Inverness
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{{otheruses1|the city in Scotland}}
{{Infobox UK place
|official_name= Inverness
|gaelic_name= Inbhir Nis
|scots_name=
|country= Scotland
|map_type= Scotland
Football team = Inverness Caledonian Thistle
|population= 40,949, <ref>[http://wwwold.highland.gov.uk/plintra/iandr/cen/pop_towns.htm ''2001 Population of Main Highland Towns & Villages'', Highland Council website, accessed 7 March 2008]</ref> or 66,576<ref>[http://wwwold.highland.gov.uk/plintra/iandr/cen/prof_area.htm ''2001 Census - Area Profiles'', Highland Council website, accessed 7 March 2008]</ref><ref>Inverness has no statutory boundaries and different measures or estimates of population are based on differing boundary definitions</ref>
|population_density= |os_grid_reference= NH666450
|edinburgh_distance=
|london_distance=
|latitude= 57.471767
|longitude= -4.225466
|post_town= INVERNESS
|postcode_area= IV
|postcode_district= IV1-IV3, IV5, IV13, IV63
|dial_code= 01463
|constituency_westminster= [[Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (UK Parliament constituency)|Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey]]
|unitary_scotland= [[Highland (council area)|Highland]]
|lieutenancy_scotland= Inverness
|constituency_scottish_parliament= [[Highlands and Islands (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Highlands and Islands]]
|constituency_scottish_parliament1= [[Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber]]
|constituency_scottish_parliament2= [[Ross, Skye and Inverness West (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Ross, Skye and Inverness West]]
|website=[http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/committees/archivepremay2007/inverness/ ''City of Inverness and Area'', Highland Council website, accessed 6 March 2008]
}}
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'''Inverness''' ({{lang-gd|Inbhir Nis}} {{pronounced|iɲɪɾʲˈniʃ}}) is a [[City status in the United Kingdom|city]] in northern [[Scotland]]. The city is the administrative centre for the [[Highland (council area)|Highland]] [[Council areas of Scotland|council area]],<ref>[http://www.highland.gov.uk/contactus.htm The Highland Council website, accessed 6 March 2006]</ref> and it is promoted as the capital of the [[Scottish Highlands|Highlands of Scotland]]. Inverness is unusual, however, in that although there are [[letters patent]], dating from 2001 and now held in Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, the city has no [[statute|statutory]] boundaries. According to ''Telegraph.co.uk'' 3 February 2008, Inverness is Europe's fastest growing city and is ranked fifth out of 189 British cities for its quality of life. <ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/main.jhtml?xml=/property/2008/02/03/precession103.xml&page=2 ''Property market: Is your home recession proof?'' Telegraph.co.uk 12:01am GMT 03/02/2008, accessed 6 March 2008]</ref>
The city lies where the River Ness enters the [[Moray Firth]] and is a natural hub for various transport links. A settlement was established by sixth century AD, the first royal charter being granted in the thirteenth century. It lies near the site of the eighteenth century [[Battle of Culloden]].
Because Inverness has no statutory boundaries, population figures vary from about 40,900 to about 66,600, depending on what boundaries are used. {{Fact|date=June 2008}} Inverness is twinned with three other European cities. The city is home to numerous sporting and cultural groups and events, including the annual [[Highland Games]] and [[association football|football]] club [[Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.]], who play in the [[Scottish Premier League]] as well as [[Clachnacuddin F.C.]] who play in the [[Highland Football League|Highland League]]. Inverness College is the hub campus for the [[UHI Millennium Institute]]. City status was granted in 2001.
[[Scottish Gaelic]] appears on the majority of road signs around Inverness, with around 3,555 people (5.47% of the population) speaking the language.
== Toponymy ==
The name Inverness is Gaelic and means 'mouth of the river Ness'. See [[Aber and Inver as place-name elements]]. Since the town predates Gaelic settlement, it is likely the name is a Gaelic adaptation of an older form with ''Aber-''. In the colonial period the name was given by expatriates to [[Inverness, Nova Scotia]] and other places.
== History ==
[[Image:View of Inverness.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Inverness at the end of the 17th century]]
Inverness was one of the chief strongholds of the [[Picts]], and in AD 565 was visited by [[St Columba]] with the intention of converting the Pictish king [[Bridei I of the Picts|Brude]], who is supposed to have resided in the [[vitrified fort]] on Craig Phadrig<ref>[http://walking.visitscotland.com/walks/nescotland/213042 ''Craig Phadrig, Inverness'', Walk in Scotland, Visitscotland]</ref> (168 m), 2.4 km west of the city. A church or a monk's cell is thought to have been established by early Celtic monks on St Michael's Mount, a mound close to the river, now the site of the [[Old High St Stephen's, Inverness|Old High Church]]<ref>[http://www.churchesinverness.com/Old-High-Church-g.asp Inverness churches]</ref> and graveyard. The castle is said to have been built by [[Máel Coluim III of Scotland]], after he had razed to the ground the castle in which [[Macbeth of Scotland|Mac Bethad mac Findláich]] had, according to much later tradition, murdered Máel Coluim's father [[Donnchad I of Scotland|Donnchad]], and which stood on a hill around 1 km to the north-east.
Inverness had four traditional fairs, one of them being [[Legavrik]] (''leth-gheamradh'').
[[William I of Scotland|William the Lion]] (d. 1214) granted Inverness four charters, by one of which it was created a [[royal burgh]]. Of the Dominican friary founded by [[Alexander III of Scotland|Alexander III]] in 1233, only one pillar and a worn knight's effigy survive in a secluded graveyard near the town centre. On his way to the [[Battle of Harlaw]] in 1411, Donald, [[Lord of the Isles]], harried the city, and sixteen years later [[James I of Scotland|James I]] held a parliament in the castle to which the northern chieftains were summoned, of whom three were executed for asserting an independent sovereignty. {{Fact|date=April 2008}}
In 1562, during the progress undertaken to suppress Huntly's insurrection, [[Mary I of Scotland|Queen Mary]] was denied admittance into [[Inverness Castle]] by the governor, who belonged to the earl's faction, and whom she afterwards therefore caused to be hanged. The [[Clan Fraser]] and [[Clan Munro]] took the castle for her. {{Fact|date=April 2008}} The house in which she lived meanwhile stood in Bridge Street until the 1970s, when it was demolished to make way for the second Bridge Street development. The city's [[Assumption of Mary|Marymass]] [[Fair]], on the Saturday nearest [[August 15]]th, (a tradition revived in 1986) is said to commemorate Queen Mary as well as the [[Mary, the mother of Jesus|Virgin Mary]]. {{Fact|date=April 2008}}
Beyond the then northern limits of the town, [[Oliver Cromwell]] built a citadel capable of accommodating 1000 men, but with the exception of a portion of the ramparts it was demolished at the [[English Restoration|Restoration]]. The only surviving modern remnant is a clock tower. In 1715 the [[Jacobitism|Jacobites]] occupied the royal fortress as a barracks. In 1727 the government built the first [[Fort George, Scotland|Fort George]] here, but in 1746 it surrendered to the Jacobites and they blew it up.<ref>[http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/inverness/inverness/ Inverness on Undiscovered Scotland]</ref>
[[Culloden, Scotland|Culloden]] Moor lies nearby, and was the site of the [[Battle of Culloden]] in 1746, which ended the [[Jacobite Rising]] of 1745-1746.
On [[September 7]], [[1921]], the only [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|UK Cabinet]] meeting to be held outside [[London]] took place in the Town House, when [[David Lloyd George]], on holiday in [[Gairloch]], called an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in [[Ireland]]. The Inverness Formula composed at this meeting was the basis of the [[Anglo-Irish Treaty]].
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== Geography ==
[[Image:RiverNess InvernessCastle.jpg|thumb|250px|right|River Ness and Inverness Castle]]
Inverness lies at the mouth of the [[River Ness]], and it is from this that the city derives its name: ''Inbhir Nis'' is [[Scots Gaelic]] for "mouth (or confluence) of the Ness". In nominal terms, the river mouth is at the southwestern and most inland extremity of the [[Moray Firth]] ({{gbmapping|NH661472}}). The [[Beauly Firth]] may be seen, however, as a westward and more inland extension of the Moray Firth. Also, ''Inverness Firth'' has some currency as a name for the section of the Moray Firth between the mouth of the River Ness and the more eastward promontory of [[Fort George, Highland|Fort George]] ({{gbmappingsmall|NH758566}}).
The river flows from nearby [[Loch Ness]] and the [[Caledonian Canal]] and connects Loch Ness, [[Loch Oich]], and [[Loch Lochy]].
Islands in the [[River Ness]], the [[Bught]] and the river banks form a pleasant series of walks, as do the forested hills of [[Craig Phadraig]] and [[Craig Dunain]]. The city is well served with shops, as it is the main shopping centre for an area of nearly 26,000 km².
==Health==
===Raigmore Hospital===
{{main|Raigmore Hospital}}
Raigmore is the main hospital in Inverness and the entire Highland authority.<ref>http://www2.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/Health%20Services/Hospitals/Raigmore/index.htm</ref> The present hospital opened in 1970, replacing wartime wards dating from 1941.<ref>http://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/Services/Pages/RaigmoreHospital.aspx</ref> Raigmore is also a teaching hospital catering for both the Universities of Aberdeen and Stirling.
==Economy==
Most of the traditional industries such as [[distilling]] have been replaced by high-tech businesses, including the design and manufacture of [[diabetes]] diagnostic kits. [[Highlands and Islands Enterprise]] has partly funded a [http://www.centreforhealthscience.com Centre for Health Science] with a view to attracting more businesses in the medical and medical devices business to the area.{{Fact|date=October 2007}}
Inverness City Centre lies on the east bank of the river and is linked to the west side of the town by three road bridges (Ness Bridge, Friars Bridge and the Black (or Waterloo) Bridge) and by one of the town's suspension foot bridges, the Grieg Street Bridge. <ref>http://www.stockphotography.co.uk/UK/Maps/Inverness.asp</ref> The traditional city centre was a triangle bounded by High Street, Church Street and Academy Street, within which Union Street and Queensgate are cross streets parallel to High Street. Between Union Street and Queensgate is the Victorian Market, which contains a large number of small shops <ref>http://www.explore-inverness.com/shops.htm</ref>. The main [[Inverness railway station]] is almost directly opposite the Academy Street entrance to the Market.
From the 1970s, the [[Eastgate Shopping Centre (Inverness)]] was developed to the east of High Street; a substantial extension was completed in 2005, which is also linked to a supermarket a little farther east. <ref>http://www.morrisons.co.uk/Store-Finder/Store-Details/?type=qs&value=Inverness&recordid=1&lat=57.47969&lon=-4.21879</ref>
Large-scale retail development has taken place at Inverness Retail Park, some two miles east of the city centre. There are other, smaller retail parks at Inshes, near Raigmore Hospital, and at Telford Street, in the north-west of the town.
On the west bank stand the Eden Court Theatre and St Andrew's Cathedral. <ref>http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/inverness/inverness/index.html</ref>
Inverness is home to [[Scottish Natural Heritage]] following that body's relocation from Edinburgh under the auspices of the [[Scottish Executive]]'s decentralisation strategy. SNH provides a large number of jobs in the area.
== Transport ==
Inverness is linked to the [[Black Isle]] across the Moray Firth by the [[Kessock Bridge]]. It has a [[Inverness railway station|railway station]]<ref>The [[Highland Main Line]], the [[Aberdeen to Inverness Line|Aberdeen-Inverness Line]] and the [[Far North Line]] meet at Inverness ([[Ordnance Survey]] {{gbmapping|NH667454}}). Also, [[Kyle of Lochalsh Line|Kyle of Lochalsh]] services run to and from Inverness via the Far North Line to [[Dingwall]].</ref> with services to [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]], [[Edinburgh]], [[Glasgow]], [[London]], [[Aberdeen]], [[Thurso]], [[Wick, Caithness|Wick]] and to [[Kyle of Lochalsh]]. Inverness is connected to London by the [[Caledonian Sleeper]], which departs six times a week and by the [[Highland Chieftain]] which runs 7 days a week. [[Inverness Airport]]<ref>Ordnance Survey grid reference for [[Inverness Airport]] (access from [[A96 road]]): {{gbmappingsmall|NH776508}}.</ref> is located 15 km east of the city and has scheduled flights to airports across the UK and Republic of Ireland including [[London]], [[Manchester]], [[Edinburgh]], [[Belfast]], [[Dublin]] and the islands to the north and west of Scotland. Some local controversy arose when [[British Airways]] sold off the landing slots at [[Heathrow]] for the three daily flights to and from Inverness as part of the proposed link up with [[American Airlines]] which eventually failed. {{Fact|date=June 2008}} Three trunk roads (the [[A9 road|A9]], [[A82 road|A82]] and [[A96 road|A96]]) provide access to Aberdeen, Perth, Elgin, Thurso, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Plans are being drafted to convert the A96 between Inverness and [[Nairn]] to a dual carriageway and to construct a southern bypass that would link the A9 and A82 and involve crossings of the Caledonian Canal and the River Ness in the Torvean area, south west of the town. {{Fact|date=June 2008}}
== Politics ==
=== Local Government ===
:''See also ''[[Politics of the Highland council area]]
Inverness was an autonomous [[royal burgh]], and [[county town]] for the [[county of Inverness]] (also known as [[Inverness-shire]]) until 1975, when [[Local government in Scotland|local government]] [[Counties of Scotland|counties]] and [[burgh]]s were abolished, under the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973]], in favour of two-tier [[Regions and districts of Scotland|regions and districts]] and [[Unitary council area|unitary]] [[Islands council areas of Scotland|islands council areas]]. The royal burgh was then absorbed into a new district of Inverness, which was one of eight districts within the [[Highland (council area)|Highland]] region. The new district combined in one area the royal burgh, the Inverness district of the county and the [[Aird, Inverness|Aird]] district of the county. The rest of the county was divided between other new districts within the Highland region and the [[Western Isles]]. Therefore, although much larger than the royal burgh, the new Inverness district was much smaller than the county.
In 1996, under the [[Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994]],<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1994/Ukpga_19940039_en_1.htm ''Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994'', Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) website]</ref> the districts were abolished and the region became a [[unitary council area]]. The new unitary [[Highland Council]], however, adopted the areas of the former districts as council management areas, and created [[area committee]]s to represent each. The Inverness committee represents 23 out of the 80 Highland Council [[ward (politics)|ward]]s, with each ward electing one [[councillor]] by the [[first past the post]] system of election. However, management area and committee area boundaries have been out of alignment since 1999, as a result of changes to ward boundaries. Also, ward boundaries are changing again this year, 2007, and the council management areas are being replaced with three new corporate management areas.
Ward boundary changes in 2007, under the [[Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004]],<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2004/20040009.htm ''Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004'', Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) website]</ref> create 22 new Highland Council wards, each electing three or four councillors by the [[single transferable vote]] system of election, a system designed to produce a form of [[proportional representation]]. The total number of councillors remains the same. Also, the Inverness management area is being merged into the new [[Highland Council|Inverness, Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey]] corporate management area, covering nine of the new wards and electing 34 of the 80 councillors. As well as the Inverness area, the new area includes the former [[Nairn]] management area and the former [[Badenoch and Strathspey]] management area. The corporate area name is also that of a [[United Kingdom constituencies|constituency]], but boundaries are different.
Within the corporate area there is a city management area covering seven of the nine wards, the [[Highland Council wards created in 2007|Aird and Loch Ness ward]], the [[Highland Council wards created in 2007|Culloden and Ardersier ward]], the [[Highland Council wards created in 2007|Inverness Central ward]], the [[Highland Council wards created in 2007|Inverness Millburn ward]], the [[Highland Council wards created in 2007|Inverness Ness-side ward]], the [[Highland Council wards created in 2007|Inverness South ward]] and the [[Highland Council wards created in 2007|Inverness West ward]]. The [[Highland Council wards created in 2007|Nairn ward]] and the [[Highland Council wards created in 2007|Badenoch and Strathspey ward]] complete the corporate area. Wards in the city management area are to be represented on a city committee as well as corporate area committees.
===City Status===
In 2001 [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] was granted to the ''Town of Inverness'', and [[letters patent]] were taken into the possession of the Highland Council by the convener of the Inverness area committee.<ref>[http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/our-communications/release.php?id=2974 ''Helen Liddell joins Inverness celebrations as Scotland’s Millennium City'', Scotland Office press release 19 Mar 2001]</ref> These letters patent, which were sealed in March 2001 and are held by Inverness Museum and Art Gallery,<ref>Ordnance Survey grid reference for Inverness Museum and Art Gallery: {{gbmappingsmall|NH666451}}</ref> create a city of Inverness, but do not refer to anywhere with defined boundaries, except that ''Town of Inverness'' may be taken as a reference to the [[burgh]] of Inverness. As a local government area the burgh was abolished 26 years earlier, in 1975, and so was the [[county of Inverness]] for which the burgh was the [[county town]]. Nor do they refer to the former district or to the royal burgh.
The Highland area was created as a [[Regions and districts of Scotland|two-tier local government region]] in 1975, and became a unitary local government area in 1996. The region consisted of eight districts, of which one was called Inverness. The districts were all merged into the unitary area. As the new local government authority, the [[Highland Council]] then adopted the areas of the districts as council management areas. The management areas were abolished in 2007, in favour of three new corporate management areas. The council has defined a large part of the [[Highland Council|Inverness, Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey corporate area]] as the Inverness city management area.<ref>[http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/news/newsreleases/2006/December/2006-12-15-10.htm ''Key Decisions Taken on Council Post 2007'', Highland Council news release, 15 December 2006], includes a list of wards within the Inverness management area</ref> This council-defined city area includes [[Loch Ness]] and numerous towns and villages apart from the former burgh of Inverness.
In January 2008 a petition to matriculate [[coat of arms|armorial bearings]] for the City of Inverness was refused by [[Lord Lyon King of Arms]] on the grounds that there is no legal persona to which arms can be granted.<ref>[http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/5000/Coat_of_arms_rejected_in_city_status_query.html ''Coat of arms rejected in city status query'', The Inverness Courier, accessed February 12, 2008]</ref>
=== Parliamentary representation ===
There are three existing [[parliament]]ary [[constituencies (UK)|constituencies]] with ''Inverness'' as an element in their names:
* One [[county constituency]] of the [[House of Commons (UK)|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] ([[Westminster (Palace)|Westminster]]), created in 2005:
** [[Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (UK Parliament constituency)|Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey]], currently represented by [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] [[Member of Parliament (MP)]] [[Danny Alexander]]<ref>[http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/alcm.cfm List of MPs, Parliament of the United Kingdom website], retrieved 11 July 2007<br>[http://www.dannyalexander.org.uk/ Website of Danny Alexander MP], retrieved 10 July 2007</ref>
* Two county constituencies of the [[Scottish Parliament]] ([[Scottish Parliament Building|Holyrood]]), created in 1999:
** [[Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber]], currently represented by [[Scottish National Party]] [[Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)]] [[Fergus Ewing]]<ref>[http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/membersPages/fergus_ewing/index.htm ''Fergus Ewing MSP'', Scottish Parliament website], retrieved 10 July 2007</ref>
** [[Ross, Skye and Inverness West (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Ross, Skye and Inverness West]], currently represented by Liberal Democrat MSP [[John Farquhar Munro]]<ref>[http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/membersPages/john_farquhar_munro/index.htm ''John Farquhar Munro MSP'', Scottish Parliament website], retrieved 11 July 2007</ref>
These existing constituencies are effectively subdivisions of the [[Highland (council area)|Highland]] [[Council areas of Scotland|council area]], but boundaries for Westminster elections are now very different from those for Holyrood elections. The Holyrood constituencies are also subdivisions of the [[Highlands and Islands (Scottish Parliament region)|Highlands and Islands]] [[Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions|electoral region]].
Historically there have been six Westminster constituencies:
* One [[burgh constituency]]:
** [[Inverness Burghs]], 1708 to 1918
* Five county constituencies:
** [[Inverness-shire (UK Parliament constituency)|Inverness-shire]], 1708 to 1918
** [[Inverness (UK Parliament constituency)|Inverness]], 1918 to 1983
** [[Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber (UK Parliament constituency)|Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber]], 1983 to 1997
** [[Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber]], 1997 to 2005
** [[Ross, Skye and Inverness West (UK Parliament constituency)|Ross, Skye and Inverness West]], 1997 to 2005
Inverness Burghs was a [[district of burghs constituency]], covering the [[parliamentary burgh]]s of Inverness, [[Fortrose]], [[Forres]] and [[Nairn]]. Inverness-shire covered, at least nominally, the [[county of Inverness]] minus the Inverness parliamentary burgh. As created in 1918, Inverness covered the county minus [[Outer Hebrides|Outer Hebridean]] areas, which were merged into the [[Western Isles (UK Parliament constituency)|Western Isles constituency]]. The Inverness constituency included the former parliamentary burgh of Inverness. As created in 1983, Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber was one of three constituencies covering the Highland [[Regions and districts of Scotland|region]], which had been created in 1975. As first used in 1997, the Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, and Ross, Skye and Inverness West constituencies were effectively two of three constituencies covering the Highland [[unitary council area]], which had been created in 1996.
=== Town twinning ===
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Augsburg]], [[Germany]]
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Inverness, Florida|Inverness]], [[Florida]], [[United States|USA]]
*{{flagicon|France}} [[La Baule]], [[France]]
*{{flagicon|France}} [[St Valery-en-Caux]], [[France]]
=== Health Services ===
The main hospital serving Inverness is [[Raigmore Hospital]]. This [[hospital]] comes under [[NHS Highland]] which controls many hospitals in the [[Highlands and Islands]]. There are however several other hospitals in the general area, notably New Craigs hospital which deals which mental health care. The current building occupied by New Craigs was opened in [[2000]].
== Culture & sports ==
Inverness is an important centre for [[bagpipes|bagpipe]] players and lovers, since every September the city hosts the [[Northern Meeting]], the most prestigious solo piping competition in the world. The [[Inverness cape]], a garment worn by pipers the world over in the rain, is not necessarily made in Inverness.
Another major event in calendar is the annual City of Inverness [[Highland Games]]. In 2006 Inverness hosted Scotland's biggest ever [[Highland Games]] over two days in July, featuring the Masters' World Championships, the showcase event for heavies aged over 40 years. 2006 was the first year that the Masters' World Championships had been held outside the [[United States]], and it attracted many top heavies from around the world to the Inverness area.
The current music scene within Inverness generally leans towards an emo/punk/hardcore style, but there are also bands who show features of different genres such as rock, metal, pop, classical, grunge, industrial and traditional Scottish music. The Ironworks venue has attracted a greater variety of music to Inverness. {{Fact|date=March 2008}}
The city is home to two [[association football|football]] clubs. [[Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.]] was formed in 1994 from the merger of two Highland League clubs, [[Caledonian F.C.]] and [[Inverness Thistle]]. 'Caley Thistle' play at The Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, and are currently in the [[Scottish Premier League]] and lay claim to have the longest name for any football club in the world. The other football club [[Clachnacuddin F.C.]], play in the [[Highland Football League|Highland League]]. [[Inverness Citadel F.C.]] was another popular side which are now defunct. Bught Park, located in the centre of Inverness is the finishing point of the annual [[Loch Ness Marathon]] and home of [[Inverness Shinty Club]].
Cricket is also a popular sport in Inverness, with both Highland CC and Northern Counties playing in the North of Scotland Cricket Association League and 7 welfare league teams playing midweek cricket at Fraser Park. Both teams have been very successful over the years. Highland joined the league in 1957 and won their first league title in 2002 and recaptured the title in 2007. {{Fact|date=April 2008}}
In 2007, the city hosted [[Highland 2007]], a celebration of the culture of the [[Scottish Highlands|Highlands]], and will also host the World Highland Games Heavy Championships (21 & 22 July) and European Pipe Band Championships (28 July).<ref>[http://www.highland2007.com/default.aspx.locid-07lnew05l.Lang-EN.htm ''Highland 2007'', Information on the European Pipe Band Championships]</ref> 2008 saw the first [[Hi-Ex]] (Highlands International Comics Expo), held at the [[Eden Court Theatre]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7194176.stm First superheroes expo for north], [[BBC]], January 18, 2008</ref> <ref name=scotsimpact>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7195730.stm Scots' impact on comics examined], [[BBC]], January 18, 2008</ref>
=== Buildings ===
[[Image:River Ness.jpg|thumb|left|250px|St. Andrew's Cathedral on the banks of the River Ness]]
Important buildings in Inverness include [[Inverness Castle]], [[Inverness College]] and various churches.
The castle was built in 1835 on the site of its medieval predecessor. It is now a [[sheriff court]].
[[Inverness Cathedral]], dedicated to [[St Andrew]], is a cathedral of the [[Scottish Episcopal Church]] and seat of the [[ordinary]] of the [[Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness]]. The cathedral has a curiously square-topped look to its spires, as funds ran out before they could be completed.
The oldest church is the [[Old High St Stephen's, Inverness|Old High Church]],<ref>[http://www.churchesinverness.com/Old-High-Church-g.asp ''OLD HIGH CHURCH'', Riverside Churches Clergy Fraternal website]</ref> on St Michael's Mount by the riverside, a site perhaps used for worship since Celtic times. The church tower dates from [[mediaeval]] times, making it the oldest surviving building in Inverness. It is used by the [[Church of Scotland]] congregation of [[Old High St Stephen's, Inverness]],<ref>[http://oldhighststephens.com/ Old High St Stephen’s website]</ref> and it is the venue for the annual [[Kirking of the Council]], which is attended by local councillors.
Inverness College is the hub campus for the [[UHI Millennium Institute]].<ref>[http://www.uhi.ac.uk/ UHI Millennium Institute website]</ref>
Porterfield [[Prison]], officially [[Inverness (HM Prison)|HMP Inverness]], serves the courts of the Highlands, Western Isles, Orkney Isles and Moray, providing secure custody for all [[remand]] prisoners and short term adult prisoners, both male and female (segregated).<ref>[http://www.sps.gov.uk/Default.aspx?DocumentID=53a0db00-0d08-4e8c-8147-05974f77a58a ''HMP Inverness''], [[Scottish Prison Service]] website <br>Ordnance Survey grid reference: {{gbmappingsmall|NH668449}}</ref>
== Famous people ==
The former leader of the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]], [[Charles Kennedy]], was born in Inverness.
[[Yvette Cooper]], the Minister of State for Housing in the Brown Cabinet was also born in Inverness.
== Areas of the city ==
{{Areas of Inverness}}
== Towns and Villages ==
Apart from the former burgh of Inverness, the Highland Council's city management area includes [[Ardersier]], [[Beauly]], [[Culloden, Scotland|Culloden]],Balloch, [[Drumnadrochit]], [[Fort Augustus]], [[Invermoriston]], Smithton, [[Tomatin]], Kirkhill and [[Kiltarlity]].
{{Expand-section|date=June 2008}}
== Footnotes ==
{{1911}}
<references />
==External links==
{{Commons|Inverness}}
*{{wikitravel|Inverness}}
* [http://www.inverness-information.co.uk Inverness Information]
* [http://www.churchesinverness.com/ Inverness Riverside Churches]
* [http://www.highland2007.com/ Inverness Highland Year of Culture]
* [http://www.nls.uk/digitallibrary/map/military/record.cfm?id=189 A map of Inverness from 1716]
{{UK cities}}
{{Districts of the Highland region}}
[[Category:Clan Fraser]]
[[Category:Inverness| ]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Scottish names]]
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