Gordon (district) facts for kids
| Gordon | |
 Gordon district within Scotland |
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| Geography | |
| Status | District |
| History | |
| Created | 1975 |
| Abolished | 1996 |
| Succeeded by | Aberdeenshire |
Quick facts for kids Politics |
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|---|---|
| Governance | Gordon District Council |
 Coat of arms of Gordon District Council |
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Gordon was a special area in Scotland that helped manage local services. It was one of five "local government districts" in a larger area called Grampian. Gordon existed for about 21 years, from 1975 to 1996.
Think of a local government district as a smaller region with its own council. This council made decisions about things like schools, roads, and local parks. It was a way to organize how different parts of Scotland were run.
Contents
How Gordon Was Formed
The Gordon district was created in 1975. This happened because of a law called the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. Before this, Scotland had different types of areas, including "counties." Gordon was made from parts of an older county called Aberdeenshire.
The new Gordon district included several towns and areas:
- The towns, also known as "burghs," that became part of Gordon were:
- It also included the rural areas of Garioch and Huntly.
- A small part of the larger Aberdeen district was also added.
What Happened to Gordon?
Gordon district did not last forever. In 1996, another law, the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, changed how Scotland was governed again. The Gordon district was officially ended.
Its area then became part of a new, larger area called Aberdeenshire. This new Aberdeenshire is a "unitary council area." This means it's a single, big council that handles all local services for a wide region. So, Gordon's history became part of Aberdeenshire's story.
Understanding Gordon's Coat of Arms
A coat of arms is like a special symbol or badge for a family, town, or organization. The Gordon District Council had its own coat of arms. It was officially given to them on June 9, 1986, by a person called the Lord Lyon King of Arms. This person is in charge of coats of arms in Scotland.
The coat of arms was designed to show the history and important features of the Gordon area.
Symbols on the Shield
The shield on the coat of arms was divided into four main sections:
- The first section had three gold "boars' heads" on a blue background. These symbols came from the Gordon family's own coat of arms. The district was named "Gordon" after this important family. Boars' heads were also part of the symbols for the town of Huntly.
- The second section showed an oak tree. This symbol was taken from the coat of arms of the town of Kintore.
- The third section was based on the symbols used by the town of Oldmeldrum.
- The fourth section used symbols from the town of Ellon.
- In the very center of the shield, there was a gold tower. This tower came from the coat of arms of the town of Inverurie.
The Special Crown
Above the shield, there was a special "coronet." This is like a small crown. It was a gold circle with thistle-heads on top. The thistle is the national flower of Scotland. This specific design was special. The Lord Lyon King of Arms only allowed this type of coronet for the coats of arms of district councils. It showed that Gordon was an official district.
