Perth and Kinross

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 borders onto the Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Fife, Highland and Stirling council areas. Perth is the administrative centre. With the exception of a large area of south-western Perthshire, the council area mostly corresponds to the historic counties of Perthshire and Kinross-shire.

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

Perth and Kinross
Pairth an Kinross
Peairt agus Ceann Rois
Coat of arms of Perth and KinrossPairth an KinrossPeairt agus Ceann Rois
Coat of arms
Official logo of Perth and KinrossPairth an KinrossPeairt agus Ceann Rois
Council logo
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryScotland
Lieutenancy areaPerth and Kinross
Admin HQPerth
Government
 • BodyPerth & Kinross Council
 • ControlSNP minority (council NOC)
 • MPs
 • MSPs
Area
 • Total2,041 sq mi (5,286 km2)
 • RankRanked 5th
Population
 (2021)
 • Total153,810
 • RankRanked 12th
 • Density75/sq mi (29/km2)
ONS codeS12000048
ISO 3166 codeGB-PKN
Websitewww.pkc.gov.uk

Perthshire and Kinross-shire shared a joint county council from 1929 until 1975. The area formed a single local government district in 1975 within the Tayside region under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, and was then reconstituted as a unitary authority (with a minor boundary adjustment) in 1996 by the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994.

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, and is represented by members of the Scottish National Party within both the Scottish Parliament and the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

History
See also: Perthshire, Kinross-shire, and Tayside
Perth & Clackmannan Shires. 1854. Civil Parish map

The historical counties of Perthshire and Kinross-shire were separate entities prior to 1975. Under the terms of the 1973 Local Government (Scotland) Act Kinross-shire became part of the Tayside region, while Perthshire was split between the Tayside and Central regions. Under the terms of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 these regions were dissolved in 1996 and the unitary authority of Perth and Kinross was created from the areas of Perthshire and Kinross-shire which were previously part of the Tayside region.[1][2]

Geography
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.[3]

Economy

In the southern part of Perth and Kinross agriculture plays an important part of the local economy.[4] This includes the cultivation of fruits, fodder, wheat and seed potatoes.[3]

The scenic nature of the northern part of Perth and Kinross makes tourism an important part of the economy.[4] The Forestry Commission controls large parts of the area, which is also home to a number of hydroelectric dams.[3]

Settlements
The largest settlements in Perth and Kinross

Largest settlements by population
Settlement Population (mid-2020 est.)[5]
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

Politics and governance

Local council
Main article: Perth and Kinross Council

Following the 2022 Perth and Kinross Council election, part of the Scotland wide local elections, the composition of the local council was as follows:[6]

Party Councillors
Scottish National Party 16
Conservative 14
Liberal Democrat 4
Independent 4
Labour 2

Scottish Parliament

Perth and Kinross is covered by two Scottish Parliament constituencies and one electoral region.[7] 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.[8][9] 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.[10]

UK Parliament

Perth and Kinross is covered by two United Kingdom Parliament constituencies; Perth and North Perthshire and Ochil and South Perthshire.[7] Following the 2019 UK Parliamentary General Election these seats are respectively held by Pete Wishart and John Nicolson, both for the Scottish National Party.[11][12]

Referendums

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% .[13]

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%.[14]

See also

References
  1. Lagasse, Paul; Columbia University (2018). "Kinross-shire". The Columbia Encyclopedia - Credo Reference (8th ed.). Columbia University Press. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  2. Lagasse, Paul; Columbia University (2018). "Perthshire". The Columbia Encyclopedia - Credo Reference (8th ed.). Columbia University Press. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  3. "Perth and Kinross". Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  4. "Perth and Kinross". The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide - Credo Reference. Helicon. 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  5. "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  6. "Perth & Kinross result - Scottish Council Elections 2022". BBC News. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  7. "MPs and MSPs". Perth & Kinross Council. 7 January 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  8. "Perthshire South and Kinross-shire". BBC News. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  9. "Perthshire North". BBC News. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  10. "Mid Scotland and Fife". BBC News. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  11. "Perth & North Perthshire parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  12. "Ochil & South Perthshire parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  13. "Scotland Decides". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  14. "EU Referendum local results - P". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
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