Banbridge is a market town in the southern part of Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Bann south of Lough Neagh (Lake Neagh). Banbridge stands in a hilly area on the main road between Dublin and Belfast. The community was founded in the late 1600’s and grew around a bridge that crossed the river. The town later became an important postal hub and flourished as a trading center.
Banbridge’s main street is at a lower level than its side streets and is linked to them by a bridge. Traditional industries in the Banbridge area have included linen stitching and dyeing; shoemaking; and textile production. Farmers near Banbridge raise dairy cattle, hogs, and poultry. Their chief crops include root crops and seed grasses.
The town of Banbridge lies in County Armagh, one of the six historic counties of Northern Ireland. The county ceased to be used as an administrative area in 1973, when local government was reorganized into smaller districts. From 1973 to 2015, Banbridge was the name of a district council area. Banbridge town was the district’s administrative center. In 2015, most of the Banbridge district was combined with the Armagh and Craigavon districts, and a small part of the Dungannon and South Tyrone district. Together, they formed what is now the local government district of Armagh City, Banbridge, and Craigavon.
