Wrexham County Borough

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Region: Wales
Country: Wales

§ This page provides an overview of an officially designated city in the UK, bringing together various information to help you better understand this city.

Long the commercial centre of north-east Wales, Wrexham was awarded city status on 1 September 2022 following the Platinum Jubilee competition (confirmed by letters patent), reflecting its regional economic role from brewing and markets to advanced manufacturing and a growing university presence. Local government has been delivered by Wrexham County Borough Council since 1996, when Wales moved to 22 unitary authorities; despite the 2022 honour, the principal authority retains the “County Borough Council” name rather than adopting a “City Council” style.

City Council Status

Wrexham County Borough Council remains the unitary principal authority; after city status was granted in 2022 the council retained its name rather than adopting a ‘City Council’ style.

In the UK, a city is not defined by size or population but by formal status granted by the monarch, often through historical charters or, more recently, civic honours competitions. There are 76 officially recognised cities, some of which are relatively small compared to other urban areas. In contrast, local authority districts (361 in total) are administrative areas created for local government purposes and may include a mix of urban centres, suburbs, and rural communities. Within districts, there may be one or more towns, which generally refer to sizeable urban settlements but do not hold city status unless it has been formally granted. In practice, a city can exist within a district, and a district can cover multiple towns, showing the clear distinction between legal status, administrative boundaries, and everyday usage.

Cities in Wales