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While the diverse and rich history of County Waterford could lead us to speak for hours of its many virtues, this section presents the area's essential features in facts and figures.
Statistics on County Waterford
| Population: | 107, 961 |
|---|---|
| Area: | 185, 659 hectares |
| Relative Size: | In terms of both area and population Waterford is the |
| smallest county in Munster. | |
| Administration: | Waterford is a county-level authority. Dungarvan is the |
| administration centre for the county (excluding | |
| Waterford City). | |
| Mountain Ranges: | Waterford's principal mountain range are the |
| Knockmealdown and Comeragh Mountains. | |
| Highest Peak: | Knockmealdown Mountains at 794m. The peak is found in |
| the Knockmealdown Mountain range located between Counties | |
| Waterford and Tipperary. | |
| Principal Rivers: | County Waterford has many rivers including Ireland's third |
| longest river the River Suir (184km) and fourth longest the | |
| River Blackwater (168km). | |
| Coastline: | County Waterford has a volcanic coastline with over |
| thirty beaches. |
Did you Know?
Waterford was home to Ireland’s first cycling club. In 1869 postmaster Richard E. Brennan (1846-1917) founded Ireland’s first cycling club ‘The Dungarvan Ramblers C.C.’ That year the club ran the first cycle race for a challenge cup. The cup was won by Brennan and is now on display in the Waterford County Museum in Dungarvan.
- There are more cattle than people in County Waterford! Of Waterford's 185, 659 hectares of total area 124,343 hectares are classifies as farmland. Along with tillage and other crops and livestock that 124, 363 hectares supports 247,742 cattle.
- Mammoth bones were discovered in Shandon. In March 1859 men working a limestone quarry near Shandon, Dungarvan discovered the first mammoth bones to be unearthed in the south of Ireland. Unaware of the significance of their find the men paraded one of the colossal bones through Dungarvan claiming it was the thigh bone of a giant. Other bones were broken up and thrown in with the other rock until amateur historian Richard E. Brennan realized their possible importance and reported the find to the Royal Dublin Society. “The Shandon Bones” are now held in the Natural History Museum in Dublin with part of the collection on display in Collins Barracks.
