Highland (council area)

Council area of Scotland

This article is about the council area covering part of the Scottish Highlands. Not to be confused with the larger geographic area of the Scottish Highlands themselves.

Council area in Scotland

Highland

* A' Ghàidhealtachd (Scottish Gaelic)
* Hieland (Scots)

Council area

Coat of arms

Highland shown within Scotland

Coordinates: 57°30′N 5°00′W﻿ / ﻿57.500°N 5.000°W﻿ / 57.500; -5.000
Sovereign state| United Kingdom
Country| Scotland
Lieutenancy areas|

* Inverness
* Nairn
* Ross and Cromarty
* Sutherland
* Caithness

Unitary authority| 1 April 1996
Administrative HQ| The Highland Council Headquarters, Inverness
Government

[1]

• Type| Council
• Body| The Highland Council
• Control| No overall control
• MPs|

3 MPs

* Jamie Stone (LD)
* Drew Hendry (SNP)
* Ian Blackford (SNP)

• MSPs|

4 MSPs

* Maree Todd (SNP)
* Fergus Ewing (SNP)
* Kate Forbes (SNP)
* Audrey Nicoll (SNP)

+7 regional members
Area

[2]

• Total| 9,905 sq mi (25,653 km2)
• Rank| 1st
Population

(2022)[2]

• Total| 235,710
• Rank| 7th
• Density| 20/sq mi (9/km2)
Time zone| UTC+0 (GMT)
• Summer (DST)| UTC+1 (BST)
ISO 3166 code| GB-HLD
GSS code| S12000017
Website| highland.gov.uk

Highland (Scottish Gaelic: Gàidhealtachd, pronounced [ˈkɛːəl̪ˠt̪əxk];[a] Scots: Hieland) is a council area in the Scottish Highlands and is the largest local government area in the United Kingdom. It was the 7th most populous council area in Scotland at the 2011 census. It shares borders with the council areas of Aberdeenshire, Argyll and Bute, Moray and Perth and Kinross. Their councils, and those of Angus and Stirling, also have areas of the Scottish Highlands within their administrative boundaries.

The Highland area covers most of the mainland and inner-Hebridean parts of the historic counties of Inverness-shire and Ross and Cromarty, all of Caithness, Nairnshire and Sutherland and small parts of Argyll and Moray. Despite its name, the area does not cover the entire Scottish Highlands.

## Name

[edit]

Unlike the other council areas of Scotland, the name Highland is often not used as a proper noun. The council's website only sometimes refers to the area as being Highland, and other times as being the Highland Council Area or the Highlands.[3][4] Road signs on the boundary of the council area say "Welcome to the Highlands" rather than "Welcome to Highland".

To many people within the area, using the name Highland as a noun sounds wrong. Dingwall in Highland, for example, sounds strange and is not idiomatic usage. To refer specifically to the area covered by the council, people tend to say the Highland Council area or the Highland area or the Highland region. Otherwise, they may also refer to the traditional county names, such as Ross.[citation needed]

Although named after it, the Highland council area does not cover the entire geographic region of the Scottish Highlands themselves. Other parts belong to the council areas of Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Moray, North Ayrshire, Perth and Kinross, Stirling or West Dunbartonshire.

## History

[edit]

In 1975, the area was created as a two-tier region, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, with an elected council for the whole region and, in addition, elected councils for each of eight districts, Badenoch and Strathspey, Caithness, Inverness, Lochaber, Nairn, Ross and Cromarty, Skye and Lochalsh and Sutherland.[5] The act also abolished county and burgh councils.

In 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, the Highland Regional Council and the district councils were wound up and their functions were transferred to a new Highland Council. The Highland Council adopted the districts as management areas and created area committees to represent them. However, the boundaries of committee areas ceased to be aligned exactly with those of management areas as a result of changes to ward boundaries in 1999.

Ward boundaries changed again in 2007, and the management areas and related committees were abolished in favour of three new corporate management areas: Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross; Inverness, Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey; and Ross, Skye and Lochaber. The names of these areas were also names of constituencies, but the boundaries are different.

This has since changed again, and by 2022, the council had returned to area committees, but now with eleven rather than eight, namely: Badenoch and Strathspey, Black Isle, Caithness, City of Inverness, Dingwall and Seaforth, Easter Ross, Isle of Skye and Raasay, Lochaber, Nairnshire, Sutherland County and Wester Ross, Strathpeffer, and Lochalsh.[6]

## Geography

[edit]

Highland Council Headquarters in Inverness Topographic map of the Highland council area.

The Highland Council is based at the Highland Council Headquarters in Inverness.[7]

The council area covers a land area of 25,653 square kilometres (9,905 sq mi)[2] – which is 11.4% of the land area of Great Britain, 32.9% of the land area of Scotland and an area 20% larger than Wales.[8] The Highland and Islands division of Police Scotland also includes the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland (the former area of the Northern Constabulary) and therefore covers an area of 30,659 square kilometres (11,838 sq mi), which is larger than that of the state of Belgium.[9]

Though relatively populous for a Scottish council area, it is also sparsely populated. At 9 per km2 in 2022,[2] the population density is less than one seventh of Scotland's as a whole,[10] and comparable with that of Bolivia, Chad and Russia.[11][12] Historically, the area was home to a much higher percentage of Scotland's population. The rural population of the Highlands (both within and outwith the council area) declined in the late 19th century even as Scotland's grew substantially. For example, the population of Skye declined from 23,082 in 1841 to 15,705 in 1891 and a low point of 7,183 in 1971, before growing in more recent decades.

The City of Inverness is by far the largest settlement, with a population of 46,870 in 2012.[13] The urban area around Inverness includes a few outlying villages and has a population of 59,910.[13]

The highest point in the Highland council area is Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in both Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole. Its northernmost point is the Island of Stroma, in the Pentland Firth. Its southernmost point is on the Morvern peninsula. Highland contains the northernmost and westernmost points of the island of Great Britain, respectively at Dunnet Head and Corrachadh Mòr. Despite the name, not all of Highland is mountainous. The areas east of Inverness, as well as the Black Isle, eastern Sutherland, and all of Caithness are, in fact, low-lying.

## Gaelic language

[edit]

According to the 2011 UK census, there are nearly 12,000 Scottish Gaelic speakers in the Highland area.[14]

## Politics

[edit]

Main article: Politics of the Highland council area

### Councillors

[edit]

The Highland Council represents 21 wards, of which each elects three or four councillors by the single transferable vote system of election, to produce a form of proportional representation in a council of 74 members.

#### Political composition

[edit]

The 2022 election resulted in the following composition: [15]

| Party | Councillors

|
|

| SNP | 22
| Independent | 21
| Liberal Democrat | 15
| Conservative | 10
| Green | 4
| Labour | 2

After various changes the current make up of the council is: [16]

| Party | Councillors

|
|

| SNP | 22
| Highland Independent | 18
| Liberal Democrat | 14
| Conservative | 8
| Highland Alliance | 5
| Green | 4
| Labour | 2
| Non-aligned | 1

### Members of the Scottish Parliament

[edit]

For elections to the Scottish Parliament the Highland area is within the Highlands and Islands electoral area, which elects eight first past the post constituency Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) and seven additional member MSPs. Three of the region's constituencies, each electing one MSP, are within the Highland area: Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Inverness and Nairn and Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.

The MSPs as at December 2019 are as follows:

Constituency MSPs | Additional Member MSPs

|

* Caithness, Sutherland and Ross: Maree Todd (SNP)
* Inverness and Nairn: Fergus Ewing (SNP)
* Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch: Kate Forbes (SNP)

* Ariane Burgess (Green)
* Emma Roddick (SNP)
* Rhoda Grant (Labour)
* Douglas Ross (Conservative)
* Jamie Halcro Johnston (Conservative)
* Sir Edward Mountain, 4th Baronet (Conservative)
* Donald Cameron (Conservative)

### Members of Parliament

[edit]

In the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom the Highland area is represented by Members of Parliament (MPs) elected from three constituencies: Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross; Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey; and Ross, Skye and Lochaber. Each constituency elects one MP by the first past the post system of election.

As of the 2019 United Kingdom general election, the members of parliament are:

* Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrats)
* Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey: Drew Hendry (SNP)
* Ross, Skye and Lochaber: Ian Blackford (SNP)

## Settlements

[edit]

Inverness

Nairn

Thurso

Wick

Alness

Fort William

Westhill

Dingwall

Invergordon

Culloden

Orkney

Moray

Aberdeenshire

Perth and Kinross

Argyll and Bute

Outer Hebrides

class=notpageimage|

The largest settlements in the Highland council area.

The largest settlements by population are:

Settlement  | Population (2022)[13]

|

Inverness |

47,790

Nairn |

10,190

Thurso |

7,390

Wick |

6,870

Alness |

5,950

Fort William |

5,600

Westhill |

5,470

Dingwall |

5,360

Invergordon |

3,930

Culloden |

3,830

Historical Highland populationYear| Pop.| ±%

|
|

1801| 164,294| —
1811| 173,235| +5.4%
1821| 196,364| +13.4%
1831| 211,947| +7.9%
1841| 213,969| +1.0%
1851| 220,004| +2.8%
1911| 226,144| +2.8%
1921| 176,396| −22.0%
1931| 167,604| −5.0%
1941| 166,602| −0.6%
1951| 165,600| −0.6%
1961| 169,133| +2.1%
1971| 172,666| +2.1%
1981| 186,916| +8.3%
1991| 203,790| +9.0%
2001| 208,914| +2.5%
2011| 232,132| +11.1%
2022| 235,710| +1.5%
Source:
[17][18]

Other settlements include:

* Alness (Alanais), Altnaharra (Allt na h-Aire), Applecross (A' Chomraich), Ardersier (Àird nan Saor), Ardgour (Àirde Gobhar), Ardnamurchan (Àird nam murchan), Aviemore (An Aghaidh Mhòr), Avoch (Abhach), Auldearn
* Back of Keppoch (A' Cheapaich), Ballachulish (Baile a' Chaolais), Beauly (A' Mhanachainn), Bettyhill (Am Blàran Odhar), (the) Black Isle (An t-Eilean Dubh), Boat of Garten (Coit a' Ghartain), Bonar Bridge (Drochaid a' Bhanna), Broadford (An t-Àth Leathann), Brora (Brùra)
* Carrbridge (Drochaid Chàrr), Conon Bridge (Drochaid Sguideil), Cromarty (Cromba), Culloden (Cul Lodan / Cùil-lodair), Cawdor, Croy
* Dalwhinnie (Dail Chuinnidh), Dingwall (Inbhir Pheofharain), Dornie (An Dòrnaidh), Dornoch (Dòrnach), Drumnadrochit (Druim na Droichaid), Dulnain Bridge (Drochaid Thulnain), Dunvegan (Dùn Bheagain), Durness (Diuranais), Duror (of Appin) (Aphainn Duror)
* Fearn (Manachainn Rois), Fort Augustus (Cill Chuimein), Fortrose (A' Chananaich), Fort William (An Gearasdan)
* Gairloch (Geàrrloch), Glencoe (Gleann Comhann), Glenfinnan (Gleann Fionnan), Golspie (Goillspidh), Grantown-on-Spey (Baile nan Granndach)
* Helmsdale (Bun Ilidh)
* Invergarry (Inbhir Garadh), Invergordon (Inbhir Ghòrdain), Inverie (Inbhir Iodh), Invermoriston (Inbhir Mhoireastain), Inverness (Inbhir Nis)
* John o' Groats (Taigh Iain Ghròt)
* Kiltarlity (Bràigh na h-Àirde), Kingussie (Ceann a' Ghiùbhsaich), Kinlochbervie (Ceann Loch Biorbhaidh), Kinlochleven (Ceann Loch Lìobhann), Knoydart (Cnòideart), Kyle of Lochalsh (Caol Loch Aillse)
* Lochcarron (Loch Carrann), Lochinver (Loch an Inbhir)
* Mallaig (Malaig), Maryburgh (Baile Màiri), Muir of Ord (Am Blàr dubh)
* Nairn (Inbhir Narann), Newtonmore (Baile Ùr an t-Slèibh)
* North Ballachulish (Baile a' Chaolais air Tuath)
* Onich (Omhanaich)
* Plockton (Am Ploc), Portmahomack (Port Mo-Chalmaig), Portree (Port Rìgh)
* Rosemarkie (Ros Maircnidh), Roy Bridge (An Drochaid Ruaraidh)
* Spean Bridge (An Droichaid Spean), Strathpeffer (Srath Pheofhair), Strontian (Sròn an t-Sìthein)
* Tain (Baile Dhubhthaich), Thurso (Inbhir Theòrsa), Tongue (Tunga), Torridon (Toirbheartan)
* Ullapool (Ullapul)
* Wick (Inbhir Ùige)

## See also

[edit]

* Scottish Highlands
* List of places in Highland
* List of places in Argyll and Bute
* List of places in Perth and Kinross
* List of places in Moray
* List of places in the Western Isles
* High Life Highland

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Gàidhealtachd is used to translate Highland; in other contexts it is used to translate Scottish Highlands and Gaeldom.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Council and government". The Highland Council. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
2. ^ a b c d "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
3. ^ "Council Wards". The Highland Council.
4. ^ "Our vision for housing in the Highlands". The Highland Council.
5. ^ "Highland". BBC. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
6. ^ "Meetings and minutes". Highland Council. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
7. ^ "Older County Buildings, Inverness, 1964". Ambaile. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
8. ^ "Breaking up Highland Council into smaller areas debated". BBC News. 14 May 2015.
9. ^ "Record police numbers on streets". BBC News. 28 August 2009.
10. ^ "Highland profile – key facts and figures". The Highland Council. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
11. ^ List of sovereign states and dependent territories by population density
12. ^ "Global Health Facts : Demography & Population : Population Density (Population Per Square Kilometer)". The Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
13. ^ a b c "Mid-2012 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records Scotland (NRS). Retrieved 29 October 2015.
14. ^ "Gaelic data from Census 2011". The Highland Council. 14 November 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
15. ^ "Highland Council". www.highland.gov.uk.
16. ^ "Highland Council". www.highland.gov.uk.
17. ^ "Highland District through time – Population Statistics – Total Population". www.visionofbritain.org.uk.
18. ^ "Vision of Britain – 1911 Census: County Report – Table 1". www.visionofbritain.org.uk.

## External links

[edit]

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Highland (council area) at Curlie
* The Highland council area in the Gazetteer for Scotland website
* Scottish Highlands and Islands Film Commission

* v
* t
* e

Wards of Highland Council

* North, West and Central Sutherland
* Thurso and North West Caithness
* Wick and East Caithness
* East Sutherland and Edderton
* Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh
* Cromarty Firth
* Tain and Easter Ross
* Dingwall and Seaforth
* Black Isle
* Eilean a' Cheò
* Caol and Mallaig
* Aird and Loch Ness
* Inverness West
* Inverness Central
* Inverness Ness-side
* Inverness Millburn
* Culloden and Ardersier
* Nairn and Cawdor
* Inverness South
* Badenoch and Strathspey
* Fort William and Ardnamurchan

* v
* t
* e

Local government of Scotland

Council areas|

* Aberdeen City
* Aberdeenshire
* Angus
* Argyll and Bute
* Clackmannanshire
* Dumfries and Galloway
* Dundee City
* East Ayrshire
* East Dunbartonshire
* East Lothian
* East Renfrewshire
* City of Edinburgh
* Falkirk
* Fife
* Glasgow City
* Highland
* Inverclyde
* Midlothian
* Moray
* Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles)
* North Ayrshire
* North Lanarkshire
* Orkney
* Perth and Kinross
* Renfrewshire
* Scottish Borders
* Shetland
* South Ayrshire
* South Lanarkshire
* Stirling
* West Dunbartonshire
* West Lothian

Councils|

* Aberdeen City
* Aberdeenshire
* Angus
* Argyll and Bute
* Clackmannanshire
* Dumfries and Galloway
* Dundee City
* East Ayrshire
* East Dunbartonshire
* East Lothian
* East Renfrewshire
* City of Edinburgh
* Falkirk
* Fife
* Glasgow City
* Highland
* Inverclyde
* Midlothian
* Moray
* Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
* North Ayrshire
* North Lanarkshire
* Orkney Islands
* Perth and Kinross
* Renfrewshire
* Scottish Borders
* Shetland Islands
* South Ayrshire
* South Lanarkshire
* Stirling
* West Dunbartonshire
* West Lothian

List by area, population, density

* v
* t
* e

Local government areas of Scotland, in use 1975 to 1996

Borders|

* Berwickshire
* Ettrick and Lauderdale
* Roxburgh
* Tweeddale

Central Region|

* Clackmannan
* Falkirk
* Stirling

Dumfries and
Galloway|

* Annandale and Eskdale
* Nithsdale
* Stewartry
* Wigtown

Fife|

* Dunfermline
* Kirkcaldy
* North East Fife

Grampian|

* Aberdeen
* Banff and Buchan
* Gordon
* Kincardine and Deeside
* Moray

Highland|

* Badenoch and Strathspey
* Caithness
* Inverness
* Lochaber
* Nairn
* Ross and Cromarty
* Skye and Lochalsh
* Sutherland

Lothian|

* East Lothian
* Edinburgh
* Midlothian
* West Lothian

Strathclyde|

* Argyll and Bute
* Bearsden and Milngavie
* Strathkelvin
* Clydebank
* Cumbernauld and Kilsyth
* Cumnock and Doon Valley
* Cunninghame
* Dumbarton
* East Kilbride
* Eastwood
* Glasgow
* Hamilton
* Inverclyde
* Kilmarnock and Loudoun
* Kyle and Carrick
* Clydesdale
* Monklands
* Motherwell
* Renfrew

Tayside|

* Angus
* Dundee
* Perth and Kinross

Island areas1|

* Orkney
* Shetland
* Western Isles

1 The island areas were unitary authorities, combining the powers of a region and a district.

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States

Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

*[Pop.]: Population
*[±%]: Percent change
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