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This article is about the area in Scotland. For other uses, see Fife (disambiguation).
"Fifeshire" redirects here. For the radio station in New Zealand, see Fifeshire FM. Fifeshire FM was a New Zealand Radio station owned by RadioWorks.
Fife Council
Fìobh
Location
Geography
Area Ranked 13th
 - Total 1,325 km²
 - % Water 1%
Admin HQ Glenrothes
ISO 3166-2 GB-FIF
ONS code 00QR
Demographics
Population Ranked 3rd
 - Total (2006

)

358,900
 - Density

271 /km² (700 /sq mi)
Politics
Fife Council

http://www.fife.gov.uk/
Control Scottish National Party/Liberal Democrat
MPs Gordon Brown
Sir Menzies Campbell QC
John William MacDougall
Willie Rennie
MSPs Scott Barrie
Helen Eadie
Marilyn Livingstone
Tricia Marwick
Iain Smith
Jim Tolson

Fife (Gaelic: Fìobha) is a council area of Scotland, situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire. Geology and geomorphology See also Geology of Scotland The land area of Scotland is 78 772 km² (30414 square miles roughly 30% of the area of This is a list of Council areas of Scotland ordered by area. See also List of Scottish council areas by population (2004 To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions we list here areas between 1000 km2 and 10000 km2 Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of Glenrothes is a former new town situated in the heart of Fife, in east central Scotland. ISO 3166-2GB is an ISO standard which defines Geocodes it is the subset of ISO 3166-2 which applies to the United Kingdom. The Office for National Statistics coding system is a hierarchical code used in the United Kingdom for tabulating Census and other statistical data Scotland covers an area of 78782 km² or 30341 mi², giving it a Population density of. This is a list of council areas of Scotland ordered by population. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume The Scottish National Party (SNP (Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba Scottis Naitional Pairtie is a Centre-left political party which campaigns for Scottish The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal structure of the British Liberal Democrats; the others being the English This is a list of Members of Parliament (MPs elected to the House of Commons by Scottish constituencies for the Fifty-Fourth Parliament of the United Kingdom WikipediaManual of Style (biographies#Academic titles --> James Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951 is Sir Walter Menzies Campbell CBE QC (born 22 May 1941) commonly known as Ming Campbell, is a British Politician Willie Rennie (born September 27, 1967) is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Dunfermline and West Fife. Composition of the Parliament Graphical representation This is a graphical comparison of party strengths in the 2nd session of the Scottish Parliament at the time Scott Barrie, (born March 10, 1962, St Andrews) is a Scottish Labour Party politician and former social worker Helen Eadie (born March 7 1947, Stenhousemuir) is a Scottish Labour Co-operative politician and has represented Dunfermline Marilyn Livingstone (born 30 September 1952) is a Scottish Labour Co-operative politician and Member of the Scottish Parliament Tricia Marwick (born November 5, 1953) is the Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP for Central Fife. See also Ian Smith (disambiguation Iain Smith (born 1 May 1960 is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician and Member of the Scottish Parliament Jim Tolson is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician and Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Dunfermline West. Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. For local government purposes Scotland is divided into 32 areas designated as "council areas" which are all governed by unitary authorities designated as Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. The Firth of Tay ( Scottish Gaelic: Linne Tatha) is a Firth in Scotland between the Council areas of Fife, Perth and The Firth of Forth ( Scottish Gaelic: Linne Foirthe) is the Estuary or Firth of Scotland's River Forth, where it flows Perth and Kinross ( Peairt agus Ceann Rois in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy Area. Clackmannanshire ( Siorrachd Chlach Mhannainn in Gaelic; nicknamed "the wee county" and sometimes called Clacks is one of the 32 local government It was originally one of the Pictish kingdoms, known as Fib, and is still commonly known as the Kingdom of Fife within Scotland. The Picts were a Confederation of tribes in what was later to become eastern and northern Scotland from Roman times until the 10th century A monarchy is a Form of government in which supreme power is actually or nominally lodged in an individual who is the Head of state, often for life or

It is a lieutenancy area, and was a county of Scotland until 1975. The Lieutenancy areas of Scotland are the areas used for the ceremonial lord-lieutenants, the monarch 's representatives in Scotland. The counties of Scotland were the principal divisions of Scotland until 1975 It was very occasionally known by the anglification Fifeshire in old documents and maps compiled by English cartographers and authors. Anglicisation or anglicization (see -ise vs -ize) is a process of conversion of verbal or written elements of any other language into a more comprehensible English England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland A person from Fife is known as a Fifer.

From 1975 to 1996 Fife was a local government region divided into three districts — Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy and North-East Fife. Local government in Scotland is organised through 32 unitary authorities consisting of Councillors elected every four years by registered voters in each of the The regions and districts of Scotland were established under the Local Government (Scotland Act 1973 as a two-tier system of Local government in Scotland. The regions and districts of Scotland were established under the Local Government (Scotland Act 1973 as a two-tier system of Local government in Scotland. Dunfermline (Scottish Gaelic Dùn Phàrlain is a town and former Royal Burgh in Fife. Kirkcaldy (kɪrˈkɔːdi Cathair Chaladain) is a town and former Royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. Since 1996 the functions of the district councils have been exercised by the unitary Fife Council. See also Independent city A unitary authority is a type of Local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all Local government functions

Fife is Scotland's third largest local authority area by population. Scotland covers an area of 78782 km² or 30341 mi², giving it a Population density of. It has a resident population of just under 360,000, almost a third of whom live in the three principal towns of Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes. Dunfermline (Scottish Gaelic Dùn Phàrlain is a town and former Royal Burgh in Fife. Kirkcaldy (kɪrˈkɔːdi Cathair Chaladain) is a town and former Royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. Glenrothes is a former new town situated in the heart of Fife, in east central Scotland.

The historical town of St Andrews is located on the east coast of Fife. St Andrews (Cill Rìmhinn is a Town and former Royal burgh on the east coast of Fife, Scotland. It is well known for one of the most ancient universities in Europe, and as the home of golf. This article is about Western European institutions See also Medieval university (Asia and Byzantine university Medieval university

Contents

History

Popularly known as 'The Kingdom of Fife', legend has it that upon the death of Cruithne, the Pictish realm - known collectively as 'Pictavia' - was divided into seven sub-kingdoms or provinces, one of which became Fife. The Picts were a Confederation of tribes in what was later to become eastern and northern Scotland from Roman times until the 10th century The Picts were a Confederation of tribes in what was later to become eastern and northern Scotland from Roman times until the 10th century The name is recorded as Fib in 1150 and Fif in 1165. It was often associated with Fothriff. Fothriff or Fothrif was a province of Scotland in the middle ages

Fife, bounded to the north by the Firth of Tay and to the south by the Firth of Forth, is a natural peninsula whose political boundaries have changed little over the ages. The Firth of Tay ( Scottish Gaelic: Linne Tatha) is a Firth in Scotland between the Council areas of Fife, Perth and The Firth of Forth ( Scottish Gaelic: Linne Foirthe) is the Estuary or Firth of Scotland's River Forth, where it flows

King James VI of Scotland described Fife as a 'beggar's mantle fringed with gold' - the golden fringe being the coast and its chain of little ports with their thriving fishing fleets and rich trading links with the Low Countries, ironic given the much later development of farming on some of Scotland's richest soil and the minerals, notably coal, underneath. James VI and I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625 was King of Scotland as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James The Low Countries, the historical region of de Nederlanden, are the countries on low-lying land around the delta of the Rhine, Scheldt Wool,linen, coal and salt were all traded. Salt pans heated by local coal were a feature of the Fife coast in the past. The distinctive red clay "pan tiles" seen on many old buildings in Fife arrived as ballast on trading boats and replaced the previously thatched roofs. In 1598 King James VI employed a group of 12 men from fife, who became known as the Fife adventurers to colonise the Isle of Lewis in an attempt to begin the "civilisation" and anglicisation of the region. The Fife adventurers were a group of 12 Anglo-Scottish colonists awarded lands on the Isle of Lewis by King James VI in 1598 following the Lewis ( Leòdhas ʎɔːɣəs̪ ( Norse: Ljoðhús "home Anglicisation or anglicization (see -ise vs -ize) is a process of conversion of verbal or written elements of any other language into a more comprehensible English This endeavour lasted until 1609 when the colonists, having been opposed by the native population, were bought out by Coinneach, the clan chief of the MacKenzies. Clan Mackenzie is a Highland Scottish clan, traditionally associated with Kintail and lands in Ross-shire.

Historically, there was much heavy industry in the century or so following the Victorian engineering triumphs of the Forth and Tay rail bridges, The Fife coalfields were developed around Kirkcaldy and the west of Fife reaching far out under the Firth of Forth. Kirkcaldy (kɪrˈkɔːdi Cathair Chaladain) is a town and former Royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. Shipbuilding was famous at Methil and Rosyth. Methil is the family name of a section of people who are currently centered in and around the village of Chittlancherry, Palakkad, Kerala, India Rosyth (pronounced Ross-sythe ( Scottish Gaelic: Ros Saidhe or Ros Saoithe) is a town located on the Firth of Forth on Scotland 's The world centre for linoleum production was in Kirkcaldy (where it is still produced), and flax grown in Fife was transformed into linen locally too. Post-war Fife saw the development of Scotland's second new town, Glenrothes. Post-War is the fifth studio album by M Ward. It was released on August 22 2006 by Merge Records. A new town, planned community or planned city is a City, Town, or Community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically Glenrothes is a former new town situated in the heart of Fife, in east central Scotland. Originally to be based around a coal mine the town eventually attracted a high number of modern Silicon Glen companies to the region. Silicon Glen is a Nickname for the High tech sector of Scotland. Fife Council also centered their operations in Glenrothes.

There are many notable historical buildings to be seen in Fife, some of which are managed by the National Trust for Scotland or Heritage Scotland. They include Dunfermline abbey (last resting place of Scottish Royalty), the Palace in Culross, Ravenscraig Castle in Kirkcaldy, Dysart Harbour area, Balgonie Castle near Coaltown of Balgonie, Falkland Palace (hunting palace of the Scottish Kings), Kellie Castle near Pittenweem, Hill of Tarvit (a historical house), St Andrews Castle (with a gruesome bottle dungeon), St Andrews Cathedral and St Rules' Tower.

Geography

Fife is a peninsula in eastern Scotland bordered on the north by the Firth of Tay, on the east by the North Sea and the Firth of Forth to the south. A peninsula is a piece of land that is nearly surrounded by Water but connected to Mainland via an Isthmus. The Firth of Tay ( Scottish Gaelic: Linne Tatha) is a Firth in Scotland between the Council areas of Fife, Perth and The North Sea is a marginal, Epeiric sea of the Atlantic Ocean on the European Continental shelf. The Firth of Forth ( Scottish Gaelic: Linne Foirthe) is the Estuary or Firth of Scotland's River Forth, where it flows The route to the west is partially blocked by the mass of the Ochil Hills. The Ochil Hills (from the Celtic (specifically Old Welsh) uchel meaning 'high' is a range of hills in Scotland north of the Forth Almost all traffic into and out of Fife has to pass over one of three bridges, south on The Forth Road Bridge, west on the Kincardine Bridge or north east via The Tay Road Bridge, the exception being traffic headed north on the M90. The Forth Road Bridge is a Suspension bridge in east central Scotland The Kincardine Bridge is a road Bridge crossing the Firth of Forth from Falkirk Council area to Kincardine-on-Forth, Fife The Tay Road Bridge is an important road Bridge in Scotland. It crosses the Firth of Tay from Newport-on-Tay in Fife to The M90 is a Motorway in Scotland. It runs from Inverkeithing, at the north end of the Forth Road Bridge, to Perth, passing Tolls were abolished on the Tay Road Bridge and Forth Road Bridge on 11 February 2008

There are a number of extinct volcanic features, such as the Lomond Hills which rise above rolling farmland, and Largo Law, a volcanic plug in the east. Events 660 BC - Traditional founding date of Japan by Emperor Jimmu. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Plate tectonics and hotspots Divergent plate boundaries At the The Lomond Hills (meaning beacon hills lie in the centre of Fife, Scotland. Upper Largo or Kirkton of Largo is a small town situated in the East Neuk of Fife, Scotland. A volcanic plug, also called a volcanic neck or lava neck, is a volcanic landform created when Lava hardens within a Vent on At 522 m (or 1713 feet), the West Lomond is the highest point in Fife. West Lomond is the highest point in the county of Fife, Scotland and the highest peak in the Lomond Hills. The coast has many fine but small harbours, from the industrial docks in Burntisland and Rosyth to the fishing villages of the East Neuk such as Anstruther and Pittenweem. Burntisland is a town and former Royal burgh in Fife, Scotland on the Firth of Forth. Rosyth (pronounced Ross-sythe ( Scottish Gaelic: Ros Saidhe or Ros Saoithe) is a town located on the Firth of Forth on Scotland 's The East Neuk or East Neuk of Fife is a geographically ill-defined area of the coast of Fife, Scotland, which nonetheless stirs local passions There is also a P G Wodehouse character named Mr Anstruther. Anstruther ( Enster in Scots, Eanstar Pittenweemjpg|thumb|300px|Pittenweem from the outer harbour wall The large area of flat land to the north of the Lomond Hills, through which the River Eden flows, is known as the Howe of Fife. The River Eden is a river in Fife in Scotland, and is Fife's other principal river along with the Leven.

Looking across the farmland of North East Fife to the distant Lomond Hills
Looking across the farmland of North East Fife to the distant Lomond Hills

North of the Lomond Hills can be found many villages and small towns in a primarily agricultural landscape. The Lomond Hills (meaning beacon hills lie in the centre of Fife, Scotland. The areas in the south and west of Fife, including the towns of Dunfermline, Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy and the Levenmouth region are much more lightly industrial and densely populated. Dunfermline (Scottish Gaelic Dùn Phàrlain is a town and former Royal Burgh in Fife. Glenrothes is a former new town situated in the heart of Fife, in east central Scotland. Kirkcaldy (kɪrˈkɔːdi Cathair Chaladain) is a town and former Royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. Levenmouth is a small Scottish Conurbation consisting of three neighbouring coastal towns and two further inland villages The only area which could claim to be heavy industry is that of Rosyth, around the naval dockyard. Rosyth (pronounced Ross-sythe ( Scottish Gaelic: Ros Saidhe or Ros Saoithe) is a town located on the Firth of Forth on Scotland 's

The east corner of Fife, generally that east of a line between Leven and St Andrews is recognised throughout Scotland as the "East Neuk" (or corner) of Fife, small settlements around sheltered harbours, with distinctive vernacular "Dutch" or craw(crow)stepped gabled and stone-built architecture - an area much sought after as second homes of the Edinburgh professional classes in the 30 years since the Forth Road Bridge was built. Leven is a seaside town in Fife, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth at the mouth of the River Leven. St Andrews (Cill Rìmhinn is a Town and former Royal burgh on the east coast of Fife, Scotland. Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow. The fishing industry on which the East Neuk settlements were built has declined in recent years with the main fishing fleet now operating from Pittenweem and the harbour in Anstruther being used as a marina for pleasure craft. fishing industry in Scotland comprises a significant proportion of the United Kingdom Fishing industry.

Towns and villages

Places of interest

Notable Fifers

Sports

Council political composition

Fife Council has a joint SNP/Liberal Democrat local government administration following the recent elections. Labour and the other parties form the opposition. [1]

Trivia

In William Shakespeare's play Macbeth, the Thane of Fife is Macduff. Scottish Labour (often but inaccurately described at the "Scottish Labour Party" is that part of the (British Labour Party which operates in Scotland The Scottish National Party (SNP (Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba Scottis Naitional Pairtie is a Centre-left political party which campaigns for Scottish The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal structure of the British Liberal Democrats; the others being the English The Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party (informally the Scottish Conservative Party and often referred to as the Scottish Tories) is the part of In Politics, an independent is a Politician who is not Affiliated with any Political party. The Left Alliance are a small Political party operating in Fife Scotland. William Shakespeare ( baptised Macbeth is among the best-known of William Shakespeare 's plays, and is his shortest tragedy, believed to have been written some time between A thegn or thane was an attendant servant retainer or official in Early Medieval Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon culture. Macduff is a Fictional character in Shakespeare 's play Macbeth.

External links

See also

Historic houses in Scotland is a link page for any Mansion, Palace, Country house, Stately home or other Historic house in Scotland This is a list of Museums in Scotland. Many other small historical displays are located in the country's Stately homes including those run by the National List of religious houses in Scotland is a link page to any Abbey, Priory, Friary or other religious house in Scotland. This list of castles in Scotland is a link page for any Castle in Scotland.

Dictionary

fife

-noun

  1. A small shrill pipe, resembling the piccolo flute, used chiefly to accompany the drum in military music

Fife

-proper noun

  1. A traditional county of Scotland now a Unitary Authority, situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with landward boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire.
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