industrial town, Blaenau Gwent county borough, historic county of Monmouthshire (Sir Fynwy), Wales. It first developed as a coal-mining centre. Iron was processed there beginning in the late 18th century, using local coal, ore, and limestone. Steel production began later. However, the problems of the British steel industry in the 1970s led the works to close down its steelmaking operations by about 1978, and coal mining had ceased in the area by the end of the 20th century. The collapse of the town's chief industries brought economic hardship. The town continues to produce tinplate. It has other light industries and is a shopping centre. Pop. (2001) urban agglom., 33,280.