Stirling
Scottish Gaelic: Sruighlea
Scots: Stirlin
Stirling City Centre
Stirling shown within Scotland
Population	41,243 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference	NS795935
Council area	Stirling
Lieutenancy area	Stirling and Falkirk
Constituent country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	STIRLING
Postcode district	FK7-FK9
Dialling code	01786
Police	Central Scotland
Fire	Central Scotland
Ambulance	Scottish
European Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	Stirling
Scottish Parliament	Stirling
	Mid Scotland and Fife
List of places: UK • Scotland

Coordinates: 56°07′02″N 3°56′23″W / 56.117222, -3.939722

Stirling (Gaelic: Sruighlea, Scots: Stirlin) is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. Scots ( The Scots leid) refers to Anglic varieties derived from early northern Middle English spoken in parts of Scotland and Northern Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology A nationwide Census, commonly known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday 29 April 2001 The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using Latitude and Longitude For local government purposes Scotland is divided into 32 areas designated as "council areas" which are all governed by unitary authorities designated as Stirling ( Sruighlea in Gaelic) is one of the 32 unitary local government Council areas of Scotland, and has a population of about The Lieutenancy areas of Scotland are the areas used for the ceremonial lord-lieutenants, the monarch 's representatives in Scotland. Stirling and Falkirk is a lieutenancy area of Scotland. It consists ofthe local government areas of Stirling and Constituent country is a phrase used often by official institutions in contexts in which a country makes up a part of a larger entity or grouping Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. This list of sovereign states, alphabetically arranged gives an overview of States around the world with information on the extent of their Sovereignty. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located A post town is a required part of all postal addresses in the United Kingdom, and a basic unit of the postal delivery system UK Postal codes are known as postcodes. UK postcodes are Alphanumeric. The, also known as the Falkirk postcode area, is a group of postal districts around Alloa, Alva, Bonnybridge, Callander, Clackmannan The UK Telephone numbering plan, also known as the National Telephone Numbering Plan, is the system used for assigning Telephone numbers in the United There are a number of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom. Central Scotland Police is the Police force covering the Scottish council areas of Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire The fire service in the United Kingdom operates under separate legislative and administrative arrangements in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service is the Statutory fire and rescue service for the area of Central Scotland, Scotland. SASDivmap copyjpg|right|200px]] Helimed5jpg|thumb|right|EC-135 G-SASA "Helimed 5" based at Glasgow City Heliport]] The Scottish Ambulance Service ( Scottish Scotland constitutes a single Constituency of the European Parliament. This is a list of the 646 constituencies currently represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, as at the 2005 general election Stirling is a Constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Scottish Parliament ( Scottish Gaelic: Pàrlamaid na h-Alba; Scots: Scottish Pairlament) is the devlolved national unicameral Stirling is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament ( Holyrood) Constituencies and council areas The constituencies were created in 1999 with the names and boundaries of Westminster constituencies as existing in at that time A Gazetteer of place names in the United Kingdom showing each place's County, Unitary authority or council area and its geographical coordinates This List of places in Scotland is a complete collection of lists of places in Scotland. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. A Burgh (ˈbʌʀə is an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland, usually a Town. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Stirling ( Sruighlea in Gaelic) is one of the 32 unitary local government Council areas of Scotland, and has a population of about

The city is clustered around a large fortress and mediæval old-town. For ships named after the castle see Stirling Castle (disambiguation Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest It is a centre for local government, higher education, retail, and light industry. Its population (as of the 2001 census) was 41,243, making it the smallest city in Scotland. A nationwide Census, commonly known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday 29 April 2001

One of the principal royal strongholds of the Kingdom of Scotland, Stirling was created a Royal burgh by King David I in 1130, which it remained until 1975, when the county of Stirlingshire was absorbed into Central Region. The Kingdom of Scotland ( Gaelic: Rìoghachd na h-Alba, Scots: Kinrick o Scotland) was a State in northwest Europe A royal burgh was a type of Scottish Burgh which had been founded by or subsequently granted a Royal charter. David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim ( Modern: Daibhidh I mac Chaluim; b Stirlingshire or the County of Stirling ( Siorrachd Sruighlea in Gaelic) is a Registration county of Scotland, based around Stirling Map of Scotland showing the location of the former Central region Central Region ( Roinn Meadhanach in In 2002, as part of Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee, Stirling was granted city status. For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II A Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary of a monarch's reign

History

Stirling Castle (Southwest aspect)

Originally a Stone Age settlement, Stirling has been strategically significant since at least the Roman occupation of Britain, due to its naturally defensible Crag and tail hill, which latterly became the site of Stirling Castle, and its commanding position at the foot of the Ochil Hills on the border between the Lowlands and Highlands, at the lowest crossing point of the River Forth, a position it retained until the construction of the Kincardine Bridge during the 1930s. For ships named after the castle see Stirling Castle (disambiguation Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric time period during which Humans widely used stone for toolmaking Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and 410 A crag (sometimes spelled cragg, or in Scotland craig) is a rocky hill or mountain generally isolated from other high ground For ships named after the castle see Stirling Castle (disambiguation Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest The Ochil Hills (from the Celtic (specifically Old Welsh) uchel meaning 'high' is a range of hills in Scotland north of the Forth The Scottish Lowlands ( a' Ghalldachd, meaning roughly 'the non-Gaelic region' in Gaelic, and called Lawlands or Lallans in Scots The Scottish Highlands ( Scottish Gaelic: A' Ghàidhealtachd, Scots: Hielans) include the rugged and Mountainous The Kincardine Bridge is a road Bridge crossing the Firth of Forth from Falkirk Council area to Kincardine-on-Forth, Fife It is supposed that Stirling is the fortress of Iuddeu or Urbs Giudi where Oswiu of Northumbria was besieged by Penda of Mercia in 655, as recorded in Bede and contemporary annals. Oswiu (c 612&ndash 15 February 670) also known as Oswy, was King of Bernicia. Penda (died November 15 655 was a 7th-century King of Mercia, a kingdom in what is today the English Midlands. Bede (ˈbiːd (also Saint Bede, the Venerable Bede, or (from Latin Beda (beda (c

A ford, and later bridge, of the River Forth at Stirling brought wealth and strategic influence, as did its port. A ford is a place in a Watercourse (most commonly a stream or River) that is shallow enough to be crossed by wading on Horseback or in a wheeled The Battle of Stirling Bridge was a battle of the First War of Scottish Independence. The town was chartered as a royal burgh by King David in the 12th century, with charters later reaffirmed by later monarchs (the town then referred to as Strivelyn). David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim ( Modern: Daibhidh I mac Chaluim; b Major battles during the Wars of Scottish Independence took place at the Stirling Bridge in 1297 and at the nearby village of Bannockburn in 1314, as well as several Sieges of Stirling Castle. The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th The Battle of Stirling Bridge was a battle of the First War of Scottish Independence. The Battle of Bannockburn ( Blàr Allt a' Bhonnaich in Gaelic (24 June 1314 was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence There have been at least eight sieges of Stirling Castle, a strategically important fortification in Stirling, Scotland.

The origin of the name Stirling is uncertain, but folk etymology suggests that it originates in either a Scots or Gaelic term meaning the place of battle, struggle or strife. The town has two Latin mottoes, which appeared on the earliest burgh seal of which an impression of 1296 is on record:^[1]

Hic Armis Bruti Scoti Stant Hic Cruce Tuti (The Britons stand by force of arms, The Scots are by this cross preserved from harms) and

Continet Hoc in Se Nemus et Castrum Strivilinse (The Castle and Wood of Stirling town are in the compass of this seal set down. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. )

The Wallace Monument

Standing near the castle, the Church of the Holy Rood (Holy Cross) is one of the town's most historically important buildings. The National Wallace Monument (generally known as the Wallace Monument) is a tower standing on the summit of Abbey Craig, a hilltop near Stirling in The Church of the Holy Rude, which was rebuilt in the 1400s after Stirling suffered a catastrophic fire in 1405, is the only surviving church in the United Kingdom apart from Westminster Abbey, to have held a coronation. The Church of the Holy Rude is the second oldest building in Stirling, Scotland after the Castle. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, which is almost always referred to by its original name of Westminster Abbey, is a large mainly Gothic church On the 29 July 1567 the infant son of Mary Queen of Scots was crowned James VI of Scotland here. Events 1014 - Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat 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 Musket shot marks from Cromwell's troops during the War of the Three Kingdoms are clearly visible on the tower and apse. Oliver Cromwell (25 April 1599 Old Style &ndash 3 September 1658 Old Style) was an English military and political leader best known Scotland in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms covers Scotland 's involvement in the wider conflict known as the Wars of the Three Kingdoms between 1644 and 1650 Another important historical religious site in the area is Cambuskenneth Abbey. Cambuskenneth Abbey is a ruined Augustinian Monastery located on an area of land enclosed by a meander of the River Forth near Stirling

During the War of the Three Kingdoms, the Battle of Stirling also took place in the centre of Stirling on 12th September 1648. The second Battle of Stirling was fought on the 12th of September 1648 during the Scottish Civil War of the 17th century

The fortifications continued to play a strategic military role during the 18th century Jacobite Risings. The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings rebellions and wars in the kingdoms of England, Kingdom of Scotland (later the United Kingdom of Great Britain In 1715, the Earl of Mar failed to take control of the castle. The Jacobite title of Duke of Mar was conferred on John Erskine 6th/23rd Earl of Mar by the Jacobite Pretender James III and In January 1746, the army of Bonnie Prince Charlie seized control of the town but failed to take the Castle. For the US politician see Charles E Stuart For "Betty Burke" see The 'Forty-Five' below On their consequent retreat northwards, they blew up the church of St. Ninians where they had been storing munitions; only the tower survived and can be seen to this day. St Ninians is a long-standing settlement which is now a district of the city of Stirling in central Scotland.

Economically, the city's port supported overseas trade, including tea trade with India and timber trade with the Baltic. The coming of the railways in 1848 started the decline of the river trade, not least because a railway bridge downstream restricted access for shipping. By the mid 20th century the port had ceased to operate.

Famous residents have included Mary Queen of Scots, King James VI of Scotland, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, documentary film pioneer John Grierson, film music composer Muir Mathieson, animation pioneer Norman McLaren, TV presenter Kirsty Young and footballer Billy Bremner (captain of Leeds United and Scotland). 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 Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, GCB (7 September 1836 &ndash 22 April 1908 was a British Liberal Statesman who served as Prime Minister John Grierson ( 26 April 1898 &ndash 19 February 1972) is often considered the Father of British and Canadian James Muir Mathieson ( 24 January 1911, Stirling, Scotland &mdash 2 August 1975, London) was a British Norman McLaren, C C, C Q (b April 11 1914 - d January 27 1987) was a Scottish-born Canadian Animator Kirsty Jackson Young (born 23 November 1968 in East Kilbride) is a Scottish television journalist presenter actress and radio presenter William "Billy" John Bremner (born Stirling, Scotland, December 9 1942; died Doncaster, England, December Leeds United Association Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Leeds United or informally Leeds, are an English professional football The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association.

The Barnwell brothers, Frank and Harold, worked at Grampian Motors in Causewayhead, and in 1909 they designed and flew the first powered flight in Scotland. Frank Barnwell went on to design aircraft including the Bristol Blenheim. Frank Sowter Barnwell ( 1880 - August 2 1938) was an Aeronautical engineer, who performed the first powered flight in Scotland and later went WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout A small monument to the brothers' pioneering achievement has been erected at Causewayhead roundabout.

Stirling is also famous for its many hauntings, like the Green Lady of the Castle, seen by many a Soldier and "The Settle Inn" near the Castle which is one of the most haunted places in Scotland. Other haunted pubs include "The Golden Lion" and "The Albion Bar" - named after the local football team Stirling Albion.

Governance

In terms of local government, the city of Stirling is a part of the wider Stirling Council area, which governs on matters of local administration as set out by the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994. Local governments are administrative offices that are smaller than a State. Stirling ( Sruighlea in Gaelic) is one of the 32 unitary local government Council areas of Scotland, and has a population of about The Local Government etc (Scotland Act 1994 (1994 c 39 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which created the current local government Elections to the council take place every 4 years. The Council is currently controlled by the Scottish National Party. The Scottish National Party (SNP (Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba Scottis Naitional Pairtie is a Centre-left political party which campaigns for Scottish ^[2]The Provost of Stirling is Fergus Wood. A provost (introduced into Scots from French) is the ceremonial head of many Scottish local authorities. ^[3]

In terms of national government, there is a Stirling constituency of the Scottish Parliament with the MSP being Bruce Crawford of the Scottish National Party and a Stirling constituency of the House of Commons represented by Anne McGuire of the Labour Party. Stirling is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament ( Holyrood) Bruce Crawford (born 16 February 1955) is a Scottish National Party politician currently the Minister for Parliamentary Business and Member The Scottish National Party (SNP (Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba Scottis Naitional Pairtie is a Centre-left political party which campaigns for Scottish Stirling is a Constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Anne Catherine McGuire (born 26 May 1949 Glasgow) A Scottish politician The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the As Scotland comprises a single European Parliament Constituency, Stirling participates in electing 7 MEP's using the d'Hondt method of proportional representation every 4 years. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Scotland constitutes a single Constituency of the European Parliament. Proportional representation (sometimes referred to as full representation or PR is a category of electoral formula aiming at a close match between the percentage of votes

Geography

A map of Stirling from 1945

Stirling is renowned as the Gateway to the Highlands and is generally regarded as occupying a strategic position at the point where the flatter largely undulating Scottish Lowlands meet the rugged slopes of the Highlands along the Highland Boundary Fault. The Scottish Lowlands ( a' Ghalldachd, meaning roughly 'the non-Gaelic region' in Gaelic, and called Lawlands or Lallans in Scots The Scottish Highlands ( Scottish Gaelic: A' Ghàidhealtachd, Scots: Hielans) include the rugged and Mountainous The Highland Boundary Fault is a Geologic fault that traverses Scotland from Arran and Helensburgh on the west coast to Stonehaven The starkness of this contrast is evidenced by the many hills and mountains of the lower Highlands such as Ben Vorlich and Ben Ledi which can be seen to the northwest of the city. A mountain is a Landform that extends above the surrounding Terrain in a limited area with a peak Ben Vorlich ( Scottish Gaelic: Beinn Mhùrlaig) is a Scottish Mountain situated between the northernmost section of Loch Lomond Ben Ledi is a Mountain in Perthshire, Scotland. It is 879 m (2884 ft) high and is classified as a Corbett. On the other hand, the Carse of Stirling, stretching to the west and east of the city, is one of the flattest and most agriculturally productive expanses of land in the whole of Scotland. In Scottish geography, a Carse (the modern form of older Scots kerse) is an area of low-lying typically Alluvial and fertile land occupying Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain.

The land surrounding Stirling has been most affected by glacial erosion and deposition. "Glacial" and "Glaciation" redirect here For the geological periods see Glacial period. The city itself has grown up around its castle which stands atop an ancient Quartz-dolerite Sill, a major defensive position, which was, in turn at the lowest crossing point on the River Forth. For ships named after the castle see Stirling Castle (disambiguation Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest An Intrusive rock similar to Dolerite, but with an excess of Quartz. Stirling stands on the Forth at the point where the river widens and becomes tidal. Characteristics A tide is a repeated cycle of sea level changes in the following stages Over several hours the water rises or advances up a beach in the flood To the east of the city the Ochil Hills dominate the skyline with the highest peaks in the range being Dumyat and Ben Cleuch. The Ochil Hills (from the Celtic (specifically Old Welsh) uchel meaning 'high' is a range of hills in Scotland north of the Forth For the governorate of Egypt see Dimyat. Dumyat (dʌmaɪæt is a hill at the western extremity of the Ochil Hills in central The Ochils meet the flat floodplain or Carse of the River Forth to the east of the distinctive geographical feature - Abbey Craig, a crag and tail hill upon which stands the 220ft (67m) high Wallace National Monument^[4]. ||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||}A floodplain, or flood plain, is flat or nearly flat land adjacent to a Stream or River that experiences occasional or periodic In Scottish geography, a Carse (the modern form of older Scots kerse) is an area of low-lying typically Alluvial and fertile land occupying The Abbey Craig is the hill upon which the Wallace Monument stands at Causewayhead just to the north of Stirling, Scotland. A crag (sometimes spelled cragg, or in Scotland craig) is a rocky hill or mountain generally isolated from other high ground The National Wallace Monument (generally known as the Wallace Monument) is a tower standing on the summit of Abbey Craig, a hilltop near Stirling in

The climate of Stirling differs little from that of much of the rest of central Scotland. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. The warm, Gulf Stream air current from the Atlantic Ocean is the predominant influence, with a prevailing southwesterly wind. The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful warm and swift Atlantic Ocean current that

Areas of Stirling

Broad Street at the heart of Stirling's Old Town area (called Top of the Town by locals)

• Bannockburn
• Braehead
• Broomridge
• Cambusbarron
• Cambuskenneth
• Causewayhead
• Cornton
• Cowie
• Fallin
• Kings Park
• Raploch
• Riverside
• St. Ninians
• Top of the Town
• Torbrex

Demography

The city of Stirling had a population of 41,243 at the 2001 census, which has risen to 44,460 according to mid-2004 population estimates^[5]. A number of other places are named after Bannockburn &mdash see Bannockburn (disambiguation. Broomridge is a district in the south of the city of Stirling, Scotland, located north of Bannockburn and east of St Cambuskenneth ( Gaelic: Camas Sgeanail) is a village in the city of Stirling, located in central Scotland. Cornton is a district of the city of Stirling on the North Bank of the River Forth in central Scotland. The Raploch is a district of the city of Stirling to the south of the River Forth in central Scotland. St Ninians is a long-standing settlement which is now a district of the city of Stirling in central Scotland. A census is the procedure of acquiring information about every member of a given population The wider Stirling Council area had a population of 86,370 in 2004. Stirling ( Sruighlea in Gaelic) is one of the 32 unitary local government Council areas of Scotland, and has a population of about The city is reputed to be the third fastest growing area of Scotland in terms of population^[6]. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. According to the 2001 census^[7], 52. 7% of the population was female compared to 47. 2% male. Stirling had both a smaller proportion of under 16's, at 16. 7% compared to the Scottish average of 19. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. 2% and a smaller proportion of those of pensionable age - 17. 8% - compared to the Scottish average of 18. 6%. The highest proportion of the population, at 24. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology 3% was concentrated in the 16-29 age group. Stirling also had a higher proportion of non-Scottish born residents at 16. 5% compared to the Scottish average of 12. 8%. The population was also slightly younger than the Scottish average - the median age for males was 34 to the national average of 37; and the median age for females was 36, to the national average of 39. In Probability theory and Statistics, a median is described as the number separating the higher half of a sample a population or a Probability distribution Male (♂ refers to the sex of an organism or part of an organism which produces small mobile Gametes called spermatozoa. In Probability theory and Statistics, a median is described as the number separating the higher half of a sample a population or a Probability distribution The population peaks and troughs significantly when the students come and go from the city.

Economy

The main courtyard inside Stirling Castle. For ships named after the castle see Stirling Castle (disambiguation Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest It is said that the ghost of a soldier has been seen walking out from under the stairs (centre bottom. )

At the centre of a large rural agricultural hinterland that encompasses some of the flattest and most productive land in Scotland, Stirling principally functioned as a market town, symbolised by its Mercat cross, with farmers coming to sell their products and wares in the large agricultural market that was held in the town. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Market town or market right is a legal term originating in the Medieval period for a European settlement that has the right to hold Markets A mercat cross is a Market cross found in Scottish cities and towns where trade and commerce was a part of economic life Today, agriculture still plays a part in the economic life of Stirling, given its focus at the heart of a large rural area, but to a much less extent than previously.

With Stirling's development as a market town and its location as the focus of transport and communications in the region, it has developed a substantial retail sector serving a wide range of surrounding communities as well as the city itself. Market town or market right is a legal term originating in the Medieval period for a European settlement that has the right to hold Markets Primarily centred on the city centre, there are a large number of chain stores, as well as the Thistles shopping centre. The Thistles Shopping Centre is located in Stirling, Scotland. A shopping mall or shopping centre is a building or set of buildings that contain Retail units with interconnecting Walkways enabling visitors However this has been augmented by out-of-town developments such as the Springkerse Retail Park on the city bypass to the east of Stirling, and the development of a large Sainsbury's at the Raploch. J Sainsbury plc ( is the parent company of Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd commonly known as Sainsbury's (also Sainsbury and JS) the third largest The Raploch is a district of the city of Stirling to the south of the River Forth in central Scotland.

A major new regeneration project on the site of the former port area and the 40-acre former Ministry of Defence site, adjacent to Stirling Railway Station, is currently underway. Urban Renewal (similar to Urban Regeneration in British English) is a controversial U Stirling railway station is a Railway station located in Stirling, Scotland. ^[8] Known as Forthside, it has the aim of developing a new waterfront district linked to the railway station via a new pedestrian bridge, the development comprises retail, residential and commercial elements, including a conference centre, hotel and Vue multiplex cinema, that will ultimately expand the city centre area, linking it to the River Forth, which has been cut off from the city centre area since the construction of the A9 bypass under the railway station in the 1960s. Vue is a cinema company in Ireland and the UK. The company was formed in May 2003 when SBC International Cinemas bought Warner Village ^[9] For the first time in 100 years, local people will have access to the banks of the River Forth in the city centre with landscaped public areas, footpaths, cycleways and an improved public transport network.

In terms of the service sector, financial services as well as tourism are the biggest employers. Financial services refer to services provided by the finance industry. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel The financial services and insurance company Prudential have a large and well-established base at Craigforth on the outskirts of Stirling. Prudential plc () is a United Kingdom -based financial services company In terms of tourism, the presence of such historical monuments as Stirling Castle, the National Wallace Monument and other nearby attractions like Blair Drummond Safari Park, the key role which Stirling has played in Scottish history, as well as the scenery of the area, has bolstered Stirling's position as an important tourist destination in Scotland. For ships named after the castle see Stirling Castle (disambiguation Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest The National Wallace Monument (generally known as the Wallace Monument) is a tower standing on the summit of Abbey Craig, a hilltop near Stirling in Blair Drummond Safari Park is Scotland's only Safari Park. Located near Stirling the park opened its gates for the first time in 1970 The history of Scotland begins around 10000 years ago when Humans first began to inhabit Scotland after the end of the Devensian glaciation, the last Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain.

The University of Stirling and Stirling Council are two of the biggest employers in the area. The University of Stirling founded in 1967 in Stirling, Scotland. Stirling ( Sruighlea in Gaelic) is one of the 32 unitary local government Council areas of Scotland, and has a population of about Knowledge related industries, research and development as well as life sciences have clustered around the university in the Stirling University Innovation Park, close to its main campus. The phrase research and development (also R and D or more often R&D) according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers Foundations of modern biology There are five unifying principles Other public sector agencies that are major employers in the city include Central Scotland Police, Scottish Prison Service, NHS Forth Valley and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency. Central Scotland Police is the Police force covering the Scottish council areas of Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Cornton Vale is a women's prison in Stirling, operated by the Scottish Prison Service. NHS Forth Valley is one of the fourteen regions of NHS Scotland. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA is a powerful Non-departmental public body in Scotland sponsored by the Scottish Executive Environment

Stirling is home to national construction companies Ogilvie group, chaired by Duncan Ogilvie who is listed the times rich list claiming he is worth £35 million. And home to Fes group (Forth Electrical Services)

Transport

Public Transport to districts within the city and to the surrounding towns, like Bridge of Allan and Alloa, is almost completely provided by buses operated principally by the First Group, although there are also railway links to Bridge of Allan and Dunblane. Bridge of Allan is a town in Stirling Council area in Scotland, just north of the city of Stirling. Alloa ( Allmhagh Mòr in Gaelic is a small Burgh in Clackmannanshire, Scotland, 6 miles to the east of Stirling, on the north FirstGroup plc ( is a Scottish Transport company operating in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Canada, USA Bridge of Allan railway station is located between Stirling and Dunblane on the Perth / Dunblane - Edinburgh / Glasgow line Dunblane railway station serves the town of Dunblane in the central Scotland. At the heart of Scotland's Central Belt, Stirling has direct road connections to the major cities of Glasgow, via the M80 motorway, and Edinburgh, via the M9 motorway, as well as inter-city rail links from Stirling Railway Station. The Central Belt of Scotland is a common term used to describe the area of highest population density within Scotland Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom The M80 is a Motorway in central Scotland, running through Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Falkirk and Stirling and links Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow. The M9 motorway is also the name of roads in Russia (see Baltic Highway) Pakistan (see M9 motorway) and Ireland (see here) Stirling railway station is a Railway station located in Stirling, Scotland. Transport infrastructure in the area will be further improved with the completion of the Upper Forth Crossing and the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail link, as well as a planned upgrade of the A80 Trunk road to Motorway standards. The Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail link was a project to re-open a railway line between the towns of Stirling, Alloa and Kincardine in Scotland A80 road may refer to A80 road (Great Britain A80 road (Spain A trunk road, trunk highway, or strategic road is a major Road &mdashusually connecting two or more cities, Ports Airports Motorway is a term for both a type of Road and a classification or designation The City of Stirling is home to a large number of commuters, with 12,000 residents commuting to work in other areas, with 13,800 workers also travelling in to the city. Commuting is the process of Travelling between one's place of residence and regular place of work ^[10]

Sports and Recreation

Sports

The headquarters of the Scottish Institute of Sport in Stirling. The Scottish Institute of Sport (SIS is the national sports development body in Scotland.

Local sporting teams include the football team Stirling Albion F.C. who play at Forthbank Stadium, the rugby union team Stirling County and the athletics team Central Athletic Club based at University of Stirling. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Stirling Albion FC is a football club currently playing in the Scottish Football League. Forthbank Stadium is a football Stadium in Stirling, Scotland. Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short Stirling County RFC is a rugby union club in the Scottish Rugby Union, playing the Premiership Division One, based in Stirling. The University of Stirling founded in 1967 in Stirling, Scotland. Stirling Wanderers Hockey Club have also moved to a brand new (international standard) pitch at Forthbank for season 2008/09. Footballers Billy Bremner and Duncan Ferguson were born in Stirling, as were rugby internationals Kenny Logan and Allister Hogg, jockey Willie Carson, and cricketer Dougie Brown. William "Billy" John Bremner (born Stirling, Scotland, December 9 1942; died Doncaster, England, December Duncan Ferguson (born 27 December 1971 in Stirling) is a Scottish former professional football player who now lives in Majorca Kenneth McKerrow Logan (born 3 April 1972 in Stirling, Scotland) is a Rugby union footballer who plays for London Scottish Allister Hogg is a Scottish Rugby Union player he was born on 20 January 1983, in Stirling, Scotland) plays Rugby union In Sport, a jockey is one who rides Horses in Horse racing or steeplechase racing primarily as a profession William Fisher Hunter Carson, OBE (born November 16, 1942 in Stirling, Scotland) is a retired Jockey in Thoroughbred Cricket is a bat-and-ball team Sport that originated in England and is now played in more than 100 countries Douglas Robert Brown, (born October 29 1969) is a Scottish Cricketer he currently plays for Warwickshire C

Stirling is also a major centre of sports training and education in Scotland. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. The Scottish Institute of Sport is headquartered in a purpose built facility on the campus of Stirling University which opened in 2002. The Scottish Institute of Sport (SIS is the national sports development body in Scotland. The University of Stirling founded in 1967 in Stirling, Scotland. Also at the university in the state of the art Scottish National Swimming Academy as well as the Gannochy National Tennis centre which is seen as a tennis centre of excellence^[11].

Furthermore the university itself has its own dedicated Sports Studies department and was ranked amongst the best in the United Kingdom for its provision of sports facilities, with the maximum 5 star award, shared by 16 other universities in the UK^[12]. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Stirling University also currently hosts the Scottish men's lacrosse champions.

Stirling and its surrounding area has a number of 9 and 18 hole golf courses, the largest of which is the Stirling Golf Course, located in the Kings Park area of the city. A golf course consists of a series of holes each consisting of a Teeing ground, Fairway, rough and other hazards and a green with a pin and cup all designed for

Closure of Rainbow Slides

On January 25, 2008, it was announced that Stirling Council had decided to close the city's swimming pool, Rainbow Slides, permanently with the loss of 33 jobs. Events 41 - After a night of negotiation Claudius is accepted as Roman Emperor by the Senate 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Stirling ( Sruighlea in Gaelic) is one of the 32 unitary local government Council areas of Scotland, and has a population of about ^[13] Stirling councillors decided to shut the city's Rainbow Slides, built in 1975, because repair costs were too high. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Metal slats from the facility's roof fell into the water in December as the pool was being used by swimmers^[14]. No-one was injured in the incident.

The pool closed for good on 29 February. A new public pool is due to open at the city's Forthside development in March 2009. The decision to close the facility has proved controversial as it leaves the city without a public pool for more than a year.

Education

Looking out over Airthrey Loch on the main campus of The University of Stirling

The University of Stirling opened in 1967 on a greenfield site outside the town. The University of Stirling founded in 1967 in Stirling, Scotland. Currently there are 9000 students studying at the university, of which 7000 are undergraduates and 2000 are postgraduates. In some Educational systems undergraduate education is Post-secondary education up to the level of a Bachelor's degree. See also Postgraduate Training in Education Postgraduate education (synonymous in North America with graduate education, and sometimes described Students of over 80 nationalities are represented at the university, with 14% of students coming from overseas^[15]. It has grown into a major research centre, with a large science park - Innovation Park, located immediately adjacent to the main university campus. A science park is a property development designed for a concentration of High tech, Science, or Research related Businesses The definition Innovation Park has grown since its initiation in 1993, and is now home to 40 companies engaging in various forms of research and development^[16]. The phrase research and development (also R and D or more often R&D) according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers Stirling is also home to part of the wider Forth Valley College which was formed on August 1, 2005 from the merger of Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannan colleges. Forth Valley College was formed in 2005 by the merger of Falkirk College of Further & Higher Education and Clackmannan College Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Falkirk is also the name of the Scottish council area centred on the town see Falkirk (council area. Clackmannan District 1975-96

There are four main high schools in Stirling itself - Stirling High School, with a school roll of 940 pupils, Wallace High School with 950 pupils, St Modan's High School, located in the suburb of St Ninians and Bannockburn High School in Broomridge. Stirling High School is a state high school for 11-18 year olds run by Stirling Council in Stirling, Scotland. Wallace is a name for several high schools in the English-speaking world including Wallace High School (Idaho, Wallace Idaho Wallace St Modan's RC High School is an S1-S6 Catholic High School In Stirling, Scotland. St Ninians is a long-standing settlement which is now a district of the city of Stirling in central Scotland. All the city's schools are currently being redeveloped as a result of a Public-private partnership scheme. Public-private partnership ( PPP) describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more

In January 2008 it was announced that Students from Singapore would be able to gain degrees in retail from the University of Stirling in a tie-up with the country's Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP). 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Singapore The University of Stirling founded in 1967 in Stirling, Scotland. Nanyang Polytechnic ( Abbreviation: NYP; Chinese: 南洋理工学院 Malay: Politeknik Nanyang) is a Polytechnic located ^[17] Under the deal, students with a relevant polytechnic diploma will be able to enter directly into year three of the University's BA (Hons) Retail Marketing – thereby serving a niche market for well-trained retail managers. Professor Paul Freathy, director of the university's Institute for Retail Studies (IRS), said: "Statistics have shown that close to 80 per cent of the retail workforce in Singapore have secondary or below education. There are no comprehensive and industry-oriented tertiary education programmes in retail in Singapore – so this is a significant step forward for the retail sector. We expect to see the retail leaders of tomorrow passing through this programme. " Prof Freathy said the university would have a suite of offices in Singapore at the Nanyang campus through which students would have access to all the Stirling facilities. In addition, Stirling staff would be permanently based in Singapore and IRS staff will travel out to teach.

Twinned cities

• Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
• Dunedin, Florida, United States
• Óbuda, Hungary
• Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada

References

Mair, Craig (1990). Stirling: The Royal Burgh. John Donald Publishers. ISBN 0-85976-420-6.  

See also

• Stirling Castle
• Battle of Stirling Bridge
• Battle of Stirling (1648)
• Central Scotland Police
• Lecropt

External links

• Stirling Council Website
• Stirling Castle (Historic Scotland)
• Mapping the Town: the history of Stirling, presented by Julian Richards (BBC Radio 4) (RealAudio format)
• University of Stirling
• Photos of Stirling
• More photos of Stirling - Taken by Stuart Gillespie, Pastor of Calvary Chapel Stirling
• Cambusbarron Village - Local website with lots of information about the village and the Stirling area
• Stirling Chinese Community - Stirling Chinese Community
• Stirling Gaelic Choir
• Tolbooth, Stirling's venue for live music
• Stirling travel guide from Wikitravel