The Aberdare Urban District Council was established in 1894 and covered the parish of Aberdare.
Its responsibilities included public health, sanitation, roads and public works generally.
Originally, one member was elected from each ward on an annual basis, but from 1904 an additional member was granted to each ward resulting in the election of ten members, out of a total of twenty, every three years.
[1] In both the Gadlys and Town wards the sitting members were returned unopposed after the Trades and Labour Council resolved not to run candidates.
[2] (*) denotes sitting member Having come within 71 votes of Howell at the 1904 county election, Treharne's supporters had been hopeful of success.