Ballymena is a town located in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. According to the 2021 UK census, its population was 31,205, ranking it as the seventh-largest town in Northern Ireland. Administratively, Ballymena is part of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim.
In 1900, Ballymena was granted urban district status.
In 1903, under the Land Purchase (Ireland) Act, the Adairs sold most of their Ballymena estate to the tenants.
In 1904, the Adairs disposed of most of their Ballymena estate to the occupying tenants.
In 1919, the old market hall building in Ballymena, which housed the post office and estate office, burned down.
On November 20, 1928, the new Ballymena Town Hall was officially opened by the Duke of Abercorn.
In 1933, the Ballymena and Larne Railway closed to passengers.
In December 1937, the Urban District Council successfully petitioned for borough status, and the Charter was granted.
On May 23, 1939, the first meeting of councillors as a Borough Council took place in Ballymena, with the population reaching 13,000.
On June 3, 1940, the train station at Harryville closed.
In 1940, the Ballymena and Larne Railway closed to goods traffic.
In 1940, the Ballymena, Cushendall and Red Bay Railway ceased operating narrow gauge railway services from Ballymena to Parkmore, ending its service that began in 1875.
In 1968, due to government austerity measures, the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (27th), Royal Ulster Rifles (83rd & 86th) and the Royal Irish Fusiliers (89th) merged to become the Royal Irish Rangers.
In 1973, the Urban and Rural District Councils were merged to create the Ballymena Borough Council.
Like other towns in Northern Ireland, Ballymena was affected by the Troubles, a lengthy period of religious and partisan tensions and armed confrontations from the 1960s until 1998. A total of eleven people were killed in or near the town.
In March 2000, actor Liam Neeson, a Ballymena native, declined the offer of freedom of the borough, citing tensions, but affirmed his pride in his connection to the town.
In 2001, the census population of Ballymena was 28,717.
In December 2004, Ian Paisley was made a freeman of Ballymena.
In 2005, the Ballymena Council banned the screening of the movie Brokeback Mountain, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger, due to its homosexual relationship theme.
On census day, March 27 2011, the population living in Ballymena was 29,551 people. representing an increase of 2.9% on the 2001 census population.
In 2011, it was revealed that Ballymena had the third-highest level of legal gun ownership in Northern Ireland.
In November 2012, the Patton Group, a major builder, entered administration, resulting in the loss of 320 jobs.
In October 2014, it was announced that JTI Gallagher's would be closing, leading to the loss of 877 jobs in Ballymena.
In November 2015, Michelin decided to close their Ballymena factory after 50 years, causing the loss of up to 850 jobs.
Following local government reorganisation in 2015, the Ballymena Borough Council was merged with the Boroughs of Carrickfergus and Larne.
On census day, March 21 2021, the population living in Ballymena was 31,205 people.
In 2021, the population of Ballymena was recorded at 31,205 people according to the United Kingdom census, making it the seventh largest town in Northern Ireland.
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