Cardiganshire, a maritime county in South Wales, on Cardigan Bay, with a crescent-shaped coast-line of 48 miles, a maximum width of 32 miles, and an area of 693 sq. m. The surface is hilly, interspersed with fertile valleys. On the Montgomeryshire border is Plinlimmon (2469 feet); and a rugged, bleak range of hills runs through the middle of the county from the south-west to the north-east, between the coast and the Teifi, ending abruptly in a shelving beach in the middle of the coast; but on other parts there are rich flat tracts. The county does not contain much wood. The chief rivers are the Teifi, which rises in a small lake near the centre of the county, and runs 70 miles south-east and east along the southern border, the Aeron, Claerwen, Ystwith, and Rheidol. The 'sweet shire of Cardigan' contains some romantic waterfalls, especially the Rheidol Falls and the Devil's Bridge, and above twenty small lakes or llyns, noted for their wild beauty. It reposes on Lower Silurian slates and shales, containing few or no organic remains. Rich veins of copper, lead, zinc, and silver occur. Cardiganshire is an agricultural county, as much as 62 per cent. of its total area being cultivated; and the rearing of livestock is a leading industry. There are some manufactures of coarse woollens and gloves, stockings and hats. Cardigan is the county town; the other chief towns being Aberystwith, Lampeter, Adpar, Aberayron, Tregaron. Cardiganshire sends one member to parliament. Pop. (1801) 42,956; (1861) 72,245; (1881) 70,270; (1891) 62,630. The county has many remains of British and Roman camps and roads, stone circles, cairns, and castles.
Many Welsh princes and bards were buried in the abbey of Strata Florida, 16 miles SE. of Aberystwith, and some of the records of the principality were kept here. The women still wear the Welsh costume; and besides a survival of 'bride-capture,' there is a curious custom of sending 'biddings' or presents to a newly-married couple, which, when sold, often realise £50. In 1843-44 Cardiganshire was disturbed by the Rebecca riots. See Meyrick's History of Cardiganshire (1810).