Cardiff is a modern city with over 320,000 inhabitants, established on the incredible wealth of a vast coal empire. The city, through imaginative redevelopment, is fast becoming one of Europe's finest maritime cities, and the rapid development is giving the city a new cosmopolitan feel. The city has the added attraction of being surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside in Britain. Cardiff North is one of four parliamentary seats in the capital city of Wales, three of which are currently held by Labour.
The constituency was created in its existing form in 1983 from the old Cardiff North-West constituency, which included part of Barry (now in the Vale of Glamorgan seat). The seat has some of Cardiff's most popular residential areas and is predominantly middle class. It has a large number of detached homes and a prosperous feel. The seat has the highest rate of home ownership in Wales at 83.3%, well above the UK average of 68.3%.
Cardiff is recognised for its quality of life, featuring among the best of British cities. Residents of Cardiff North are only 10 or 15 minutes from the city centre, by private or public transport. Many of the suburbs still offer the pleasure of a village atmosphere.
Major employers in Cardiff North include HM Revenue and Customs, Companies House and the University Hospital of Wales (the largest teaching hospital in Wales). The overall air of prosperity is borne out by the unemployment statistics, which in January 2005 have the rate of unemployment in Cardiff North as the lowest in Wales, at only 1.7%.
The constituency has a sizeable student population commuting to Cardiff University nearby. It boasts the largest school in Wales (Whitchurch High School) with around 2,500 pupils, and the largest student halls of residence, Llys Talybont (2,200 inhabitants).
The M4 runs across the upper reaches of the constituency, and the A470 slices through on its way to Llandudno. The Taff Trail cycle road (part of National Cycle Route 8) meanders through the western border, alongside the river Taff. Other notable features are Castell Coch in Tongwynlais, Cefn Onn Country Park in Lisvane and the Forest Farm Nature Reserve in Whitchurch.
Profile adapted from Dod's Parliamentary Companion (2005).