Historic county of Ireland
Antrim
Aontroim / County of Antrim
Province: Ulster
Plateau and glens between Lough Neagh and the North Channel.
Antrim is framed unusually clearly by water. Lough Neagh and the Bann close much of its western side, the Lagan forms its southern boundary with Down, and the North Channel and northern coast wrap around the east and north.
Between them rises the Antrim Plateau, cut spectacularly by the Glens of Antrim before falling to a coast of cliffs, basalt and small harbours. The county also contains extensive lowland and urban country around Belfast Lough. Antrim is therefore much more than the Giant’s Causeway: plateau, glen, lough shore, coast and city all belong within one powerful geographical frame.
- Land of the Dal Riata
- Glens, Causeway and sea crossings
- Titanic built, Belfast (1912)
- Area: 1,175 sq mi 3,043 km²
- Population: 615,701
- County Top: Trostan 1,808 ft / 551 m
County geography
Current Census
Contemporary Census profile
Northern Ireland Census 2021. Detailed contemporary statistics are available in the Geographic County Census Explorer.
- Population density
- 549.2 people per sq mi (212.06 people per km²)
- Population
- 645,351
The plateau meets the sea
The Antrim Hills run broadly north–south, but their most dramatic expression comes where basalt country reaches the northern coast.
The Giant’s Causeway is the celebrated example, but its columns belong to a much larger volcanic landscape underlying the plateau and neighbouring cliffs.
The Glens
The Glens of Antrim cut eastwards through the uplands towards the sea, producing one of the county’s strongest internal identities.
They are a distinctive district within Antrim rather than a shorthand for the whole county; inland plain, lough shore and metropolitan south are equally important.
Lough Neagh and the south
Western Antrim turns towards the immense waters of Lough Neagh, while the south becomes increasingly urban around Belfast Lough and the Lagan.
This transition from open plateau to one of Ireland’s principal urban landscapes adds another dimension to the county.
County questions
Questions about Antrim
Is Belfast in Antrim?
Belfast lies in both Antrim and Down. The River Lagan forms the geographic county boundary through the city.
County record
Names and continuity
- Formal name
- County Antrim
- Local name
- Aontroim
- Province
- Ulster
- Alternative name
- County of Antrim
- Foundation
- c. 1584
Antrim and County Antrim are established forms of the county name. Antrim is one of the nine geographic counties of Ulster.