County Carlow from Samuel Lewis' Topographical Directory of Ireland 1837

Carlow the name comes from the Irish Ceatharlach (four lakes).It has an area of 896 sq. Km (346 sq mi).
making it the second smallest county in Ireland, it is situated in the Provence of Leinster, in the Southeast of Ireland. Carlow's fertile soils make it ideal for mixed agriculture. Arable crops are more important here than in most other Irish counties, accounting for one third of farm output. The crops are mainly cereals and sugar beet. Most cattle are reared and fattened for beef, but there is some dairying. Sheep farming is important, especially in the upland areas of the east of the county. Farms average about 30 hectares in area and are larger than most other farms of Ireland. Farmers in the lowlands of Carlow grow cereals, potatoes, sugar beet, and other crops.

The river Barrow flows southward through the county forming the western boundary with County Kilkenny along part of its course, the valley of the Barrow has a limestone floor. The lowland area in the Northeast sits on granite. The River Slaney flows southeastward toward Wexford Harbour. Most of Carlow is a flat with undulating lowland, the land rises to the east and west. Along the eastern edge are the Blackstairs Mountains.

Waterford railway follows the Barrow River valley from north to south. The Barrow links Waterford Harbour on the south coast with the Grand Canal to the north, but is used now only for pleasure craft.

Carlow and Kilkenny jointly send five Td's to Dail Eireann A county council based in Carlow administers the county's local government.

Ireland's first sugar beet refining factory, built in 1926, was a great boost to industrial development. Most of the factories are modern. They produce tools, machinery, and precision instruments. Other industries include meat processing in Hacketstown and Bagenalstown, machinery in Bagenalstown and Borris, and saw milling near Tullow. An important part of Carlow's manufacturing industry is processing agricultural output and timber, and supplying the needs of farmers. Half the manufacturing workforce is employed in the metal and engineering industries and a further quarter in food processing.