Subdivisions of Belfast
Encyclopedia
The subdivisions of Belfast are a series of divisions of Belfast
, Northern Ireland
that are used for a variety of cultural, electoral, planning and residential purposes.
The city is traditionally divided into four main areas based on the cardinal points of a compass
, each of which form the basis of constituencies for general elections: North Belfast
, East Belfast
, South Belfast
, and West Belfast
. These four areas meet at Belfast city centre
. The second traditional divide is that formed by the River Lagan
, with the northern bank of the River being part of County Antrim
, while the southern bank is part of County Down
.
The city's subdivisions reflect the divided nature of Northern Ireland as a whole
, with areas tending to be highly segregated, especially in working-class neighbourhoods. Walls known as peace lines
, originally erected by the British Army
after August 1969, divide fourteen inner city neighbourhoods.
The townlands of Belfast are the oldest surviving land divisions in the city. The city's townlands are split between the two traditional Counties by the River Lagan
, with those townlands north of the river generally in County Antrim
, while those on the southern bank are generally part of County Down
. Most of these townlands are older than the city itself, and most of their names are derived from the Irish language
. As the city grew, these once-rural townlands were built upon and their boundaries became obscured. However, many of the city's streets, roads and housing estates have been named after them.
are subdivisions of the city, used primarily for statistics and elections. Belfast
has had 51 wards since May 1973, which were revised in May 1985 and again in May 1993. Wards are the smallest administrative unit in Northern Ireland
and are set by the Local Government Boundaries Commissioner and reviewed every 8-10 years.
In elections to Belfast City Council
, the 51 wards are split into nine District Electoral Areas (DEAs), each of which contains between five and seven wards, with the number of councillors
it elects equal to the number of wards it contains. The current DEAs are:
and the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. These constituencies are coterminous and are created by amalgamating wards into larger areas, with the city's 51 wards split between the four 'Belfast' constituencies, each of which contains between 11 and 14 wards, although these also contain wards from bordering local authorities. These constituencies follow the tradition of referring to parts of Belfast by the four cardinal directions
:
Belfast East
Belfast North
Belfast South
Belfast West
The term "quarter" does not refer to one fourth (or one quarter) of the city, nor is every area in the centre of Belfast part of one of the quarters. Instead, each "quarter" reflects something about a neighbourhood's history and locale, with the "Quarter" label being something that has come into general use in recent years.
The quarters are as follows:
, and BT2 for the area to its south. The industrial estate and docklands share BT3. The rest of the Greater Belfast postcodes
are set out in a clockwise
system. Although BT stands for Belfast, it is used across the whole of Northern Ireland.
Belfast City Centre:
East & South East of Belfast City Hall:
South & South West of Belfast City Hall:
West South West & West of Belfast City Hall:
West North West & North of Belfast City Hall:
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
that are used for a variety of cultural, electoral, planning and residential purposes.
The city is traditionally divided into four main areas based on the cardinal points of a compass
Cardinal Points
Cardinal Points is a student newspaper published in Plattsburgh, New York which serves the SUNY Plattsburgh community. The newspaper publishes 3,000 copies every Friday morning throughout the semester, from February until May 12...
, each of which form the basis of constituencies for general elections: North Belfast
Belfast North (UK Parliament constituency)
Belfast North is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in 1922 when, as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
, East Belfast
Belfast East (UK Parliament constituency)
Belfast East is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. The current MP is Naomi Long of the Alliance Party, elected in 2010...
, South Belfast
Belfast South (UK Parliament constituency)
Belfast South is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in 1922 when, as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
, and West Belfast
Belfast West (UK Parliament constituency)
Belfast West is a parliamentary constituency in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.-Boundaries:The seat was restored in 1922 when as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
. These four areas meet at Belfast city centre
Belfast City Centre
Belfast city centre is the central business district of Belfast, Northern Ireland.The city centre was originally centred around the Donegall Street area. Donegall Street is now mainly a business area, but with expanding residential and entertainment development as part of the Cathedral Quarter...
. The second traditional divide is that formed by the River Lagan
River Lagan
The River Lagan is a major river in Northern Ireland which runs 40 miles from the Slieve Croob mountain in County Down to Belfast where it enters Belfast Lough, an inlet of the Irish Sea. The River Lagan forms much of the border between County Antrim and County Down. It rises as a tiny fast...
, with the northern bank of the River being part of County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, while the southern bank is part of County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
.
The city's subdivisions reflect the divided nature of Northern Ireland as a whole
Segregation in Northern Ireland
Segregation in Northern Ireland is a long-running issue in the political and social history of Northern Ireland. The segregation involves Northern Ireland's two main communities – its nationalist/republican community and its unionist/loyalist community...
, with areas tending to be highly segregated, especially in working-class neighbourhoods. Walls known as peace lines
Peace lines
The peace lines or peace walls are a series of separation barriers in Northern Ireland that separate Catholic and Protestant neighbourhoods. They have been built at urban interface areas in Belfast, Derry, Portadown and elsewhere...
, originally erected by the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
after August 1969, divide fourteen inner city neighbourhoods.
Townlands
The townlands of Belfast are the oldest surviving land divisions in the city. The city's townlands are split between the two traditional Counties by the River Lagan
River Lagan
The River Lagan is a major river in Northern Ireland which runs 40 miles from the Slieve Croob mountain in County Down to Belfast where it enters Belfast Lough, an inlet of the Irish Sea. The River Lagan forms much of the border between County Antrim and County Down. It rises as a tiny fast...
, with those townlands north of the river generally in County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, while those on the southern bank are generally part of County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
. Most of these townlands are older than the city itself, and most of their names are derived from the Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
. As the city grew, these once-rural townlands were built upon and their boundaries became obscured. However, many of the city's streets, roads and housing estates have been named after them.
Electoral Wards
The electoral wards of BelfastElectoral wards of Belfast
The electoral wards of Belfast are subdivisions of the city, used primarily for statistics and elections. Belfast has had 51 wards since May 1973, which were revised in May 1985 and again in May 1993...
are subdivisions of the city, used primarily for statistics and elections. Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
has had 51 wards since May 1973, which were revised in May 1985 and again in May 1993. Wards are the smallest administrative unit in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and are set by the Local Government Boundaries Commissioner and reviewed every 8-10 years.
In elections to Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
, the 51 wards are split into nine District Electoral Areas (DEAs), each of which contains between five and seven wards, with the number of councillors
Members of Belfast City Council
This is a list of the 51 members of Belfast City Council, elected at the local elections on 5 May 2011.-Electoral Wards:Belfast City Council currently comprises 51 electoral wards, nominally one for each elected councillor...
it elects equal to the number of wards it contains. The current DEAs are:
- BalmoralBalmoral (District Electoral Area)Balmoral is the most southern of nine district electoral areas in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The district elects six members to Belfast City Council and contains the wards of Blackstaff; Finaghy; Malone; Musgrave; Upper Malone and Windsor...
(6 wards) - CastleCastle (District Electoral Area)Castle is one of the nine district electoral areas in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Located in the north of the city, the district elects six members to Belfast City Council and contains the wards of Bellevue; Castleview; Cavehill; Chichester Park; Duncairn and Fortwilliam...
(6 wards) - CourtCourt (District Electoral Area)Court is one of the nine district electoral areas in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Located in the west of the city, the district elects five members to Belfast City Council and contains the wards of Crumlin; Glencairn; Highfield; Shankill and Woodvale...
(5 wards) - LaganbankLaganbank (District Electoral Area)Laganbank is one of the nine district electoral areas in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Located in the south of the city, the district elects five members to Belfast City Council and contains the wards of Ballynafeigh; Botanic; Shaftesbury; Stranmillis and Rosetta...
(5 wards) - Lower FallsLower Falls (District Electoral Area)Lower Falls is one of the nine district electoral areas in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Located in the west of the city, the district elects five members to Belfast City Council and contains the wards of Beechmount; Clonard; Falls; Upper Springfield; and Whiterock. Lower Falls forms part of the...
(5 wards) - OldparkOldpark (District Electoral Area)Oldpark is one of the nine district electoral areas in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Located in the west of the city, the district elects six members to Belfast City Council and contains the wards of Ardoyne; Ballysillan; Cliftonville; Legoniel; New Lodge and Water Works...
(6 wards) - PottingerPottinger (District Electoral Area)Pottinger is one of the nine district electoral areas in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Located in the east of the city, the district elects six members to Belfast City Council and contains the wards of Ballymacarrett; Bloomfield; Orangefield; Ravenhill; The Mount and Woodstock.The wards of Ravenhill...
(6 wards) - Upper FallsUpper Falls (District Electoral Area)Upper Falls is one of the nine district electoral areas in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Located in the west of the city, the district elects five members to Belfast City Council and contains the wards of Andersonstown; Falls Park; Glen Road; Glencolin; and Ladybrook. Upper Falls forms part of the...
(5 wards) - VictoriaVictoria (District Electoral Area)Victoria is one of the nine district electoral areas in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Located in the east of the city, the district elects seven members to Belfast City Council and contains the wards of Ballyhackamore; Belmont; Cherryvalley; Island; Knock; Stormont; and Sydenham...
(7 wards)
Constituencies
Belfast's electoral wards are used to create constituencies for elections to the Northern Ireland AssemblyNorthern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive...
and the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. These constituencies are coterminous and are created by amalgamating wards into larger areas, with the city's 51 wards split between the four 'Belfast' constituencies, each of which contains between 11 and 14 wards, although these also contain wards from bordering local authorities. These constituencies follow the tradition of referring to parts of Belfast by the four cardinal directions
Cardinal direction
The four cardinal directions or cardinal points are the directions of north, east, south, and west, commonly denoted by their initials: N, E, S, W. East and west are at right angles to north and south, with east being in the direction of rotation and west being directly opposite. Intermediate...
:
Belfast East
- Belfast East (Assembly constituency)Belfast East (Assembly constituency)Belfast East is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
- Belfast East (UK Parliament constituency)Belfast East (UK Parliament constituency)Belfast East is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. The current MP is Naomi Long of the Alliance Party, elected in 2010...
Belfast North
- Belfast North (Assembly constituency)Belfast North (Assembly constituency)Belfast North is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
- Belfast North (UK Parliament constituency)Belfast North (UK Parliament constituency)Belfast North is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in 1922 when, as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
Belfast South
- Belfast South (Assembly constituency)Belfast South (Assembly constituency)Belfast South is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
- Belfast South (UK Parliament constituency)Belfast South (UK Parliament constituency)Belfast South is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in 1922 when, as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
Belfast West
- Belfast West (Assembly constituency)Belfast West (Assembly constituency)Belfast West is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
- Belfast West (UK Parliament constituency)Belfast West (UK Parliament constituency)Belfast West is a parliamentary constituency in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.-Boundaries:The seat was restored in 1922 when as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
Cultural Quarters
The Belfast Quarters refer to a number of distinctive cultural zones within the city of Belfast, whose identities have been developed as a spur to tourism and urban regeneration. These "quarters" differ from the districts into which Belfast is divided.The term "quarter" does not refer to one fourth (or one quarter) of the city, nor is every area in the centre of Belfast part of one of the quarters. Instead, each "quarter" reflects something about a neighbourhood's history and locale, with the "Quarter" label being something that has come into general use in recent years.
The quarters are as follows:
- Cathedral QuarterCathedral Quarter, BelfastThe Cathedral Quarter in Belfast, Northern Ireland is a developing area of the city, roughly situated between Royal Avenue near where the Belfast Central Library building is, and the Dunbar Link in the city centre. From one of its corners, the junction of Royal Avenue, Donegall Street and York...
- Gaeltacht QuarterGaeltacht Quarter, BelfastThe Gaeltacht Quarter in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is an area surrounding the Falls Road in the west of the city. A Gaeltacht is an area where the Irish language is widely spoken. The area aims to promote the Irish language and provide tourist attractions associated with it, as well as Irish...
- Linen QuarterLinen Quarter, BelfastLinen Quarter is the area of Belfast south of Belfast City Hall bounded by Donegall Square South, Bedford Street, Ormeau Avenue and Cromac Street...
- Market QuarterMarket Quarter, BelfastMarket Quarter refers to a wide area of Belfast City including St George's Market, an area of inner city housing, The Waterfront precinct - including conference and concert hall and Hilton Hotel - and the city's Central Railway Station....
- Queen's QuarterQueen's Quarter, BelfastQueen's Quarter is the southern-most quarter in Belfast, Northern Ireland and named after Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland's largest university...
- Smithfield Market and Library QuarterSmithfield Market and Library Quarter, BelfastSmithfield and Union is one of the Belfast quarters established by Belfast City Council in the 21st century. Initially designated the Smithfield Market and Library quarter, the current name was adopted in 2011. Based around the north of Belfast City Centre it extends from North Street to Frederick...
- Titanic QuarterTitanic Quarter, BelfastThe Titanic Quarter in Belfast, Northern Ireland is a waterfront regeneration project, including apartments, a riverside entertainment district, and a major Titanic-themed attraction under development on reclaimed land in Belfast Harbour, known until recently as Queen's Island...
Postcodes of Belfast
Belfast city centre is divided by two postcodes, BT1 for the area lying north of the City HallBelfast City Hall
Belfast City Hall is the civic building of the Belfast City Council. Located in Donegall Square, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, it faces north and effectively divides the commercial and business areas of the city centre.-History:...
, and BT2 for the area to its south. The industrial estate and docklands share BT3. The rest of the Greater Belfast postcodes
BT postal area
The BT postcode area, also known as the Belfast postcode area, covers Northern Ireland and was the last part of the United Kingdom to be coded, between 1970 and 1974.-Belfast:...
are set out in a clockwise
Clockwise
Circular motion can occur in two possible directions. A clockwise motion is one that proceeds in the same direction as a clock's hands: from the top to the right, then down and then to the left, and back to the top...
system. Although BT stands for Belfast, it is used across the whole of Northern Ireland.
Belfast City Centre:
- BT1 North of Belfast City Hall
- BT2 South of Belfast City Hall
- BT3 Industrial district
East & South East of Belfast City Hall:
- BT4 East Belfast
- BT5 East Belfast / Castlereagh
- BT6 East Belfast / Castlereagh
South & South West of Belfast City Hall:
- BT7 South Belfast
- BT8 South Belfast
- BT9 South Belfast
West South West & West of Belfast City Hall:
- BT10 South Belfast
- BT11 West Belfast
- BT12 West Belfast
- BT17 South West Belfast / Dunmurry
West North West & North of Belfast City Hall:
- BT13 West Belfast
- BT14 North Belfast
- BT15 North Belfast
General
- Belfast Metropolitan AreaBelfast Metropolitan AreaThe Belfast Metropolitan Area is a grouping of council areas which include commuter towns and overspill from Belfast, Northern Ireland with a population of 579,276. The area was first officially classified as a Metropolitan area in the late 1990s when the Government began to prepare for a cohesive...
- Belfast City CentreBelfast City CentreBelfast city centre is the central business district of Belfast, Northern Ireland.The city centre was originally centred around the Donegall Street area. Donegall Street is now mainly a business area, but with expanding residential and entertainment development as part of the Cathedral Quarter...
- The Golden MileGolden Mile (Belfast)The Golden Mile is the name given to the stretch of Dublin Road, Great Victoria Street, Bradbury Place and University Road between the City Hall and the university area in Belfast, Northern Ireland...
- The HolylandHolyland (Belfast)The Holyland, The Holy Land is a residential area of inner-south Belfast, Northern Ireland. Composed of a series of streets behind Queen's University near to the River Lagan, the area has been dubbed the Holyland from its street names: Jerusalem Street, Palestine Street, Damascus Street, Carmel...
Streets and Roads
- Ballygowan Road
- Cluan PlaceCluan PlaceCluan Place is a Protestant working-class area in eastern inner-city Belfast, in Northern Ireland.There is currently a peace line, separating the area from Roman Catholic Short Strand. Rioting between neighbouring Loyalist and Republican factions has been a feature of the area's recent past. See...
- Donegall RoadDonegall RoadThe Donegall Road runs from Shaftesbury Square in Belfast city centre to the Falls Road in west Belfast. It is bisected by the Westlink, and the largest part of the road, prior to the Westlink junction, is predominantly unionist...
- Falls RoadFalls RoadThe Falls Road is the main road through west Belfast in Northern Ireland; from Divis Street in Belfast city centre to Andersonstown in the suburbs. Its name is synonymous with the republican communities in the city. It is known as one of the more famous streets in Northern Ireland, drawing many...
- Lisburn RoadLisburn RoadThe Lisburn Road is a main arterial road linking Belfast and Lisburn, in Northern Ireland.The Lisburn Road is now an extension of the "Golden Mile" with many shops, boutiques, wine bars, restaurants and coffee houses. The road runs almost parallel to the Malone Road, the two being joined by many...
- Malone RoadMalone RoadThe Malone Road is a radial road in Belfast, Northern Ireland, leading from the university quarter southwards to the affluent suburbs of Malone and Upper Malone, each a separate electoral ward...
- Ormeau RoadOrmeau RoadThe Ormeau Road is a road in south Belfast, Northern Ireland. Ormeau Park is adjacent to it. It forms part of the A24.-History:Having previously been the home of George Chichester, 2nd Marquess of Donegall, a road was first built in 1815, when it was known more commonly as the New Ballynafeigh Road...
- Sandy RowSandy RowSandy Row is a Protestant working-class community in south Belfast, Northern Ireland. It has a population of about 3,000. It is a staunchly loyalist area of Belfast, being a traditional heartland for affiliation with the paramilitary Ulster Defence Association and the Orange Order.-Location:Sandy...
- Shankill Road
- Shaw's RoadShaw's Road, also known as both and The Irish Houses is a small Gaeltacht in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.-History:The Gaeltacht was founded in 1969 when five families from Belfast built their houses together in a new development on the street...
- Short StrandShort StrandThe Short Strand is a mainly-nationalist area in east Belfast, surrounded by a mainly-unionist area. It is within the townland of Ballymacarret and sits on the east bank of the River Lagan in County Down.-Security issues:...
- Stranmillis Road
- Westlink
- Whitewell RoadWhitewell RoadThe Whitewell Road is an interface area in north Belfast and Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland, and historically the site of occasional clashes between nationalists and loyalists. The Whitewell Road and the surrounding area is a residential community in the Greencastle parish. The Whitewell area is...