Before 1969, the area formed part of the Northern Ireland Parliament constituencies of Antrim Borough and Carrick.

Newtownabbey was created by the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 as a division of County Antrim.

It was located to the north of Belfast and comprised "part of the urban district of Newtownabbey which consists of the wards of Carnmoney, Cavehill, Glengormley, Whitehouse, and Whitewell".

The Parliament was prorogued on 30 March 1972, under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972.

It was formally abolished in 1973 when the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 received Royal Assent on 18 July 1973.