Perth and Kinross

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Perth and Kinross
Lieutenancy and council area
Coat of Arms of the Area Council of Perth and Kinross.svg
Coat of arms
Perth and Kinross UK location map.svg
Perth and Kinross shown within Scotland
Coordinates: 56°23′45″N03°26′00″W / 56.39583°N 3.43333°W / 56.39583; -3.43333
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Country Scotland
Unitary authority 1 April 1996
Administrative HQ 2 High Street, Perth
Government
[1]
 • Type Council
 • Body Perth and Kinross Council
 •  Control No overall control
 •  MPs
2 MPs
 •  MSPs
2 MSPs
Area
[2]
 • Total
2,041 sq mi (5,286 km2)
 • Rank 5th
Population
 (2022) [2]
 • Total
151,120
 • Rank 12th
 • Density80/sq mi (29/km2)
Time zone UTC+0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+1 (BST)
ISO 3166 code GB-PKN
GSS code S12000048
Website www.pkc.gov.uk

Perth and Kinross (Scots : Pairth an Kinross; Scottish Gaelic : Peairt agus Ceann Rois) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. It is bordered by Highland and Aberdeenshire to the north, Angus, Dundee, and Fife to the east, Clackmannanshire to the south, and Stirling and Argyll and Bute to the west.

Contents

Geographically the area is split by the Highland Boundary Fault into a more mountainous northern part and a flatter southern part. The northern area is a popular tourist spot, while agriculture makes an important contribution to the southern part of the area.

The area is run by Perth and Kinross Council, which is based in Perth.

History

The area takes its name from the two historical shires of Perthshire and Kinross-shire. Each was administered by a sheriff from medieval times, supplemented by commissioners of supply from 1667 and then by a county council from 1890. [3] [4]

Perth & Clackmannan Shires. 1854. Civil Parish map PERTH & CLACKMANNAN SHIRES Civil Parish map.jpg
Perth & Clackmannan Shires. 1854. Civil Parish map

Perthshire was one of the largest counties, whereas Kinross-shire was one of the smallest; it was the least populous Scottish county in the 1921 census. [5] In 1930 the county councils for Perthshire and Kinross-shire were combined for most purposes. The two councils continued to be elected as separate bodies, but operated together as the 'Perth and Kinross Joint County Council', serving the combined area of the two counties. [6] [7]

Local government was reformed in Scotland in 1975 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. Mainland Scotland's counties, burghs and landward districts were replaced with a two-tier structure of upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts. Perth and Kinross was created as one of the districts within the Tayside region. As established in 1975, Perth and Kinross covered the whole of Kinross-shire, and the majority of the pre-1975 Perthshire, with three exceptions: a large area in the south-west of the county which went to the new Stirling district, Muckhart which went to Clackmannan district, and Longforgan which went to the city of Dundee. Perth and Kinross also included the parish of Kettins from Angus. [8] A lieutenancy area covering the same area as the new district was created at the same time. [9]

In 1996, local government in Scotland was reformed again under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994. The regions and districts were abolished and replaced by unitary council areas. One such area was named by the 1994 Act as 'Perthshire and Kinross', covering the area of the 1975–1996 district of Perth and Kinross, plus an area transferred from Dundee roughly matching the pre-1975 parish of Longforgan. [10] [11] [12] The shadow authority elected in 1995 to oversee the transition requested a change of name from 'Perthshire and Kinross' to 'Perth and Kinross' in December 1995, which was agreed by the government before the new council area came into force on 1 April 1996. [13] The Perth and Kinross lieutenancy area was adjusted to match the new council area in 1996. [14]

Geography

Topographic map of Perth and Kinross Perth adn Kinross topo.png
Topographic map of Perth and Kinross

The Highland Boundary Fault runs across the region from the northeast to the southwest. This roughly divides the area between highland Perthshire, including part of the Grampian Mountains, to the north, and lowland Perthshire and Kinross to the south. The highland area is intersected with glacial valleys, often containing ribbon lakes, including Loch Tay and Loch Earn. The lowland area is a fertile region lying within the Central Lowlands. [15]

Economy

In the southern part of Perth and Kinross agriculture plays an important part of the local economy. [16] This includes the cultivation of fruits, fodder, wheat and seed potatoes. [15]

The scenic nature of the northern part of Perth and Kinross makes tourism an important part of the economy. [16] The Forestry Commission controls large parts of the area, which is also home to a number of hydroelectric dams. [15]

Settlements

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The largest settlements in Perth and Kinross

Largest settlements by population

SettlementPopulation (2020) [17]
Perth

47,350

Blairgowrie and Rattray

9,240

Crieff

7,280

Auchterarder

5,840

Kinross

5,610

Scone

5,030

Bridge of Earn

2,920

Pitlochry

2,880

Alyth

2,370

Coupar Angus

2,220

Milnathort

1,950

Aberfeldy

1,940

Comrie

1,900

Invergowrie

1,750

Luncarty

1,630

Stanley

1,500

Errol

1,490

Inchture

1,420

Abernethy

1,390

Almondbank

1,370

Places of interest

Politics and governance

Local government

2 High Street, Perth: Council's headquarters 2 High Street, Perth 2024 2.jpg
2 High Street, Perth: Council's headquarters

The local authority is Perth and Kinross Council, which meets at 2 High Street, Perth.

Scottish Parliament

Perth and Kinross is covered by two Scottish Parliament constituencies and one electoral region. [18] Following the 2021 Scottish Parliament election these two constituencies—Perthshire South and Kinross-shire and Perthshire North—are held respectively by Jim Fairlie and John Swinney, both members of the Scottish National Party. [19] [20] Following the same election the electoral region—Mid Scotland and Fife—is represented by four members of the Scottish Conservatives, two members of Scottish Labour, and one member of the Scottish Greens. [21]

UK Parliament

Perth and Kinross is covered by three United Kingdom Parliament constituencies; Perth and Kinross-shire, Angus and Perthshire Glens and Stirling and Strathallan. [22] Following the 2024 UK Parliamentary General Election these seats are respectively held by Pete Wishart (Scottish National Party), Dave Doogan (Scottish National Party) and Chris Kane (Labour Party). [22] [23] [24]

Referendums

On 18 September 2014, Perth and Kinross voted strongly "No" in the Scottish Independence Referendum, with a majority of 60.2% on a record turnout of 86.9%. [25]

On 23 June 2016, Perth and Kinross voted in favour of remain in the Brexit referendum, with a majority of 61.1% on a turnout of 73.7%. [26]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angus, Scotland</span> Council area of Scotland

Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross. Main industries include agriculture and fishing. Global pharmaceuticals company GSK has a significant presence in Montrose in the east of the county.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perthshire</span> Historic administrative division in Scotland

Perthshire, officially the County of Perth, is a historic county and registration county in central Scotland. Geographically it extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south; it borders the counties of Inverness-shire and Aberdeenshire to the north, Angus to the east, Fife, Kinross-shire, Clackmannanshire, Stirlingshire and Dunbartonshire to the south and Argyllshire to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clackmannanshire</span> Historic county and council area of Scotland

Clackmannanshire, or the County of Clackmannan, is a historic county, council area, registration county and lieutenancy area in Scotland, bordering the council areas of Stirling, Fife, and Perth and Kinross. In terms of historic counties it borders Perthshire, Stirlingshire and Fife.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fife</span> Council area of Scotland

Fife is a council area, historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries with Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire. By custom it is widely held to have been one of the major Pictish kingdoms, known as Fib, and is still commonly known as the Kingdom of Fife within Scotland. A person from Fife is known as a Fifer. In older documents the county was very occasionally known by the anglicisation Fifeshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highland (council area)</span> Council area of Scotland

Highland is a council area in the Scottish Highlands and is the largest local government area in the United Kingdom. It was the 7th most populous council area in Scotland at the 2011 census. It has land borders with the council areas of Aberdeenshire, Argyll and Bute, Moray and Perth and Kinross. The wider upland area of the Scottish Highlands after which the council area is named extends beyond the Highland council area into all the neighbouring council areas plus Angus and Stirling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shires of Scotland</span> Historic administrative and geographical division of Scotland

The Shires of Scotland, or Counties of Scotland, were historic subdivisions of Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kinross-shire</span> Historic county in Scotland

The County of Kinross or Kinross-shire is a historic county and registration county in eastern Scotland, administered as part of Perth and Kinross since 1975. Surrounding its largest settlement and county town of Kinross, the county borders Perthshire to the north and Fife to the east, south and west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stirlingshire</span> Historic county in Scotland

Stirlingshire or the County of Stirling is a historic county and registration county of Scotland. Its county town is Stirling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stirling (council area)</span> Council area of Scotland

The Stirling council area is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and has an estimated population of 92,530 (2022). It was created in 1975 as a lower-tier district within the Central region. The district covered parts of the historic counties of Stirlingshire and Perthshire, which were abolished for local government purposes. In 1996 the Central region was abolished and Stirling Council took over all local government functions within the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abernethy, Perth and Kinross</span> Village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland

Abernethy is a village and former burgh in the Perth and Kinross council area and historic county of Perthshire, in the east central Lowlands of Scotland. The village is situated in rural Strathearn, 8 miles (13 km) south-east of the city of Perth, near the River Earn's confluence with the River Tay and on the northern edge of the Ochil Hills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ochil and South Perthshire (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 2005-2024

Ochil and South Perthshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post system of election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perth and North Perthshire (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 2005 onwards

Perth and North Perthshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. The constituency was created in 2005.

Kinross and Western Perthshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 until 1983, representing, at any one time, a seat for one Member of Parliament (MP), elected by the first past the post system of election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perth (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1997–2005

Perth was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1918, 1918 to 1950, and 1997 to 2005. From 1832 to 1918 it was a burgh constituency. From 1918 to 1950, and 1997 to 2005, it was a county constituency. During each of the three periods it elected one Member of Parliament (MP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perth (Scottish Parliament constituency)</span> Scottish Parliament constituency

Perth was a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood). It elected one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the plurality method of election. Also, however, it was one of nine constituencies in the Mid Scotland and Fife electoral region, which still elects seven additional members, in addition to nine constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perth and Kinross Council</span>

Perth and Kinross Council is the local authority for Perth and Kinross, one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. The council has been under no overall control since 1999. It is based in Perth.

Birnam is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is located 12 miles (19 km) north of Perth on the A9 road, the main tourist route through Perthshire, in an area of Scotland marketed as Big Tree Country. The village originated from the Victorian era with the coming of the railway in 1856, although the place and name is well known because William Shakespeare mentioned Birnam Wood in Macbeth:

MACBETH: Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane/ I cannot taint with fear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perthshire North (Scottish Parliament constituency)</span> Region or constituency of the Scottish Parliament

Perthshire North is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) covering part of the council area of Perth and Kinross. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the plurality method of election. It is one of nine constituencies in the Mid Scotland and Fife electoral region, which elects seven additional members, in addition to the nine constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perthshire South and Kinross-shire (Scottish Parliament constituency)</span> Constituency of the Scottish Parliament

Perthshire South and Kinross-shire is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) covering part of the council area of Perth and Kinross. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the plurality method of election. It is one of nine constituencies in the Mid Scotland and Fife electoral region, which elects seven additional members, in addition to the nine constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public transport in Perth and Kinross</span>

Public transport in Perth and Kinross is available for two main modes of transport—bus and rail—assisting residents of and visitors to the Perth and Kinross council area to travel around much of its 2,041 square miles (5,290 km2).

References

  1. ↑ "Your council". Perth and Kinross Council. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics . 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  3. ↑ Brown, Keith. "Act of the convention of estates of the kingdom of Scotland etc. for a new and voluntary offer to his majesty of £72,000 monthly for the space of twelve months, 23 January 1667". Records of the Parliament of Scotland. University of St Andrews. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  4. ↑ Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889
  5. ↑ "1921 Census of Scotland, County Report". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  6. ↑ "Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929: Section 10", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1929 c. 25 (s. 10), retrieved 1 August 2024
  7. ↑ "No. 18972". The Edinburgh Gazette . 16 March 1971. p. 165.
  8. ↑ "Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1973 c. 65, retrieved 3 August 2024
  9. ↑ "The Lord-Lieutenants Order 1975", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1975/428, retrieved 3 August 2024
  10. ↑ "Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994: Schedule 1", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1994 c. 39 (sch.1), retrieved 3 August 2024
  11. ↑ Lagasse, Paul; Columbia University (2018). "Kinross-shire". The Columbia Encyclopedia - Credo Reference (8th ed.). Columbia University Press. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  12. ↑ Lagasse, Paul; Columbia University (2018). "Perthshire". The Columbia Encyclopedia - Credo Reference (8th ed.). Columbia University Press. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  13. ↑ "Historical information from 1973 onwards". Boundary-Line support. Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  14. ↑ "The Lord-Lieutenants (Scotland) Order 1996", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1996/731, retrieved 3 August 2024
  15. 1 2 3 "Perth and Kinross". Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  16. 1 2 "Perth and Kinross". The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide - Credo Reference. Helicon. 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  17. ↑ "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  18. ↑ "MPs and MSPs". Perth & Kinross Council. 7 January 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  19. ↑ "Perthshire South and Kinross-shire". BBC News . Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  20. ↑ "Perthshire North". BBC News . Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  21. ↑ "Mid Scotland and Fife". BBC News . Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  22. 1 2 "UK Parliamentary General Election results". Perth & Kinross Council. 23 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  23. ↑ "UK Parliamentary Election results". Angus Council. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  24. ↑ "2024 UK General Election result - Stirling and Strathallan". Stirling Council. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  25. ↑ "Scotland Decides". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  26. ↑ "EU Referendum local results - P". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
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