List of local government areas in Scotland (1930–1975)


This is a list of local government areas in Scotland from 1930 to 1975.
The list contains the areas of local authorities as created by the Local Government Act 1929, as amended by the Local Government Act 1947. These areas were abolished in 1975 by the Local Government Act 1973 when a system of regions and districts replaced them. The district in which the abolished area was included is indicated.

Background

From 1930 to 1975 there were the following types of local government areas in Scotland:

County-level authorities

  • Counties of cities: These were the four largest burghs: they exercised the powers of both a county council and burgh. As such they were effectively unitary authorities. They were governed by city corporations headed by a lord provost.
  • Counties: There were thirty-three counties covering the area outside the counties of cities. In the case of twenty-nine counties they were governed by a county council consisting partly of members nominated by the town councils of burghs in the county and partly by directly elected councillors for the "landward" areas of the county. The chairman of a county council was known as the "convener".
  • Combined counties: Two small counties, Nairnshire and Kinross-shire were combined with the neighbouring counties of Moray and Perthshire for most local government purposes. In these "combined counties", there was a joint county council. The separate county councils continued to exist, however, and were responsible for minor local government functions.

    Sub-county authorities

  • Large burghs: The 1929 Act constituted twenty burghs as "large burghs". These towns were largely independent from the counties in which they were situated. The number of large burghs was later increased to twenty-one, with the addition of the new town of East Kilbride. The town councils of large burghs were responsible for all local services except higher-level activities such as police and education, which were provided by the county council.
  • Small burghs: The remaining burghs became "small burghs", yielding many of their powers to the reconstituted county councils.
  • Landward districts: The "landward" area of each county was that part not included in a burgh. County councils were required to divide this area into districts. This was done by grouping electoral divisions. Each district was governed by a district council consisting of ex officio the county councillors for the divisions and a number of directly elected district councillors.

    Counties of cities

County of Aberdeen">Aberdeenshire (historic)">County of Aberdeen

Small burghs

Landward districts

DistrictNotes1975 district
AberdeenBelhelvie, Bucksburn, Culter, Cults, Drumoak, Dyce, Echt, Fintar, Kinellar, Newhills, New Machar, Old Machar, Peterculter, Skene and Stoneywood areasMost to Gordon; parts to Aberdeen and Kincardine and Deeside
AlfordAlford, Auchindoir, Clatt, Glenbuchat, Keig, Kennethmont, Kildrummy, Leochel Cushnie, Strathdon, Tough, Towie and Tullynessle areasGordon
DeerAberdour, Crimond, Fraserburgh, Longside, Lonmay, New Deer, Old Deer, Peterhead, Pitsligo, Rathen, St Fergus, Strichen and Tyrie areasBanff and Buchan
DeesideAboyne, Birse, Braemar, Cluny, Crathie, Cromar, Glenmuick, Kincardine O’Neil, Lumphanan and Midmar areasKincardine and Deeside
EllonCruden, Ellon, Foveran, Logie Buchan, Methlick, Slains, Tarves and Udny areasMost to Gordon; part to Banff and Buchan
GariochBourtie, Chapel of Garioch, Culsalmond, Daviot, Insch, Inverurie, Keith hall, Kemnay, Kintore, Leslie, Meldrum, Monymusk, Oyne, Premnay and Rayne areasGordon
HuntlyCairnie, Drumblade, Forgue, Gartly, Glass, Huntly and Rhynie areasGordon
TurriffAuchterless, Fyvie, King Edward, Monquhitter and Turriff areasBanff and Buchan

County of Angus">Angus, Scotland">County of Angus

Large burgh

Small burghs

Landward districts

DistrictNotes1975 district
BrechinBrechin, Careston, Dun, Edzell, Lethnot, Lochlee, Logie Pert, Menmuir and Stracathro areasAngus
CarnoustieArbirlot, Arbroath, Barry, Carmyllie, Monikie, Panbride and St Vigeans areasAngus
ForfarAberlemno, Dunnichen, Eassie, Forfar, Glamis, Guthrie, Inverarity, Kinnettles, Kirkden, Oathlaw and Rescobie areasAngus
KirriemuirAirlie, Clova, Cotachy, Fern, Glenisla, Kingoldrum, Kirriemuir, Lintrathen, Ruthven and Tannadice areasAngus
MonifiethAuchterhouse, Benvie, Fowlis Easter, Kettins, Liff, Lundie, Mains, Monifieth, Murroes, Newtyle, Strathmartine and Tealing areasMost to Dundee; part to Angus, part to Perth and Kinross
MontroseCraig, Farnell, Inverkeilor, Kinnell, Lunan, Maryton and Montrose areasAngus

County of Argyll">Argyll">County of Argyll

Small burghs

Landward districts

DistrictNotes1975 district
ArdnamurchanArdgour, Ardnamurchan, Morvem and Sunart areasLochaber
CollCollCombined with Tiree District in 1932
CowalInnellan, Inverchaolain, Kilfinan, Kilmun, Kilmodan, Lochgoilhead, Sandbank, and Strachur & Strathlachlan areasArgyll and Bute
IslayKilarrow, Kilchoman, Kildalton, Kilmeny, Port Ellen and Portnahaven areasArgyll and Bute
Jura and ColonsayColonsay, Jura and OronsayArgyll and Bute
KintyreCampbeltown, Kilcalmonell & Gigha, Killetan & Kilkenzie, Saddell & Skipness, Southend and Tarbert areasArgyll and Bute
Mid ArgyllCraignish, Glenaray, Kilberry, Kilmartin, Kilmichael, Lochfyne, North Knapdale and South Knapdale areasArgyll and Bute
MullKilfinichen and Kilvickeon, Kilninian & Kilmore and Torosay parishesArgyll and Bute
North LornArdchattan, Ballachulish, Kinlochleven and Lismore & Appin areasMost to Argyll and Bute; part to Lochaber
South LornGlenorchy & Innishael, Kilbrandon & Kilchattan, Kilchrenan & Dalavich, Kilmore & Kilbride, Kilninver & Kilmelford and Muckairn areasArgyll and Bute
TireeTireeCombined with Coll District in 1932
Tiree and CollFormed 1932 by merger of two districts.
Tiree, Coll
Argyll and Bute

County of Ayr">Ayrshire">County of Ayr

Large burghs

Small burghs

Landward districts

DistrictNotes1975 district
Ayr

Renamed Ayr
Ayr, Dundonald, Monkton, Craigie & Symington and Tarbolton areasKyle and Carrick, part to Cunninghame
CumnockAuchinleck, Mauchline, Muirkirk, New Cumnock, Old Cumnock, Sorn and Stair & Ochiltree areasCumnock and Doon Valley
Ayr

Renamed Dalmellington
Coylton, Dalmellington and Dalrymple areasCumnock and Doon Valley, part to Kyle and Carrick
GirvanBallantrae, Barr, Barrhill, Colmonell, Dailly and Girvan areasKyle and Carrick
IrvineDreghorn, Irvine and Kilwinning areasCunninghame
KilbirnieBeith, Dalry and Kilbirnie areasCunninghame
KilmarnockDunlop & Stewarton, Fenwick & Kilmarnock, Kilmaurs and Riccarton areas
Absorbed Newmilns District
Kilmarnock and Loudoun, part to Cunninghame
MayboleKirkmichael & Straiton, Kirkoswald and Maybole areasKyle and Carrick
NewmilnsGalston and Loudoun areas
In existence 1970, absorbed by Kilmarnock District by 1975
N/A
SaltcoatsLargs, Stevenston & Ardrossan and West Kilbride areas
Renamed West Kilbride on formation of burgh of Stevenston 1952
Cunninghame

County of Banff">Banffshire">County of Banff

Small burghs

Landward districts

DistrictNotes1975 district
AberchirderForglen, Inverkeithny, Marnoch and Ordiquihill areasBanff and Buchan
BanffAlvah, Banff, Boyndie, Gamrie and Gardenstown areasBanff and Buchan
BuckiePortgordon and Rathven areasMoray
CullenCullen, Deskford and Fordyce areasMost to Moray; part to Banff and Buchan
DufftownAberlour, Cabrach, Inveravon, Kirkmichael and Mortlach areasMoray
KeithBoharm, Botriphnie, Grange, Keith and Rothiemay areasMoray

County of Berwick">Berwickshire">County of Berwick

Small burghs

Landward districts

DistrictNotes1975 district
EastAbbey St Bathans & Bunkle, Ayton, Burnmouth, Chirnside, Cockburnspath, Coldingham, Foulden & Mordington, Hutton and Reston areasBerwickshire
MiddleColdstream, Cranshaws & Longformacus, Duns, Eccles, Edrom, Fogo & Polwarth, Greenlaw, Ladykirk & Whitsome, Langton, Leitholm, and Swinton areasBerwickshire
WestChannelkirk, Earlston, Gordon, Hume & Nenthorn, Lauder, Legerwood, Mertoun and Westruther areasMost to Ettrick and Lauderdale; part to Berwickshire; part to Roxburgh