Carmarthen, Wales

Carmarthen Welsh: Caerfyrddin
Carmarthen
Carmarthen shown within Carmarthenshire
Population	14,185  (2011 Census)
OS grid reference	SN415205
Community	Carmarthen
Principal area	Carmarthenshire
Ceremonial county	Dyfed
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CARMARTHEN
Postcode district	SA31-33
Dialling code	01267
Police	Dyfed-Powys
Fire	Mid and West Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Carmarthen East and Dinefwr Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Welsh Assembly	Carmarthen East and Dinefwr Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
List of places UK Wales Carmarthenshire 51°51′22″N 4°18′58″W / 51.856°N 4.316°W / 51.856; -4.316Coordinates: 51°51′22″N 4°18′58″W / 51.856°N 4.316°W / 51.856; -4.316

Carmarthen (/ˌkɑːrˈmɑːrðən/ kar-MAR-dhən; Welsh: Caerfyrddin pronounced [kɑːɨrˈvərðɪn], "Merlin's fort") is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is on the River Towy 8 miles (13 km) north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 15,854.

Carmarthen has a strong claim to being the oldest town in Wales, but the two settlements of Old and New Carmarthen were only united into a single borough in 1546. Carmarthen was the most populous borough in Wales between the 16th and 18th centuries and was described by William Camden as "the chief citie of the country". However, population growth stagnated by the mid-19th century as more dynamic economic centres developed in the South Wales coalfield. Carmarthen is the location of Dyfed-Powys Police headquarters, the Carmarthen campus of the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David and Glangwili General Hospital.

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