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Is a Unitary authority in central Scotland, which was created in 1996 from Stirling district and Central region. It has an area of 848 square miles (2,196 sq. km.) and a population of around 45,000. It covers most of the old county of Stirlingshire (except Falkirk) and the South-western portion of old Perthshire. The administrative centre of the region is the city of Stirling. The region borders Clackmannanshire to the east, Falkirk to the south east, Perth and Kinross to the north and north east, Argyll and Bute to the north and north west and East Dunbartonshire and West Dunbartonshire, the southwest.

In Stirling there are the popular towns of Dunblane, Strathblane, Killearn, Bannockburn, Killin, Stirling and Strathyre.

Geography

The region is mountainous to the north, and has open moor land north and west of Breadalbane, within the flood plain of the River Forth to the south around Sterling. The area contains many famous lochs (Tay, Katrine, Lomond) and Scotland's only lake (Lake of Menteith). The highest peaks include Ben More (3,852 feet) and Ben Venue (2,385 feet). The majority of the population of the region is located in its southeast corner, in the city of Stirling and in the surrounding lowland communities of Dunblane and Bridge of Allan to the north, Bannockburn to the immediate south, and the three former coal-mining communities of Cowie, Fallin, and Plean. The remaining 30 percent of the region's population is sparsely distributed across the rural expanse of the region. The southern half of this rural region comprises the flat western floodplain of the River Forth, bounded on the south by the Touch Hills and the Campsie Fells.

Industry

Mainly tourism, light engineering, forestry and stock rearing in the uplands, while in the lowlands some of the richest agricultural lands in Scotland are be found.

History

Stirling is an ancient town, clustered around a large castle and medieval old-town. A former capital of Scotland, Stirling was known as a Royal Burgh until 2002 when, as part of Queen Elizabeths Golden Jubilee, Stirling was granted city status. Stirling has been strategically significant since at least the Roman occupation of Britain, due to its easily defensible hill (the site of Stirling Castle) and its commanding position beside the River Forth. A ford, and later bridge, of the river at Stirling brought the city wealth and influence, as did its port. Major battles in Scotland's long conflict with England took place here. William Wallace won battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297and the English were defeated at Bannockburn by Robert the Bruce in 1314. Stirling was also the scene of the battle at Sheriffmuir in 1715 between Jacobites and Hanoverians.