The administrative county of Clwyd was created in 1974 as part of a local government reorganisation in England and Wales. Clwyd incorporated Flintshire, most of Denbighshire, and the Edeyrnion Rural District from Merionethshire. The Clwyd County Council's social services department took over the management of children's homes previously run by the Flintshire and Denbighshire County Councils.

Following a further reorganisation in 1996, Clwyd was abolished and its local government was transferred to the new areas of Conwy, Wrexham, Denbighshire and Flintshire. Although bearing the same names, the boundaries of Denbighshire and Flintshire were significantly different from those of the earlier counties.