 Prior to 1889 local government had been carried out by unelected magistrates, often wealthy industrialists and landowners.Under the Local Government Act 1888, from 1889 to 1974 the Cymmer division elected one councillor to the Glamorgan County Council.The council was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 in 1974, after which the region was administered by the Mid Glamorgan County Council until 1996.