The Gazetteer for Scotland is an online reference work that provides concise, authoritative entries on the geography, history, and culture of places throughout Scotland. It functions as a digital geographic dictionary, offering details such as location coordinates, population statistics, administrative affiliations, historical notes, and links to related resources for towns, villages, islands, natural features, and historic sites.
Key Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Scope | Covers the full geographic extent of Scotland, including mainland regions, islands, and offshore territories. |
| Content | Individual entries contain place‑name etymology, map excerpts, demographic data, notable landmarks, and references to historical documents. |
| Data Sources | Information is compiled from official government publications (e.g., Census data, Ordnance Survey), scholarly works, and archival records. |
| Management | Produced and maintained by a partnership involving the University of Edinburgh’s School of GeoSciences and the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. |
| Access | Freely available to the public via the website www.scottish‑places.info. |
| Creation | The project was initiated in the early 2000s by Dr. Bruce Gittings and David Munro, who coordinated the aggregation of place‑based data for digital publication. |
| Updates | Entries are periodically revised to reflect changes in administrative boundaries, population figures, and newly available research. |
Historical Context
The concept of a gazetteer—a geographical dictionary—has long been employed in cartography and reference publishing. The Gazetteer for Scotland adapts this tradition to a digital format, enhancing accessibility and interactivity. Its development coincided with broader trends in the early 21st century toward making specialist geographic information available online for educational, planning, and tourism purposes.
Usage
Researchers, educators, students, and the general public use the Gazetteer for Scotland to:
- Locate and identify lesser‑known settlements or natural features.
- Obtain concise background information for travel planning or local history projects.
- Access demographic and statistical data for academic or governmental analysis.
Recognition
The Gazetteer for Scotland is frequently cited in scholarly articles, guidebooks, and official publications concerning Scottish geography and heritage. Its reliability is reinforced by the involvement of academic institutions and the use of verified public records.
