Monmouthshire

Monmouthshire (Sir Fynwy) is both a and  in south-east. The eastern and southern boundaries of the historic county and principal area are the same; however, the western two-fifths of the historic county are covered by other.

Historic county
Monmouthshire was formed from the by the. The county borders to the east,  to the northeast,  to the north, and  to the west. Historically there is some ambiguity as to whether the county was part of Wales or England, but since it has been placed definitively in.

The of Monmouthshire, and associated  were abolished in 1974 under the. The area largely became part of the new local government and ceremonial county of.

The principal area

 * Main article: 

The current was created on,  as a successor to the district of  along with the  community from , both of which were s of. The use of the name "Monmouthshire" rather than "Monmouth" for the area was mildly controversial, being supported by the MP for, , but being opposed by , MP for (inside the historic county of Monmouthshire but being reconstituted as a separate unitary authority). By area it covers some 60% of the historic county, but only 20% of the population. The council's administrative headquarters are at the former Gwent County Hall in — outside of its own jurisdiction in the neighbouring borough of. It is the only principal area in Wales administered from outside its boundaries.

In comparison to the pre-1974 areas it covers:
 * the former boroughs of and
 * the former urban districts of and
 * the former rural districts of, and
 * the former rural district of Pontypool, except the community of Llanfrechfa Lower
 * the parish of from the former  in

Places of interest

 * See for a list of settlements in the principal area.