Council area of Scotland
Place in Scotland
Aberdeenshire
(
Scots
:
Aiberdeenshire
;
Scottish Gaelic
:
Siorrachd Obar Dheathain
) is one of the 32
council areas of Scotland
.
It takes its name from the
County of Aberdeen
, which has substantially different boundaries. The Aberdeenshire Council area includes all of the area of the
historic counties
of Aberdeenshire and
Kincardineshire
(except the area making up
Aberdeen City council area
), as well as part of
Banffshire
. The county boundaries are officially used for a few purposes, namely land registration and
lieutenancy
.
[1]
Aberdeenshire Council
is headquartered at Woodhill House, in
Aberdeen
, making it the only Scottish council whose headquarters are located outside its jurisdiction. Aberdeen itself forms a different council area (Aberdeen City). Aberdeenshire borders onto
Angus
and
Perth and Kinross
to the south,
Highland
and
Moray
to the west and
Aberdeen City
to the east.
Traditionally, it has depended economically on the primary sector (agriculture, fishing, and forestry) and related processing industries. Over the last 40 years, the development of the oil and gas industry and associated service sector has broadened Aberdeenshire's economic base, and contributed to a rapid population growth of some 50% since 1975.
[2]
Its land represents 8% of Scotland's overall territory. It covers an area of 6,313 square kilometres (2,437 sq mi).
[3]
[4]
History
[
edit
]
1654 map covering "Aberdonia & Banfia" (
Banffshire
)
Topographic map of Aberdeenshire and Moray
Aberdeenshire has a rich prehistoric and historical heritage. It is the locus of a large number of
Neolithic
and
Bronze Age
archaeological sites, including
Longman Hill
,
Kempstone Hill
,
Catto Long Barrow
and
Cairn Lee
. The area was settled in the
Bronze Age
by the
Beaker culture
, who arrived from the south around 2000?1800 BC.
[5]
Stone circles and cairns were constructed predominantly in this era. In the
Iron Age
, hill forts were built.
[5]
Around the 1st century AD, the
Taexali
people, who have left little history, were believed to have resided along the coast.
[5]
The
Picts
were the next documented inhabitants of the area and were no later than 800?900 AD. The
Romans
also were in the area during this period, as they left signs at
Kintore
.
[5]
Christianity influenced the inhabitants early on, and there were
Celtic
monasteries at
Old Deer
and
Monymusk
.
[5]
Since
medieval
times, there have been many traditional paths that crossed the
Mounth
(a spur of mountainous land that extends from the higher inland range to the
North Sea
slightly north of
Stonehaven
) through present-day Aberdeenshire from the Scottish Lowlands to the
Highlands
. Some of the most well-known and historically important
trackways
are the
Causey Mounth
and
Elsick Mounth
.
[6]
[7]
Aberdeenshire played an important role in the fighting between the Scottish
clans
.
Clan MacBeth
and the
Clan Canmore
were two of the larger clans. Macbeth fell at
Lumphanan
in 1057.
[5]
During the
Anglo-Norman
penetration, other families arrive, such as
House of Balliol
,
Clan Bruce
, and
Clan Cumming
(Comyn).
[5]
During the
Scottish Wars of Independence
, the English invaders’ king
Edward I
travelled across the area twice, in 1296 and 1303. In 1307,
Robert the Bruce
was victorious near
Inverurie
.
These new families set the stage for the upcoming rivalries during the 14th and 15th centuries.
[5]
This rivalry grew worse during and after the Protestant Reformation when religion was another reason for conflict between the clans. The Gordon family adhered to
Catholicism
and the
Forbeses
to
Protestantism
. Aberdeenshire was the historic seat of the
clan Dempster
.
[8]
[9]
Three universities were founded in the area prior to the 17th century,
King's College
in
Old Aberdeen
(1494),
Marischal College
in
Aberdeen
(1593), and the University of Fraserburgh (1597).
[5]
During the 17th century, Aberdeenshire was the location of more fighting, centred on the
Marquess of Montrose
and the
Wars of the Three Kingdoms
.
[5]
This period also saw increased wealth due to the increase in trade with
Germany
,
Poland
, and the
Low Countries
.
[5]
After the end of the
Revolution of 1688
, an extended peaceful period was interrupted only by fleeting events such as the
Rising of 1715
and the
Rising of 1745
. The latter resulted in the end of the ascendancy of
Episcopalianism
and the feudal power of landowners. An era began of increased agricultural and industrial progress.
[5]
The present council area is named after the
historic county
of
Aberdeenshire
, which has different boundaries and was abandoned as an administrative area in 1975 under the
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
. It was replaced by
Grampian Regional Council
and five district councils:
Banff and Buchan
,
Gordon
,
Kincardine and Deeside
,
Moray
and the
City of Aberdeen
. Local government functions were shared between the two levels. In 1996, under the
Local Government, etc. (Scotland) Act 1994
, the Banff and Buchan District, Gordon District, and Kincardine and Deeside District were merged to form the present Aberdeenshire Council area. Moray and the City of Aberdeen were made their own council areas. The present Aberdeenshire Council area consists of all of the historic counties of Aberdeenshire and
Kincardineshire
(except the area of those two counties making up the City of Aberdeen), as well as the north-east portions of
Banffshire
.
[5]
Demographics
[
edit
]
The population of the council area has risen over 50% since 1971 to approximately 263,750,
[10]
representing 4.7% of Scotland's total. Aberdeenshire's population has increased by 9.1% since 2001, while Scotland's total population grew by 3.8%.
The census lists a relatively high proportion of under 16s and slightly fewer working-age people compared with the Scottish average.
[2]
Aberdeenshire is one of the most homogeneous/indigenous regions of the UK. In 2011, 82.2% of residents identified as 'White Scottish', followed by 12.3% who are 'White British', whilst ethnic minorities constitute only 0.9% of the population. The largest ethnic minority group are Asian Scottish/British at 0.8%.
[11]
In addition to the English language, 48.8% of residents reported being able to speak and understand the Scots language.
[12]
Settlements
[
edit
]
The largest settlements in Aberdeenshire.
The largest settlements in Aberdeenshire are:
Settlement
|
Population
|
Mid-2010
[13]
|
(2020)
[14]
|
Peterhead
|
17,790
|
19,060
|
Inverurie
|
11,590
|
14,660
|
Fraserburgh
|
12,540
|
12,570
|
Westhill
|
11,220
|
12,110
|
Stonehaven
|
10,820
|
11,150
|
Ellon
|
9,910
|
10,070
|
Portlethen
|
7,130
|
8,940
|
Banchory
|
7,030
|
7,440
|
Kintore
|
4,180
|
4,700
|
Turriff
|
5,020
|
4,700
|
Huntly
|
4,570
|
4,550
|
Banff
|
3,720
|
4,000
|
Kemnay
|
3,710
|
3,890
|
Macduff
|
3,910
|
3,830
|
Laurencekirk
|
2,650
|
3,140
|
Oldmeldrum
|
2,990
|
3,120
|
Blackburn
|
2,720
|
3,050
|
Newtonhill
|
3,080
|
3,010
|
Aboyne
|
2,440
|
2,920
|
Mintlaw
|
2,610
|
2,800
|
Economy
[
edit
]
Aberdeenshire's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated at £3,496M (2011), representing 5.2% of the Scottish total. Aberdeenshire's economy is closely linked to Aberdeen City's (GDP £7,906M), and in 2011, the region as a whole was calculated to contribute 16.8% of Scotland's GDP. Between 2012 and 2014, the combined Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City economic forecast GDP growth rate is 8.6%, the highest growth rate of any local council area in the UK and above the Scottish rate of 4.8%.
[2]
A significant proportion of Aberdeenshire's working residents commute to Aberdeen City for work, varying from 11.5% from Fraserburgh to 65% from Westhill.
Average Gross Weekly Earnings (for full-time employees employed in workplaces in Aberdeenshire in 2011) are £572.60. This is lower than the Scottish average by £2.10 and a fall of 2.6% on the 2010 figure. The average gross weekly pay of people resident in Aberdeenshire is much higher, at £741.90, as many people commute out
of Aberdeenshire, principally into Aberdeen City.
[2]
Total employment (excluding farm data) in Aberdeenshire is estimated at 93,700 employees (Business Register and
Employment Survey 2009). The majority of employees work within the service sector, predominantly in public administration, education and health. Almost 19% of employment is within the public sector. Aberdeenshire's economy remains closely linked to Aberdeen City's and the
North Sea oil
industry, with many employees in oil-related jobs.
The average monthly unemployment (claimant count) rate for Aberdeenshire in 2011 was 1.5%. This is lower than the average rate of Aberdeen City (2.3%), Scotland (4.2%) and the UK (3.8%).
[2]
Major industries
[
edit
]
Blueberries grown in Aberdeenshire
- Energy
? There are significant energy-related infrastructure, presence and expertise in Aberdeenshire.
[15]
Peterhead is an important centre for the energy industry. Peterhead Port includes an extensive new quay with an adjacent laydown area at Smith Quay, is a major support location for North Sea oil and gas exploration and production and the fast-growing global sub-sea sector. The Gas Terminal at St Fergus handles around 15% of the UK's natural gas requirements, and the Peterhead power station is looking to host Britain's first
carbon capture and storage
power generation project.
[2]
There are numerous offshore
wind turbines
near the coast.
- Fishing
? Aberdeenshire is Scotland's foremost fishing area. In 2010, catches landed at Aberdeenshire's ports accounted for over half the total fish landings in Scotland and almost 45% in the UK. Along with Aberdeen City, Peterhead and Fraserburgh ports provide much employment in these sectors. The
River Dee
[5]
is also rich in
salmon
.
- Agriculture
? Aberdeenshire is rich in arable land, with an estimated 9,000 people employed in the sector, and is best known for rearing livestock, mainly cattle. Sheep are important in the higher ground.
[5]
- Tourism
? this sector continues to grow, with a range of sights to be seen in the area. From the lively Cairngorm Mountain range to the bustling fishing ports on the northeast coast, Aberdeenshire samples a bit of everything. Aberdeenshire also has a rugged coastline, many sandy beaches and is a hot spot for tourist activity throughout the year. Almost 1.3 million tourists visited the region in 2011 ? up 3% on the previous year.
[16]
- Whisky distilling
is still a practised art in the area.
[5]
Governance
[
edit
]
Notable features
[
edit
]
Ythan Estuary
nature reserve, with tern colonies and dunes in background.
The B976 road near Gairnshiel
An old
lime kiln
at Badenyon
The following significant structures or places are within Aberdeenshire:
Hydrology and climate
[
edit
]
Ben Macdui, the United Kingdom's second-highest mountain
There are numerous rivers and burns in Aberdeenshire, including
Cowie Water
,
Carron Water
,
Burn of Muchalls
,
River Dee
,
River Don
,
River Ury
,
River Ythan
,
Water of Feugh
,
Burn of Myrehouse
,
Laeca Burn
and
Luther Water
. Numerous bays and estuaries are found along the seacoast of Aberdeenshire, including
Banff Bay
,
Ythan Estuary
,
Stonehaven Bay
and
Thornyhive Bay
. Aberdeenshire has a
marine west coast climate
on the
Koppen climate classification
. Aberdeenshire is in the
rain shadow
of the
Grampians
, therefore it has a generally dry climate for a maritime region, with portions of the coast receiving 25 inches (64 cm) of moisture annually.
[5]
Summers are mild, and winters are typically cold in Aberdeenshire; Coastal temperatures are moderated by the
North Sea
such that coastal areas are typically cooler in the summer and warmer in winter than inland locations. Coastal areas are also subject to
haar
, or coastal fog.
Notable residents
[
edit
]
- John Skinner
, (1721?1807) author, poet and ecclesiastic. Penned the famous verse, "
Tullochgorum
".
- Hugh Mercer
, (1726?1777), born in the manse of Pitsligo Kirk, near
Rosehearty
,
brigadier general
of the
Continental Army
during the
American Revolution
.
[17]
- Alexander Garden
, (1730?1791), born in
Birse
, was a noted naturalist and physician. He moved to North America in 1754 and discovered two species of lizards. He was a
Loyalist
during the
American Revolutionary War
, which led to the confiscation of his property and his banishment in 1782. The
gardenia
flower is named in his honour.
[17]
- John Kemp
, (1763?1812), born in Auchlossan, was a noted educator at
Columbia University
who is said to have influenced
DeWitt Clinton
's opinions and policies.
[17]
- George MacDonald
(1824?1905), author, poet, and theologian born and raised in Huntly.
- Dame Evelyn Glennie
, DBE, born and raised in
Ellon
on 19 July 1965, is a virtuoso percussionist and the first full-time solo percussionist in 20th-century western society. She is very highly regarded in the Scottish musical community and has proven that her profound deafness does not inhibit her musical talent or day-to-day life.
- Evan Duthie
, (born 2000), an award-winning DJ and producer.
- Peter Nicol
, MBE, born in
Inverurie
on 5 April 1973, is a former professional squash player who represented first Scotland and then England in international squash.
- Peter Shepherd
, (1841?1879), Surgeon Major,
Royal Army Medical Corps
- Johanna Basford
(born 1983), illustrator and textile designer
[18]
[19]
- Iona Fyfe
(born 1998), award-winning Scots singer and musician.
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Land Register Counties & Operational Dates
Archived
28 September 2013 at the
Wayback Machine
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
"Aberdeenshire Council ? Profile 2012"
(PDF)
. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on 21 February 2014
. Retrieved
11 July
2012
.
- ^
"Aberdeenshire profile"
(PDF)
. Aberdeenshire Council. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on 7 March 2014
. Retrieved
9 October
2013
.
- ^
Turner, Barry, ed. (2013). "Scotland".
The Statesman's Yearbook 2014
. Macmillan Publishers Ltd. p. 1301.
ISBN
978-0-230-37769-1
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
Hoiberg, Dale H., ed. (2010).
"Aberdeenshire"
.
Encyclopædia Britannica
. Vol. I: A-ak Bayes (15th ed.). Chicago, IL: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. pp.
28?29
.
ISBN
978-1-59339-837-8
.
- ^
W. Douglas Simpson
,
"The Early Castles of Mar",
Proceedings of the Society, 102, 10 December 1928
- ^
The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map.
"C.Michael Hogan,
Elsick Mounth
, Megalithic Portal, ed. Andy Burnham"
. Megalithic.co.uk.
Archived
from the original on 10 June 2011
. Retrieved
6 July
2011
.
- ^
Geni - William Leslie
- ^
The New Statistical Account of Scotland
- ^
"Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022"
.
Office for National Statistics
. 26 March 2024
. Retrieved
3 May
2024
.
- ^
"Aberdeenshire Council Identity in 2011 Census"
(PDF)
.
Archived
(PDF)
from the original on 9 October 2022.
- ^
"What's happening in... Aberdeenshire's Towns Inverurie & Port Elphinstone"
(PDF)
. August 2019.
Archived
(PDF)
from the original on 9 October 2022.
- ^
"National Records of Scotland, Statistics and Data, Statistics, Statistics by Theme, Population, Population Estimates, Settlements and Localities, Archive, Mid-2010, List of Tables"
. Retrieved
19 July
2023
.
- ^
"Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland"
.
National Records of Scotland
. 31 March 2022
. Retrieved
31 March
2022
.
- ^
Shepherd, Mike (2015).
Oil Strike North Sea: A first-hand history of North Sea oil
. Luath Press.
- ^
"Aberdeenshire Council ? Profile 2012"
(PDF)
. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on 21 February 2014
. Retrieved
2 January
2013
.
- ^
a
b
c
Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607?1896
. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
- ^
"Follow The Paper Trail"
.
www.heraldscotland.com
. Herald & Times Group
. Retrieved
16 February
2016
.
- ^
"Rough Cut Nation (Exhibition Notes)"
.
National Galleries Scotland
. National Galleries Scotland
. Retrieved
27 February
2016
.
External links
[
edit
]