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The paper highlights the most important moments in the evolution of local government in Wales, providing examples mostly from North-East Wales, and specifically the area of the former Glyndŵr District, which underwent spectacular changes throughout the time. During the Middle Ages, Wales was formed by a number of petty kingdoms, further divided into cantrefi and commotes. After the Act of Union (1536), the English system of counties was implemented. They comprised a number of hundreds. The parishes were the smallest divisions. The first modern administrative reform came with the Local Government Act of 1888, which established the administrative counties, divided into urban and rural districts. Further reforms were enacted by the Local Government Acts of 1894 and 1929. However, the most radical changes took place with the Local Government Act of 1972 (enforced in 1974), which reduced the number of counties from 13 to 8 and the number of districts from 116 to 37. Civil parishes changed their name into communities and were allowed to have a council. The two-tier system came to an end in 1996, when the counties and districts were replaced by 22 unitary authorities (or principal areas, styled either “counties” or “county boroughs”) as a result of the enforcement of the Local Government (Wales) Act of 1994. Boundary changes occurred even after this date, for instance in the Vale of Llangollen, disputed between Denbighshire County and Wrexham County Borough. Boundary issues are reviewed by the Boundary Commission for Wales.

Keywords: Wales, local government, Glyndŵr District, county, administrative organization.