Ballymena
Ballymena
| |
|---|---|
| Town | |
 Ballymena Town Hall, with the Braid Arts Centre behind | |
 Coat of Arms | |
%22%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22middle%22%20fill%3D%22%2354595d%22%20font-size%3D%2216%22%20font-family%3D%22sans-serif%22%3EBallymena%20is%20located%20in%20Northern%20Ireland%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fg%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)  Ballymena Location within Northern Ireland | |
| Population | 31,205 (2021 census) |
| Irish grid reference | D1003 |
| • Belfast | 28 miles (45 km) SE |
| District | |
| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BALLYMENA |
| Postcode district | BT42–BT44 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| Police | Northern Ireland |
| Fire | Northern Ireland |
| Ambulance | Northern Ireland |
| UK Parliament | |
| NI Assembly | |
Ballymena (/ˌbæliˈmiːnə/ BAL-ee-MEE-nə; from Irish: an Baile Meánach [ənˠ ˌbˠalʲə ˈmʲaːn̪ˠəx]ⓘ, meaning 'the middle townland') is a town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is situated on the Braid River, about 28 miles (45 km) northwest of Belfast. It had a population of 31,205 at the 2021 census, making it the seventh largest town in Northern Ireland by population. It is part of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim.
The town was built on the Braid River, on land given to the Adair family by King Charles I in 1626, with a right to hold two annual fairs and a Saturday market in perpetuity. Surrounding villages are Cullybackey, Ahoghill, Broughshane, and Kells-Connor.