County Antrim () is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, located within the historic province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Antrim, Postal Towns/Bailte Poist , Northern Ireland Place-name Project. Queen's University Belfast. Retrieved 8 March 2012. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of and has a population of 651,321, as of the 2021 census. County Antrim has a population density of 211 people per square kilometre or 546 people per square mile.Divide the population of County Antrim (618,108) by the area (3086 km2) It is also one of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland.
The Glens of Antrim offer isolated rugged landscapes, the Giant's Causeway is a unique landscape and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bushmills produces whiskey, and Portrush is a popular seaside resort and nightlife area. The majority of Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland, is in County Antrim, with the remainder being in County Down.
According to the 2001, 2011, and 2021 censuses it is currently one of only two counties of the island of Ireland in which a plurality or majority of the population are from a Protestant background. The other is County Down to the south.
Geography
A large portion of Antrim is hilly, especially in the east, where the highest elevations are attained. The range runs north and south, and, following this direction, the highest points are Knocklayd , Slieveanorra , Trostan , Slemish , Agnew's Hill and Divis . The inland slope is gradual, but on the northern shore the range terminates in abrupt and almost perpendicular declivities, and here, consequently, some of the finest coast scenery in the world is found, widely differing, with its unbroken lines of cliffs, from the indented coast-line of the west. The most remarkable cliffs are those formed of perpendicular basaltic columns, extending for many miles, and most strikingly displayed in Fair Head and the celebrated Giant's Causeway. From the eastern coast, the hills rise instantly but less abruptly, and the indentations are wider and deeper. On both coasts there are several resort towns, including Portrush (with well-known golf links), Portballintrae and Ballycastle; on the east Cushendun, Cushendall and Waterfoot on Red Bay, Carnlough and Glenarm, Larne on the Sea of Moyle, and Whitehead on Belfast Lough. All are somewhat exposed to the easterly winds prevalent in spring. The only island of size is the L-shaped Rathlin Island, off Ballycastle, in total length by maximum breadth, from the coast, and of similar basaltic and limestone formation to that of the mainland. It is partially arable and supports a small population. Islandmagee is a peninsula separating Larne Lough from the North Channel.
The valleys of the Bann and Lagan, with the intervening shores of Lough Neagh, form the fertile lowlands. These two rivers, both rising in County Down, are the only ones of importance. The latter flows to Belfast Lough, the former drains Lough Neagh, which is fed by a number of smaller streams. The fisheries of the Bann and Lough Neagh (especially for salmon and eels) are of value both commercially and to sportsmen, the small town of Toome, at the outflow of the river, being the centre. Immediately below this point lies Lough Beg, the "Small Lake", about lower than Lough Neagh.
Flora and fauna Records of the seaweeds of County Antrim were brought together and published in 1907 by J. AdamsAdams, J.1907. The Seaweeds of the Antrim Coast. Scient. Pap. Ulster Fish. Biol. Ass. Vol.1: 29 – 37 who notes that the list contains 211 species. Batter's list, of 1902,Batters, E.A.L. 1902. A catalogue of the British marine algae being a list of all the species of seaweed known to occur on the shores of the British Islands, with the localities where they are found. J. Bot., Lond. 40 (suppl.): (2) + 107. contained 747 species in his catalogue of British marine algae.
Of the freshwater algae there are 10 taxa in the Charophyta (Charales) recorded from County Antrim: Chara aspera var. aspera; Chara globularis var. globularis; Chara globularis var. virgata (Kütz.) R.D.; Chara vulgaris var. vulgaris; Chara vulgaris var. contraria (A. Braun ex Kütz.) J.A.Moore; Chara vulgaris var. longibracteata (Kütz.) J. Groves & Bullock-Webster; Chara vulgaris var. papillata Wallr. ex A. Braun; Nitella flexilis var. flexilis; Nitella translucens (Pers.) C.A. Ag. and Tolypella nidifica var. glomerata (Desv.) R.D. Wood.Hackney, P. ed. Stewart & Corry's Flora of the North-east of Ireland. Third edition, Institute of Irish Studies and The Queen's University of Belfast.
Transport County Antrim has a number of air, rail, and sea links.
Airports Northern Ireland's main airport, Belfast International Airport, at Aldergrove, is in County Antrim. Belfast International shares its runways with 38 Brigade Flying Station Aldergrove, which otherwise has its own facilities. It is the fifth-largest regional air cargo centre in the UK. There are regular services to Great Britain, Europe, and North America.
The region is also served by George Best Belfast City Airport, a mile east of Belfast city centre on the County Down side of the city, which was renamed in 2006 in honour of footballer George Best.
Rail
The main Translink Northern Ireland Railways routes are the major line between Belfast, Antrim, Ballymena, Coleraine and Derry, Belfast to Carrickfergus and Larne, the port for Stranraer in Scotland and Coleraine to Portrush.
Sea Two of Northern Ireland's main ports are in County Antrim, Larne and Belfast.
Ferries sail from Larne Harbour to destinations including Cairnryan in Scotland.
The Port of Belfast is Northern Ireland's principal maritime gateway, serving the Northern Ireland economy and increasingly that of the Republic of Ireland. It is a major centre of industry and commerce and has become established as the focus of logistics activity for Northern Ireland. Around two-thirds of Northern Ireland's seaborne trade, and a quarter of that for Ireland as a whole, is handled at the port, which receives over 6,000 vessels each year.
Demographics As of the 2021 census, County Antrim had a population of 651,321, making it the most populous county in Northern Ireland, and the second-largest county by population on the island of Ireland, second only to County Dublin.
Ethnicity +Ethnic group (2021 Census)Ethnic GroupNumber(%)White: Total623,57495.74White622,01195.50White: British/Irish/Northern Irish/English/Scottish/Welsh (with or without non-UK or Irish national identities)600,91292.26White: Other21,0993.24White: Irish Traveller5690.09White: Roma9940.15Asian or Asian British: Total16,5332.54Asian/Asian British: Indian5,4060.83Asian/Asian British: Chinese5,1490.79Asian/Asian British: Filipino2,2210.34Asian/Asian British: Arab1,1140.17Asian/Asian British: Pakistani687 0.11Asian/Asian British: Other Asian1,9560.30Black or Black British: Total4,6140.71Black/Black British: Black African3,961 0.61Black/Black British: Black Other6530.10Mixed: Total5,2530.81Other: Any other ethnic group: Total1,3470.21Total651,321100.00
Country of birth +Country of birth (2021 Census)Country of birthNumber(%)United Kingdom and Ireland605,84493.02Northern Ireland565,95186.89England24,4513.75Scotland6,0100.92Wales9360.14Republic of Ireland8,4961.30Europe21,6433.32European Union20,4003.13Other non-EU countries1,2430.19Rest of World23,8333.66Middle East and Asia14,3252.20Africa4,9510.76North America, Central America and Caribbean2,8850.44Antarctica, Oceania and Other1,0610.16South America6110.09Total651,321100.00
Community background and religion
A traditionally Protestant-majority county since the Plantation of Ulster by Scottish and English settlers, the 2021 census revealed that those of a Protestant and Other Christian community background were no longer a majority in Antrim, comprising 47.0% of the population, a sharp decline from 75.2% in 1861. This is largely attributable to the rapid increase of the Catholic population, particularly in the city of Belfast, where they now comprise a plurality of the population, and its surrounding metropolitan area, as well as immigration from other parts of the world following the end of The Troubles and increasing rates of irreligion.
+Religion or religion brought up in (2021 Census)Religion or religion brought up inNumber(%)Protestant and Other Christian306,33547.03Catholic260,86740.06None (no religion)70,62910.84Other religion13,4902.07Total651,321100.00 +Religion (2021 Census)ReligionNumber(%)Christian498,19676.49Catholic237,03436.39Presbyterian127,23019.53Church of Ireland66,99010.29Methodist18,2862.81Other Christian (including Christian-related)48,6567.47Protestant and Other Christian: Total261,16240.10Other religions12,0491.85None/not stated141,07621.66No religion129,01619.81Religion not stated12,0601.85Total651,321100.00
National identity +National identity (2021 Census)National identityNumber%British only230,87335.45%Irish only167,42525.71%Northern Irish only121,86718.71%British and Northern Irish only57,8228.88%Irish and Northern Irish only10,3411.59%British, Irish, and Northern Irish only9,6731.49%British and Irish only4,1420.64%Other identity49,1787.55%Total651,321100.00%All Irish identities193,53829.72%All British identities308,54847.37%All Northern Irish identities202,61531.11%
Irish language and Ulster Scots In the 2021 UK census in County Antrim: 12.77% claim to have some knowledge of the Irish language, whilst 3.64% claim to be able to speak, read, write, and understand spoken Irish. 2.55% claim to use Irish daily. 0.46% claim that Irish is their main language. 12.09% claim to have some knowledge of Ulster Scots, whilst 1.39% claim to be able to speak, read, write, and understand spoken Ulster Scots. 2.25% claim to use Ulster Scots daily.
Statistics for 2009–2010 show 1,832 students attending the twelve (Irish language primary schools) and one (Irish language secondary school).
Administration The county was administered by Antrim County Council from 1899 until the abolition of county councils in Northern Ireland in 1973. The traditional county town is Antrim. More recently, Ballymena was the seat of county government. From 1973, Northern Ireland was split into districts, which were redrawn in 2015. County Antrim is part of the following districts: Antrim and Newtownabbey Belfast Causeway Coast and Glens Mid and East Antrim Lisburn and Castlereagh Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
The county contains within it the whole of five parliamentary constituencies: Belfast North Belfast West East Antrim North Antrim South Antrim
Parts of the following five parliamentary constituencies are also in County Antrim: Belfast East Belfast South East Londonderry Lagan Valley Upper Bann
Settlements
Cities Places with official city status: Belfast Lisburn
Large towns (population of 18,000 or more and under 75,000 at the 2001 Census) Antrim Ballymena Carrickfergus Larne Newtownabbey
Medium towns (population of 10,000 or more and under 18,000 at the 2001 Census) Ballymoney
Small towns
(Population of 4,500 or more and under 10,000 at the 2001 Census) Ballycastle Ballyclare Crumlin Greenisland Jordanstown Portrush Randalstown
Intermediate settlements (population of 2,250 or more and under 4,500 at the 2001 Census) Ahoghill Broughshane Cullybackey Glenavy Whitehead
Villages
(Population of 1,000 or more and under 2,250 at the 2001 Census) Ballycarry Bushmills Carnlough Cloughmills Cogry & Kilbride Cushendall Doagh Dunloy Kells Portglenone Templepatrick
Small villages or hamlets (population of less than 1,000 at the 2001 Census) Aghagallon Aghalee Aldergrove Armoy Ballintoy Ballycarry Ballyeaston Ballygalley Ballynure Boneybefore Cairncastle Carnalbanagh Cargan Cushendun Dervock Glenarm Glynn Loughguile Moss-Side Newtown Crommelin Parkgate Portballintrae Rasharkin Stranocum Toome