WATERFORD, a maritime county in the province of Munster, Ireland, is bounded N. by the counties of Tipperary and Kilkenny, E. by the county of Wexford, S. by the Atlantic Ocean, and W. by the county of Cork. It lies between 51° 56' and 52° 20' N. lat., 6° 58' and 8' 6' W. long. Its greatest length from east to west is 52 miles, from north to south 28 miles. The area is 721 square miles, or 461,553 acres. The population of the county, exclusive of Waterford city, iu 1841 was 172,971; io 1851 it was 138,754.
Coast-line.—From Blackball ]lead, near the entrance of Youghal Harbour, the western extremity of the coast of 1Yaterford, the general direction of the coast is east for three or four miles, when it trends to the north-east to Helwiek Heard, the western head of Dun garvan Harbour. This harbour does not afford very good anchorage. From the opposite headland the coast rues more easterly to Tremens Bay, which has a level beach three miles in extent. The coast is flat and very dangerous to shipping. There are beacons on the eastern and western headlands of the bay. Betwceu Tratnore and Dungarvan, a distance of 20 miles, the whole coast is rocky, and often unsafe from the want of shelter. About 5 miles east of Tremens is Red Point, tho south-western extremity of Waterford Harbour; and a mile farther, within the harbour and about 14 miles below Waterford, is the port of Dunmore. The width of Waterford Harbour is here about 2 miles. There is a lighthouse on lioek ]lead, et the entrance of the harbour ou the eastern side. There are some remarkable caverns on the coast Surface, Ifydrograpky, and Communications.—The general character of the county is mountainous. The great mountain-tract which extends from Waterford on the cut coast to Dingle Bay on the west, comprehends the whole of the county of Waterford; it is interrupted ou a line from Dungarvan to the valley of the Suir, west of Clonmel, by the southern extremity of the great plain which occupies the central part of Ireland. The Curnmemgh Mountains, which occupy the part of the county west of Dungarvan, are among the highest and wildest in Ireland. There are four small lakes among the Cum
meragh 31ountains.
The :Stir, which rises in the north-east of Tipperary, after being joined by the Tier from the Cummoragh :Mountain., forms the botrwlerpliue between Waterfurd and Tipperary and Kilkenny. The milted waters of the Sul- and Barrow form the 'estuary celled Water ford harbour. The Suir is navigable for largo vessels up to Waten ford city, and to Car rick•ons9uir for theme of which the draught does not exceed 11 feet. The Blackwater, which rises in tho Kerry Mouse table, enters the county on the west, end rune due east to Cappoquirs wh re it tutus southward, and discharges itself into Youghal Harbour, after receiving midway the river Bride. The Blackwater is navigable fur vessels of 100 tons to its confluence with the Brides and for vessels of 70 tons as fer RA Cappoquin. The Bride, n sluggish stream, is affected by the tide for the whole of its course within the county, and is navigable for small craft. From Cappoquin to Lismoro there is a renal 3 miles long, made at the expense of the Duke of Devonshire. The Licky, Bricky, Colligein, Mahon, Phinisk, Clodagh, and some ether streams, none of them of Importance, except for drainage, reach the sea at various points of the southern coast.
The mail-coach road from Dublin to Waterford, 75 miles, enters tho county within two or three miles of Waterford city. The mail-coach road from Waterford to Cork, 714 miles, passes throu eh Kilmacthomas, Cappoquin, and Tallow, between which place and Youghal it leaves the county, but again touches Waterford before it finally leaves the county a short distance before reaching Toughs]. The other import ant roads are—from Dungarvan to Youghal, through Clashmore ; also from Dungarvan to Youghal, through Pilltown, both over the moun tains; and from Dungarvau to Clonmel by Ballinamult ; one from Cappoquin to the mountains; one from Waterford to Tramore. Tho railways which are wholly or partially in the county are the Water ford and Kilkenny, the Waterford and Limerick, and the Waterford and Tramore railways.