Newtownabbey ( ) is a large settlement north of Belfast city centre in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is separated from the rest of the city by Cavehill and Fortwilliam golf course. It surrounds Carnmoney Hill, and was formed from the merging of several small villages including Whiteabbey, Glengormley and Carnmoney. At the 2011 census, Metropolitan Newtownabbey Settlement had a population of 65,646, making it the third largest settlement in Northern Ireland. It is part of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.
History
Founding
Newtownabbey Urban District was founded on 1 April 1958 to cover seven villages north of Belfast: Carnmoney, Glengormley, Jordanstown, Monkstown, Whiteabbey, Whitehouse and Whitewell. Before this, the area fell under the jurisdiction of Belfast Rural District.
Newtownabbey Urban District Council was succeeded by Newtownabbey District Council (1973–1977), Newtownabbey Borough Council (1977–2015), and Antrim and Newtownabbey District Council (2015 onwards).
The Troubles
During The Troubles, there were a number of incidents in Newtownabbey, including several gun attacks involving the UFF and UVF.
Geography
Newtownabbey is a large dispersed urban area north of Belfast, surrounding Carnmoney Hill. To its east is Belfast Lough, and to its south and west is Cavehill. There are two wooded river glens running through it: the Three Mile Water and the Glas-na-Bradan.
Townlands
Below is a list of townlands that are within Newtownabbey's urban area, alongside their likely etymologies.
Ballybought ()*
Ballyduff (from Baile Mhic Giolla Dhuibh, "MacElduff's townland")*
Ballygolan (from Baile an Ghabhláin, "townland of the fork")*
Ballyhenry (from Baile Éinrí, "Henry's townland")*
Ballyvesey (possibly from Baile an Mheasa, "townland of the mast)*
Ballywonard (from Baile an Mhuine Aird, "townland of the high thicket")*
Carnmoney
Collinward (possibly from Baile Gorán Bhaird, "townland of the bard's grove")*
Croghfern (possibly from Currach Fearnaí, "marsh of the place of alders")*
Drumnadrough (from Droim na gCruach, "the ridge of the stacks")*, site of Merville Garden Village Dunanney (from Dún Áine, "Áine's fort")* Glengormley Jordanstown Mallusk Monkstown Whiteabbey Whitehouse (named after a 16th-century fortified house built by an English adventurer; formerly Ballyrintollard)
Other districts include: Mossley (named after Mossley in England; in Ballyhenry townland) Rathcoole Whitewell (named after a former spring; in Ballygolan townland)
* citation for derivations
Demography
2021 Census
On census day (2021) there were 67,599 people living in Newtownabbey. Of these: 54.45% (36,806) were from a Protestant or other Christian backgrounds, 30.77% (20,801) were from a Catholic background, 1.73% (1,171) were from other religious backgrounds, and 13.05% (8,821) had no religious background 7.57% had some knowledge of the Irish language and 9.21% had some knowledge of Ulster-Scots. 41.37% (27,966) had a British only identity, 17.25% (11,662) had an Irish only identity, and 20.61% (13,934) had a Northern Irish only identity.
2011 Census
On census day (27 March 2011) there were 65,646 people living in Newtownabbey. Of these: 20.26% were aged under 16 years and 15.51% were aged 60 and over 48.02% of the population were male and 51.98% were female 62.21% were from a Protestant or other Christian backgrounds, and 27.69% were from a Catholic background 6.40% had some knowledge of the Irish language and 6.98% had some knowledge of Ulster-Scots.
Education
Higher-level education
Northern Regional College (NRC) University of Ulster at Jordanstown (UUJ)