Cardiff (Welsh: Caerdydd) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It is located in the historic county of Glamorgan, but since 1996 it has been administered by Cardiff County Council. It was a relatively small town until the early nineteenth century and came to prominence quite suddenly as a result of the influx of industry into the region and the use of Cardiff as a major port for the transport of coal. It was proclaimed capital of Wales on December 20, 1955.