The administrative county of Dyfed was created in 1974 as part of a local government reorganisation in England and Wales. Dyfed incorporated the existing counties of Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. The Dyfed County Council's social services department took over the management of children's homes previously run by the it three predecessor county councils.

Following a further reorganisation in 1996, Dyfed was abolished and the three earlier counties, and their respective county councils, were reinstated. However, Cardiganshire now adopted the name Ceredigion.