The administrative county of Gwent was created in 1974 as part of a local government reorganisation in England and Wales. Gwent incorporated the existing county of Monmouthshire and county borough of Newport. The Gwent County Council's social services department took over the management of children's homes previously run by the Monmouthshire County Council and Newport Borough Council.

Following a further reorganisation in 1996, Gwent was abolished and its local government was divided among a number of new administrations: Monmouthshire (covering the eastern portion of the historic county), the City of Newport, and the County Boroughs of Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, and Caerphilly (part of which came from Mid-Glamorgan).