Merthyr Tydfil
Quick Summary
Merthyr Tydfil is a county borough and industrial town located in southern Wales, United Kingdom. Named after a 5th-century Welsh princess, it is situated in the valley of the River Taff and surrounded by steep hills.1
The town's modern growth was spurred by the establishment of four large ironworks after 1757. In 1804, Richard Trevithick built the world's first steam locomotive there. Coal mining later supplemented the iron industry. By 1850, the Dowlais ironworks were the largest globally. Although coal mining ceased after 1918, the area experienced an industrial revival during World War II, producing various manufactured goods.1
Merthyr Tydfil is now a retail and service center. The county borough includes mining communities and the site of the 1966 Aberfan disaster. Land reclamation efforts aim to attract tourism and economic development.1
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