Rhondda

51°36′57″N 3°25′03″W / 51.615938°N 3.417521°W / 51.615938; -3.417521

Rhondda
Valley region
Map showing the Rhondda constituency within Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Constituent country	Wales
County borough	Rhondda Cynon Taf
Parliamentary constituency	Rhondda
Area [1]
• Total	38.59 sq mi (99.94 km2)
Highest elevation	1,935 ft (590 m)
Population  (2020[2])
• Total	69,506
• Density	1,800/sq mi (700/km2)
Time zone	UTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 (British Summer Time)
Postal code	CF postcode area
Area code	01443

Rhondda /ˈrɒnðə/, or the Rhondda Valley (Welsh: Cwm Rhondda [kʊm ˈr̥ɔnða]), is a former coalmining area in South Wales, historically in the county of Glamorgan. It takes its name from the River Rhondda, and embraces two valleys – the larger Rhondda Fawr valley (mawr, 'large') and the smaller Rhondda Fach valley (bach, 'small') – so that the singular "Rhondda Valley" and the plural are both commonly used. The area forms part of the South Wales Valleys. From 1897 until 1996 there was a local government district of Rhondda. The former district at its abolition comprised 16 communities. Since 1996 these 16 communities of the Rhondda have been part of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough. The area of the former district is still used as the Rhondda Senedd constituency and Westminster constituency, having an estimated population in 2020 of 69,506. It is most noted for its historical coalmining industry, which peaked between 1840 and 1925. The valleys produced a strong Nonconformist movement manifest in the Baptist chapels that moulded Rhondda values in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is also known for its male voice choirs and in sport and politics.