Stirling (council area)

Stirling district was created in 1975 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, which abolished Scotland's counties, burghs and landward districts and replaced them with upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts. Stirling was one of three districts within the Central region. As created in 1975 the Stirling district covered five districts from Stirlingshire and four districts from Perthshire, which were all abolished at the same time: From Perthshire: • Callander Burgh • Doune Burgh • Dunblane Burgh • Western District, except Ardoch (which went to Perth and Kinross) From Stirlingshire: • Bridge of Allan Burgh • Central No. 1 District • Stirling Burgh • Western No. 1 District • Western No. 2 District The new district and its neighbour Falkirk were together made a new Stirling and Falkirk lieutenancy area. The last Lord Lieutenant of Stirlingshire became the first Lord Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk. Local government was reformed again in 1996 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, which abolished the regions and districts which had been created in 1975, replacing them with unitary council areas. Central Region was abolished and each of the area's three districts, including Stirling, became council areas. Stirling District Council was therefore replaced by the current Stirling Council. ==Demography==

Languages The 2022 Scottish Census reported that out of 90,451 residents aged three and over, 27,348 (30.2%) considered themselves able to speak or read the Scots language. The 2022 Scottish Census reported that out of 90,449 residents aged three and over, 1,202 (1.3%) considered themselves able to speak or read Gaelic. ==Governance==

Political control The council has been under no overall control since 2007. Following the 2022 election a Labour minority administration formed to run the council. Efforts by the Scottish National Party as the largest party on the council to take over the leadership in February 2025 were unsuccessful, with the council narrowly voting for the Labour minority administration to continue. The first election to Stirling District Council was held in 1974, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new system came into force on 16 May 1975. A shadow authority was again elected in 1995 ahead of the change to council areas which came into force on 1 April 1996. Political control since 1975 has been as follows: Stirling District Council Stirling Council Leadership The role of provost is largely ceremonial in Stirling. They chair full council meetings and act as the council's civic figurehead. Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council. The first leader of the council, Corrie McChord, had been the last leader of the Central Regional Council. and a by-election was held to fill the vacancy caused by her death. The next full council election is due in 2027. Premises The council is based at Old Viewforth on Pitt Terrace in Stirling. The oldest part of the building is a converted house called Viewforth, which had been built in 1855. The house was bought by Stirlingshire County Council in 1931 for £5,250 and converted to become its headquarters. A large art deco extension was added to the rear of the house, opening in 1937. A new building called New Viewforth was built alongside the older premises in 1972, shortly before Stirlingshire County Council was abolished. Between 1975 and 1996 the premises at Viewforth served as the headquarters of Central Regional Council, whilst Stirling District Council was based at the Municipal Buildings at 8–10 Corn Exchange Road in Stirling, which had been completed in 1918 for the old Stirling Town Council. On local government reorganisation in 1996 Stirling Council took over Viewforth. The 1972 building known as New Viewforth was demolished in 2014. ==Elections==

Since 2007 elections have been held every five years under the single transferable vote system, introduced by the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004. Election results since 1995 have been as follows: Wards The wards are: ==Communities==

The area is divided into 42 community council areas, all of which have community councils as at 2023. • Arnprior • Balfron • Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and Strathyre • Bannockburn • Braehead and Broomridge • Bridge of Allan • Buchanan • Buchlyvie • Callander • Cambusbarron • Cambuskenneth • Carron Valley and District • Causewayhead • Cornton • Cowie • Croftamie • Drymen • Dunblane • Fintry • Gargunnock • Gartmore • Hillpark and Milton • Killearn • Killin • Kilmadock • King's Park • Kippen • Logie • Mercat Cross • Plean • Polmaise • Port of Menteith • Raploch • Riverside • St Ninians • Strathard • Strathblane • Strathfillan • Thornhill and Blairdrummond • Throsk • Torbrex • Trossachs ==Settlements==

As well as the city of Stirling itself, there are many towns, villages and hamlets spread across the council area, as well as dispersed settlements. Largest settlements by population: Towns • Bannockburn • Bridge of Allan • Callander • Doune • Dunblane Villages • Aberfoyle • Ashfield • Balfron • Balmaha • Balquhidder • Blairlogie • Blanefield • Buchlyvie • Cambusbarron • Cambuskenneth • Cowie • Crianlarich • Croftamie • Deanston • Drymen • Fallin • Fintry • Gargunnock • Gartmore • Killearn • Killin • Kinlochard • Kippen • Milton of Buchanan • Lochearnhead • Plean • Port of Menteith • Strathblane • Strathyre • Thornhill • Throsk • Tyndrum Hamlets • Ardchullarie More • Ardeonaig • Arnprior • Auchlyne • Balfron Station • Boquhan • Buchanan Smithy • Carbeth • Dumgoyne • Gartness • Inverarnan • Kilmahog • Kinbuck • Milton • Mugdock • Stronachlachar Dispersed settlements • Ardchyle • Auchtubh • Blair Drummond • Brig o' Turk • Dalmary • Dalrigh • Inversnaid • Rowardennan • Ruskie ==Accidents and disasters==

In 1996, the Dunblane massacre occurred at Dunblane Primary School in Dunblane. 16 five-six-year-old pupils and one teacher were killed in a mass shooting, in which the perpetrator also killed himself. It remains the deadliest mass shooting in British history. Dunblane Cemetery contains a memorial garden, where a number of the victims are buried and a fountain with a plaque of the names of those killed. ==Places of interest==

• Carse of Lecropt • Culcreuch Castle • Inchmahome Priory (a ruined Augustinian priory on an island in the Lake of Menteith, used as a refuge in 1547 by Mary, Queen of Scots) • Breadalbane Folklore Centre • Cambuskenneth Abbey (formerly the seat of the Scottish Parliament) • Doune Castle • Dunblane Cathedral • Falls of Dochart • Falls of Lochay • Glen Dochart • Glenfinlas • Lake of Menteith • Lecropt Kirk • Loch Achray • Loch Ard • Loch Earn • Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park • Loch Katrine (The source of most of the drinking water for the city of Glasgow) • Loch Rusky • Loch Venachar • Moirlannich Longhouse • Queen Elizabeth Forest Park (run by Forestry and Land Scotland) • Scottish Institute of Sport (on the grounds of Stirling University) • Stirling Castle • The University of Stirling • The Trossachs • Wallace Monument • West Highland Way ==References==