Mid and East Antrim is a local government district in eastern Northern Ireland. At the time of the 2021 census, the district’s population was 138,994. The district covers an area of 404 square miles (1,045 square kilometers). Its headquarters are in the town of Ballymena.
Ballymena is a center of industry and trade for the area. Ferries run from the port town of Larne to Cairnryan, in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The seaside resorts of Carnlough, Carrickfergus, Island Magee, and Whitehead are popular with tourists. Carrickfergus is the site of a Norman castle built in 1178. It is also famous for a popular Irish folk song named after the town.
Most of the workers in Mid and East Antrim are employed in service industries, which include education, health care, government services, finance and real estate, hotels and restaurants, and retail and wholesale trade. The agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors are more important to Mid and East Antrim’s economy than most other areas of Northern Ireland. The construction and manufacturing industries also employ many people, and utilities are also important. Factories in the area were long known for producing cigarettes, linen, and tires. Today, leading manufactures include transportation equipment, medical equipment, and processed foods.
Mid and East Antrim is part of the traditional Country Antrim, one of the six historic counties of Northern Ireland. County Antrim ceased to be used as an administrative area when local government was reorganized into smaller districts in 1973. In 2015, the Ballymena, Carrickfergus, and Larne districts were combined to form the Mid and East Antrim local government district.
