County Wicklow
County Wicklow (/ˈwɪkloʊ/ WIK-loh; Irish: Contae Chill Mhantáin [ˈkɔn̪ˠt̪ˠeː ˌçiːl̠ʲ ˈwan̪ˠt̪ˠaːnʲ]) is a county in Ireland. The last of the traditional 32 counties, having been formed as late as 1606, it is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the province of Leinster. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the east and the counties of Wexford to the south, Carlow to the southwest, Kildare to the west, and South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown to the north.
County Wicklow
Contae Chill Mhantáin | |
|---|---|
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Coat of arms | |
| Nickname: The Garden of Ireland | |
| Motto(s): | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| Region | Eastern and Midland |
| Established | 1606 |
| County town | Wicklow |
| Largest settlement | Bray |
| Government | |
| • Local authority | Wicklow County Council |
| • Dáil constituency | Wicklow |
| • EP constituency | South |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,027 km2 (783 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 17th |
| Highest elevation (Lugnaquilla) | 925 m (3,035 ft) |
| Population (2022) | |
| • Total | 155,851 |
| • Rank | 16th |
| • Density | 77/km2 (200/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC±0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (IST) |
| Eircode routing keys | A63, A67, A98 (primarily) |
| Telephone area codes | 01, 0402, 0404 (primarily) |
| Vehicle index mark code | WW |
| Website | Official website |
Wicklow is named after its county town of Wicklow, which derives from the name Víkingaló (Old Norse for "Vikings' Meadow"). Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county, which had a population of 155,258 at the 2022 census. Colloquially known as the "Garden of Ireland" for its scenery—which includes extensive woodlands, nature trails, beaches, and ancient ruins while allowing for a multitude of walking, hiking, and climbing options—it is the 17th largest of Ireland's 32 counties by area and the 16th largest by population. It is also the fourth largest of Leinster's 12 counties by size and the fifth largest in terms of population.