Flintshire (pop. 154,962) is a local government area in North Wales, in the United Kingdom. It is a unitary authority established in 1996, responsible for all local government services within its boundaries. Flintshire occupies the northeast corner of Wales. The Welsh name of the area is Sir Fflint.
Flintshire’s economy is based on agriculture, light industries, and tourism. Mining and quarrying were once important but have now largely disappeared. Steel making was a major industry at Shotton until 1980.
Flintshire’s chief towns include Mold, Broughton, Buckley, Connah’s Quay, Flint, and Holywell. Mold is a busy market town and the administrative seat of Flintshire. Hawarden Castle, which stands southeast of Flint, was for 60 years the home of British Prime Minister William Gladstone.
The name Flintshire was applied to a county in this area in the early 1500’s. From 1974 to 1996, Flintshire formed part of the county of Clwyd. The boundaries of Flintshire today are different from those of the original county.
