Ynyswen consists mostly of housing. It has an industrial estate which was once the site of Burberry's factory, one shop, and the Forest View Medical Centre.
The area has several chapels and churches. Tynycoed Chapel, located between Ynyswen and Penycae, was first constructed in 1774, and was rebuilt in 1829.[1][2]
Ynyswen school once stood where Ynyswen Welfare Hall now stands on Ynyswen rd. It was rebuilt in 1912 in a new location along the Rhondda River and closed in 2014 with the children to attend the newly built Penyrenglyn Primary School. Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Ynyswen is a Welsh primary school, established in 1950, that serves the upper Rhondda Valley. After leaving pupils attend Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Cwm Rhondda in Cymer, 5 miles down the valley.{[3]}
On 5 March 2021 an incident, centred on a take-away restaurant in the village, led to the death of a 16-year-old girl and the arrest of two men, who had themselves suffered serious injuries.[4][5][6]
