The Laws in Wales Act 1535 created the County of Brecknock by combining a number of "lordships, towns, parishes, commotes and cantreds" in the "Country or Dominion of Wales. The areas combined were: "Brekenoke" (Brecknock), "Crekehowell" (Crickhowell) "Tretowre", "Penkelly", "Englisshe Talgarth", "Welsshe Talgarth", "Dynas", "The Haye" (Hay-on-Wye), "Glynebogh", "Broynlles" (Bronllys), "Cantercely" (Cantref Selyf), "Llando Blaynllynby", "Estrodewe", "Buelthe" (Builth), and "Llangors". The town of Brecknock or Brecon was declared the county town.
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Wikipedia