Buchan facts for kids
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Buchan is a special area in the northeast of Scotland. Long ago, it was one of the first "provinces" of the ancient Kingdom of Alba. Today, Buchan is one of six main areas managed by the Aberdeenshire Council. These areas were set up in 1996. The Aberdeenshire Council area was formed by combining three older districts: Banff and Buchan, Gordon, and Kincardine and Deeside. The Buchan area we know today was part of the former Banff and Buchan district.
What's in a Name?
The exact meaning of the name Buchan is a bit of a mystery. It might come from the Picts, who were an ancient people in Scotland. Some experts think it could be related to a Welsh word, buwch, which means "a cow."
Buchan's Past
The first time Buchan is mentioned in writing is in a very old book called the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba. It talks about King Indulf dying in Buchan in 962, attacked by Vikings. Another old record says he died at Cullen. Cullen is west of the River Deveron. This suggests that Buchan used to stretch much further west, perhaps even to the River Spey.
Buchan was also the name of a much larger historic region and earldom (an area ruled by an Earl). Maps from the 1700s show this bigger area.
During the time of the Picts, Buchan was part of a kingdom called Ce. This area has lots of ancient history. For example, near Cruden Bay, you can find the Catto Long Barrow and many old burial mounds called tumuli.
The Earldom of Mar and Buchan was one of Scotland's first seven earldoms. Later, the title of Earl of Buchan became separate from Mar.
At one point, the area called Buchan covered all the land between the River Don and the Deveron. But now, the land between the River Don and the Ythan is known as Formartine. So, today, Buchan usually means the land between the Ythan and Deveron rivers.
Buchan Today
The Buchan area is home to about 39,160 people (based on the 2001 census). It covers an area of 547 square kilometers. It includes the town of Peterhead and is next to the areas of Banff and Buchan and Formartine.
Peterhead is the biggest town in Buchan and in Aberdeenshire. It's a very important port in Europe for landing white fish. It's also a major center for the oil industry. Close by, the gas terminal at St Fergus is also very important. The Remote Radar Head Buchan, which is a Royal Air Force radar unit for air defense, is located near Peterhead.
Local groups are working hard to help the area's economy. They are trying to overcome challenges from some businesses closing. Inland, farming is very important. Many villages have seen their populations and services decrease. The future of the oil and gas industry also affects Buchan. Some parts of Buchan get help from the European Union. Plans are in place to help Peterhead and Buchan grow and become stronger economically.
The Formartine and Buchan Way is a popular path that runs through Buchan.
