Swansea is a city and local government area in South Wales. The history of Swansea includes a continuous period of human occupation stretching back one thousand years, and there is evidence for consistent occupation of the surrounding area for thousands of years before that into prehistory.
Swansea was the main town of the region for much of the Mediaeval period. In the 18th century, the beauty of its surroundings led local dignitaries to attempt to establish it as a tourist resort. It achieved far greater prominence with the onset of the Industrial Revolution. Mirroring the similar population explosions in the South Wales Valleys, the town's population rose from 6000 to 17,000 between 1801 and 1851 Censuses. Industry grew throughout the 19th century, drastically changing the shape and even geography of the town and its surroundings. In the 20th century, industry declined but the town continued to grow in population. Swansea officially gained city status in 1969.
