Aberdeenshire
Unitary authority in northeast Scotland, created in 1996 from three
districts within the former Grampian region
Area:
6,308 sq km/2,436 sq mi
Towns:
Banff, Fraserburgh, Huntly, Peterhead, Stonehaven, Inverurie
Physical:
Area of contrast with mountainous western interior, intensively farmed
core, and coastal plain; Cairngorm Mountains; rivers Deveron,
Ythan, Don, and Dee
Features:
Balmoral Castle; Braemar Games
Industries:
Oil and gas, papermaking, whisky distilling, seafood, tourism Agriculture:
beef cattle, fishing, cereal crops Population: (1995) 226,500.
Economy
This prosperous part of Scotland is renowned for both traditional and
modern economic enterprise. Agriculturally rich, the area is well
known for cereal production, livestock, such as pedigree Aberdeen
Angus and Beef Shorthorn cattle, and fishing, at Peterhead, Fraserburgh,
and MacDuff, in particular.
The eastern seaboard also serves the oil and gas industry of
the North Sea and the western area has an important tourist industry
because of its association with royalty and its mountain environment.
Environment
There are 80 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, eight National Nature
Reserves, three Ramsars (wetland sites), five Special Protection
Areas, two Biogenetic Reserves, two National Scenic Areas, and
four country parks.
Architecture
The area has many fine examples of historic buildings and is particularly
rich in castles, including that at Huntly (16th century); in the
Dee valley, Crathes (16th century), Drum, Aboyne, and Braemar
(all 17th century), and Dunnottar Castle (about 1392). Balmoral
Castle, the Queen's Highland residence, is situated 15 km/9 mi
west of Ballater in the Dee valley.
Administrative History
Aberdeenshire is the only Scottish unitary authority with its administrative
headquarters outside its administrative area. It was created in
1996 from the districts of Banff and Buchan, Gordon, and Kincardine
and Deeside. Aberdeenshire includes the pre-1974 county of the
same name, Kincardinshire, and parts of Banffshire.
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