Perth and Kinross

Not to be confused with Perth and Kinross-shire (UK Parliament constituency).

Perth and Kinross
Council area
Coat of arms of Perth and Kinross
Coat of arms
Perth and Kinross shown within Scotland
Perth and Kinross shown within Scotland
Coordinates: 56°23′45″N 03°26′00″W / 56.39583°N 3.43333°W / 56.39583; -3.43333
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryScotland
Lieutenancy areaPerth and Kinross
Unitary authority1 April 1996
Administrative HQ2 High Street, Perth
Government
[1]
 • TypeCouncil
 • BodyPerth and Kinross Council
 • ControlNo overall control
 • MPs
2 MPs
 • MSPs
2 MSPs
Area
[2]
 • Total
2,041 sq mi (5,286 km2)
 • Rank5th
Population
 (2022)[2]
 • Total
151,120
 • Rank12th
 • Density80/sq mi (29/km2)
Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ISO 3166 codeGB-PKN
GSS codeS12000048
Websitewww.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.

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

[edit]

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

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

[edit]
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

[edit]

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

[edit]
class=notpageimage|
The largest settlements in Perth and Kinross

Largest settlements by population

[edit]
Settlement Population (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

[edit]

Politics and governance

[edit]

Local government

[edit]
Main article: Perth and Kinross Council
2 High Street, Perth: Council's headquarters

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

Scottish Parliament

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Your council". Perth and Kinross Council. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c "Perth and Kinross". Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  16. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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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