Aberdeenshire 857 217980586 2008-06-08T16:41:09Z Eubot 231599 Hatnote formatting, see [[User:Eubot/Hatnote formatting]] {{otheruses}} {{infobox Scotland council area| |Council= Aberdeenshire<br />Siorrachd Obar Dheathain |Image= [[Image:ScotlandAberdeenshire.png]] |SizeRank= 4th |Size= 6,313 [[square kilometre|km²]] |Water= ? |AdminHQ= [[Aberdeen]] |ISO= GB-ABD |ONS= 00QB |PopulationRank= 6th |PopulationDate= 2004 |Population= 232,850 |PopulationDensity=37 / km² |Control= <!-- Edit (with refs per WP:VERIFY) at [[Template:Scottish council control]] --> |CouncilDetails= Aberdeenshire Council<br />http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/ |MPs= <ul><li>[[Malcolm Bruce]]<li>[[Alex Salmond]]<li>[[Robert Smith (UK politician)|Robert Smith]]</ul> |MSPs= <ul><li>[[Stewart Stevenson]]<li>[[Alex Salmond]]<li>[[Mike Rumbles]]</ul> }} <!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Aberdeenshirelogo.png|thumb|right|150px|Logo of Aberdeenshire Council]] --> '''Aberdeenshire''' (''Siorrachd Obar Dheathain'' in [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]]) is one of the 32 [[unitary authority|unitary]] [[council areas]] in [[Scotland]]. In this present day Aberdeenshire does not include [[Aberdeen City]] which is a Council Area in its own right. However, Aberdeenshire Council does have its headquarters at Woodhill House, in [[Aberdeen]]; the only Scottish council whose headquarters are based outwith its area's border. Aberdeenshire borders [[Angus]] and [[Perth and Kinross]] to the south, and [[Highland (council area)|Highland]] and [[Moray]] to the west. ==History== Aberdeenshire has a rich prehistoric and historic heritage. It is the locus of a large number of [[Neolithic]] and [[Bronze Age]] archaeological sites. Since [[medieval]] times there have been a number of crossings of 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 [[Scottish Highlands|Highlands]]. Some of the most well known and historically important [[trackway]]s are the [[Causey Mounth]] and [[Elsick Mounth]].<ref>W. Douglas Simpson, "The Early Castles of Mar", Proceedings of the Society, 102, December 10, 1928</ref><ref>[http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18037 C.Michael Hogan, ''Elsick Mounth'', Megalithic Portal, ed. Andy Burnham]</ref> The present council area is named after the historic [[Aberdeenshire (historic)|county of Aberdeen]] which had different boundaries and was abolished in 1975, under the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973]]. Between 1975 and 1996 the area was incorporated within the [[Regions of Scotland|region]] of [[Grampian]], with local government functions being divided between the regional council and three district councils; [[Banff and Buchan]], [[Gordon, Scotland|Gordon]] and [[Kincardine and Deeside]]. The region had also two other districts; [[Moray]] and the [[City of Aberdeen]]. In 1996, under the [[Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994]], the Banff and Buchan district, the Gordon district and the Kincardine and Deeside district were merged to form the Aberdeenshire council area, and the other two districts became autonomous council areas. ==Aberdeenshire council== Aberdeenshire Council was established in April 1996, following the abolition of the Scottish Regions. The council has 68 [[councillor]]s. In 2007 the political composition was as follows:<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/elections/local/index.asp| title=Aberdeenshire Council Results| accessdate=2007-05-06}}</ref> {|class="wikitable" |width="5"| |width="140"|'''Party''' |width="180"|'''Councillors''' |- |bgcolor="{{Liberal Democrats/meta/color}}"| |Liberal Democrat |24 |- |bgcolor="{{Scottish National Party/meta/color}}"| |Scottish National Party |22 |- |bgcolor="{{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}"| |Conservative |14 |- |bgcolor="{{Independent (politician)/meta/color}}"| |Independent |8 |} The Council's net expenditure is £399.1m a year (2003/04). Education takes the largest share of expenditure (55%), followed by Social Work and Housing (19%), Transportation and Infrastructure (11%), and Joint Services such as Fire and Police (10%). 22% of revenue is raised locally through the Council Tax. Average Band D [[Council Tax]] is the eighth lowest in mainland Scotland at £966 (2003/04). The council area has a population of 226,871, representing 4.5% of Scotland's total, and a 20% increase since 1981, 50% since 1971. The ten largest towns in Aberdeenshire (with 2004 population estimates)<ref>[http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/index.html General Register Office for Scotland]</ref> are : *[[Peterhead]] (17,560) *[[Fraserburgh]] (12,150) *[[Inverurie]] (10,760) *[[Stonehaven]] (10,160) *[[Westhill]] (10,060) *[[Ellon, Aberdeenshire|Ellon]] (9,540) *[[Portlethen]] (6,770) *[[Banchory]] (6,270) *[[Turriff]] (4,610) *[[Huntly]] (4,460) The population has a higher proportion of younger age groups than the rest of Scotland, reflecting employment-driven in-migration in recent decades. The council has devolved power to six [[area committee]]s: *[[Banff and Buchan]], *[[Buchan]], *[[Formartine]], *[[Garioch]], *[[Marr]], *[[Kincardine and Mearns]] [http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/statistics/area/index.asp Boundary Map] ==Notable features== The following significant structures or places are within Aberdeenshire: *[[Badenyon]] *[[Balmoral Castle]] *[[Cairness House]] *[[Crathes Castle]] *[[Causey Mounth]], an ancient road *[[Drum Castle]] *[[Dunnottar Castle]] *[[Fetteresso Castle]] *[[Fowlsheugh]] Nature Reserve *[[Haddo House]] *[[Loch of Strathbeg]] *[[Monboddo House]] *[[Muchalls Castle]] *[[Portlethen Moss]] *[[Raedykes]] [[Roman Camp]] *[[River Dee, Aberdeenshire|River Dee]] *[[Sands of Forvie]] Nature Reserve *[[Slains Castle]] *[[Stonehaven Tolbooth]] *[[Ythan Estuary]] Nature Reserve ==Hydrology and climate== There are numerous rivers and burns in Aberdeenshire, including [[Cowie Water]], [[Carron Water, Aberdeenshire|Carron Water]], [[Burn of Muchalls]], [[River Dee, Aberdeenshire|River Dee]], [[River Don, Aberdeenshire|River Don]], [[River Ury]], [[River Ythan]], [[Feugh Water]] and [[Luther Water]]. 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 (fog)|haar]], or coastal fog. ==Notable residents== {{seealso|List of Aberdonians}} *[[Alexander Garden (naturalist)|Alexander Garden]], (1730-1791), born in Birse, noted naturalist and physician. He moved to [[North America]] in 1754, and discovered two species of lizards. He was a [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|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 honor. <ref name="Marquis 1607-1896"> {{cite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | location = Chicago | date = 1963}}</ref> *[[John Kemp (educator)|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. <ref name="Marquis 1607-1896"/> *[[Hugh Mercer]], (1726-1777), born in the manse of Pitsligo Kirk, near [[Rosehearty]], [[brigadier general]] of the [[Continental Army]] during the [[American Revolution]].<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896"/> *[[John Skinner]], (1721-1807) author, poet and ecclesiastic. Penned the famous verse, [[Tullochgorum]]. ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/ Aberdeenshire Council] *[http://www.visitpeterhead.org.uk/ Peterhead and Buchan Tourism Web Site] *[http://www.aberdeenshirearts.org.uk/ Aberdeenshire Arts] *[http://www.aberdeenshire-sports-council.org.uk/ Aberdeenshire Sports Council] *[http://www.ScottishPlots.com/AberdeenshirePlotsOfLand.aspx Land for sale in Aberdeenshire] {{Aberdeenshire places|state=uncollapsed}} {{Scotland subdivisions}} [[Category:People from Aberdeenshire| ]] [[Category:Unitary authorities of Scotland]] [[Category:Aberdeenshire| ]] [[ar:أبردينشاير]] [[cs:Aberdeenshire (správní oblast)]] [[cy:Swydd Aberdeen]] [[da:Aberdeenshire]] [[de:Aberdeenshire]] [[es:Aberdeenshire]] [[fr:Aberdeenshire]] [[gd:Siorrachd Obar Dheathain]] [[it:Aberdeenshire]] [[lt:Aberdinširas]] [[nl:Aberdeenshire]] [[ja:アバディーンシャイア]] [[no:Aberdeenshire]] [[pl:Aberdeenshire]] [[pt:Aberdeenshire]] [[ro:Aberdeenshire]] [[ru:Абердиншир]] [[fi:Aberdeenshire]] [[sv:Aberdeenshire]] [[zh:阿伯丁郡]]