kids encyclopedia robot

List of counties of Scotland by population in 1951 facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Scotland, a country known for its stunning landscapes and rich history, used to be divided into special areas called counties. These counties were like big regions, each with its own local government and unique character. This article looks at how many people lived in each of these Scottish counties back in 1951. This information comes from a big count of people called a census. Understanding these old populations helps us learn about Scotland's past and how its communities have grown and changed over time.

Scotland's Counties by Population in 1951

What Were Counties?

Imagine Scotland like a giant puzzle. Before 1975, the pieces of this puzzle were called counties. These were traditional areas used for things like local government and keeping track of people. They helped organize the country. While Scotland is now divided differently, these old counties are still important for history and geography.

Why 1951? The Census Explained

The numbers you'll see below are from the 1951 census. A census is like a huge survey where a country counts all its people. Governments do this to understand how many people live where, what jobs they have, and other important details. This helps them plan for schools, hospitals, and other services. The 1951 census gives us a snapshot of Scotland's population over 70 years ago.

Scotland's Most Populous Counties in 1951

In 1951, some counties were much more crowded than others. Big cities were often part of or close to the most populated areas. Take a look at the table below to see which counties had the most people.

Rank County Total population
1 Glasgow City 1,089,767
2 Lanark 524,596
3 Edinburgh City 466,761
4 Renfrew 324,660
5 Ayr 321,237
6 Fife 306,778
7 Stirling 187,527
8 Aberdeen City 182,714
9 Dundee City 177,340
10 Dunbarton 164,269
11 Perth 128,029
12 Aberdeen 125,341
13 Midlothian 98,974
14 Angus 97,536
15 West Lothian 88,577
16 Dumfries 85,660
17 Inverness 84,930
18 Argyll 63,361
19 Ross and Cromarty 60,508
20 East Lothian 52,258
21 Banff 50,148
22 Moray 48,218
23 Roxburgh 45,557
24 Clackmannan 37,532
25 Wigtown 31,620
26 Kirkudbright 30,725
27 Kincardine 27,882
28 Berwick 25,068
29 Caithness 22,710
30 Selkirk 21,729
31 Orkney 21,255
32 Zetland 19,352
33 Bute 19,283
34 Peebles 15,232
35 Sutherland 13,670
36 Nairn 8,719
37 Kinross 7,418

The Less Populous Areas

As you can see from the table, some counties had far fewer people. These were often rural areas with lots of open space, mountains, or islands. Places like Kinross, Nairn, and Sutherland had much smaller populations compared to the big cities. This shows how varied Scotland's geography and population distribution were.

How Things Have Changed

The way Scotland is divided has changed a lot since 1951. The old county system was replaced in 1975 with new local government areas. However, many of the county names are still used today in different ways, like for historic regions or even for sports teams. Looking at these old population figures helps us understand the history of Scotland's communities.

kids search engine
List of counties of Scotland by population in 1951 Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.