Ammanford railway station is a stop on the Heart of Wales Line, with trains to Llanelli and Swansea to the south and Shrewsbury to the north.

During the nineteenth century, as a result of the growth of both the tinplate and anthracite coal trades, a village grew around the Cross Inn (which later became known as Ammanford Square).

In 1880, a number of public meetings were held, and in November 1880 it was resolved that the name Ammanford (i.e. "Ford of the River Amman") adopted.

[7] On 24 April 2024, Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, the local comprehensive school, was the site of a stabbing incident in which two teachers and a student were injured.

[8] There are two tiers of local government covering Ammanford, at community (town) and county level: Ammanford Town Council (Cyngor Tref Rhydaman) and Carmarthenshire County Council (Cyngor Sir Gâr).

[citation needed] However, in 1997, Ammanford was transferred to the new Carmarthen East and Dinefwr seat which was captured in 2001 by Adam Price of Plaid Cymru.

[citation needed] The nonconformist denominations, in contrast, were far more active and Ammanford was an important location as the 1904–1905 Welsh Revival unfolded.

[21] Prominent chapels include Ebeneser (Baptist), Gellimanwydd (Christian Temple) (Independent) and Bethany (Presbyterian Church of Wales).

There is an active Christadelphian community based in the town centre, in addition to various Evangelical and Apostolic Churches.

[citation needed] A motorcycle speedway long-track meeting, one of the few held in the UK, was staged in a village out lying Ammanford, called Tairgwaith.