Aberdeen
City and port on the east coast of Scotland, administrative headquarters
of Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire unitary authorities
Population
(1995) 219,100.
General
It is situated between the mouths of the rivers Dee and Don and has
3 km/2 mi of sandy beaches. Aberdeen has the most prosperous local economy
in Scotland. Industries include oil and gas service industries, fish
processing, and paper industries. It is the main centre in Scotland
and Europe for offshore oil exploration and there are shore-based maintenance
and service depots for the North Sea oil rigs. Aberdeen is Scotland's
third largest city and has the third largest economic output.
The city has many fine buildings, including the Municipal Buildings
(1867); St Andrew's Episcopal Cathedral (consecrated in 1816); King's
College (from 1500) and Marischal College (founded in 1593, and housed
in one of the world's largest granite buildings constructed in 1836),
which together form Aberdeen University; St Machar Cathedral (from 1370);
and the Brig O'Balgownie (1314-18). Aberdeen's granite buildings have
given it the name of `Silver City´, although the last granite quarry,
in Rubislaw, closed in 1971. Oil discoveries in the North Sea in the
1960s-70s transformed Aberdeen into the European `offshore capital´.
An airport and heliport at Dyce, 9.6 km/6 mi northwest of the city,
link the mainland to the rigs.
Other Features
Among the more imposing of the city's buildings are the art gallery
(1884), the grammar school (1861- 63), Robert Gordon's Institute of
Technology (1731), and St Nicholas Kirk (restored 1835-37, but dating
from the 12th century). King's College was founded by Bishop Elphinstone
in Old Aberdeen, and Marischal College, in New Aberdeen, was founded
by Earl Marischal of Scotland as a Protestant alternative to King's
College. Aberdeen has a large fish market.
It is a centre for the recently established oil-related services, which
include supplying precision tools, spare parts, catering equipment,
food, and domestic supplies for the 90 operational oil fields in the
North Sea.
History
In 1178 William the Lion granted Aberdeen a charter and it became a
royal burgh, but it was burned down in 1337 by Edward III. Rebuilt as
New Aberdeen, it became a flourishing town.
Famous People
Poet John Barbour, archdeacon of Aberdeen from about 1356 until his
death; Scottish historian Hector Boece (c. 1465-1536), principal
of King's College; theologian George Campbell. The poet Lord Byron
received his early education at the grammar school here.
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