There are 30 Aberdeens in the world and Scots set up most of them There are the myriad oil and gas connections, links to such celebrities as Sir Alex Ferguson, Annie Lennox and Emeli Sande, and the spiralling house prices in a city which has become of of the richest in Scotland on the back of the energy boom. But what about the other places called Aberdeen scattered throughout the globe? Where are they and how do they measure up? We've taken a closer look at some of the other communities spread liberally throughout North America and the Southern Hemisphere. And, although we might be biased, it seems as if the original version might be the best of the bunch. Aberdeen, Maryland, USA (Population: 15,802, as of 2012). Aberdeen is located in Harford County, the "Gateway to the Chesapeake Bay." According to their website, it's idyllic. Here, you'll find beautiful neighborhoods, family-oriented communities, a wealth of natural resources for outdoor recreation, a relaxed lifestyle and an abundance of friendly people. Just 50km northeast of Baltimore, Aberdeen is also convenient to big city amenities: Ripken Stadium, arts and cultural institutions, shopping and dining, and major transportation hubs. Aberdeen is the home of the US Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG). It also is the home of leading businesses, including Frito-Lay, Clorox, Saks Fifth Avenue, Rite Aid, Pier 1 Imports, which value Aberdeen's proximity to US Route 40, interstate 95, Amtrak and Chessie rail lines. It doesn't seem to have produced many household names, although Frank Zappa's father was once stationed at the APG. But the big story in town at the moment seems to be that they will celebrate Burns Day by holding an Aberdeen Fire Department Fundraiser on Saturday, January 25. Aberdeen, Saskatchewan, Canada (Population: 599, as of 2011). This particular 'Deen is a small town, with few amenities, in central Saskatchewan, which is approximately 40km north-east of Saskatoon. It came into being after the first settlement was created by immigrants of Russian, English, Scottish and Ukrainian descent in the 1890s. The railway arrived in 1905, but didn't exactly spark a dramatic upturn in the village's prosperity. Nor was its cause helped when fire destroyed much of Main Street in 1937. However, the residents have constructed a Rec Centre, which consists of a Library, meeting room, ice rink, curling rink, bowling alley, dance studio, music room and meeting rooms. And the Scottish connection seems to live on, if by only by name: the current Mayor is Glen Ogilvy and the Town Manager is Susan Thompson. Aberdeen, New South Wales, Australia (Population: 1791, as of 2006). Aberdeen is a small town in the upper Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, which is located about 12km north of Muswellbrook on the New England Highway. The community was named after its Scottish counterpart, but has been struggling in recent years, following the closure of a number of abattoirs in 1999. These operated for well over 100 years, before the most recent owners - an American company called Conagra - decided to close down their New South Wales abattoirs and concentrate on their Queensland operations. Hundreds of people were left without work, and despite promises from both the New South Wales and Federal governments to encourage new businesses to open up in the area, nothing of note has come to fruition. Thus, this Aberdeen has become very much a commuter town for Sydney and Newcastle. Aberdeen, New Jersey, USA (Population: 18,210, as of 2010). This is the oldest Aberdeen outside of Scotland. It was established in 1685 and is a township in Monmouth County in the New York metropolitan area. The name was given by Quakers and Presbyterians who fled from Scotland, claiming they were victims of religious persecution in the 1680s and almost all the original settlers were Scottish. Today, Aberdeen is a suburban township of 5.4 square miles (14km), containing a mix of residential, light industry and shopping centres. Sections of the township include Cliffwood, Freneau, Oakshades, River Gardens, Strathmore, Santa Fe Junction and Woodfield. The Henry Hudson Trail is a 14km paved trail built on a former Central Railroad of New Jersey right-of-way and extending from Aberdeen Township east to Atlantic Highlands. One of the most popular tourist attractions was Cliffwood Beach (pictured above) until it was devastated by Hurricane Donna in 1960. Aberdeen, Eastern Cape, South Africa (Population: 5,133, as of 2010). This pretty little town can be found in South Africa in the Camdeboo Mountains and enjoys some glorious weather in the summer. It is famed for its stunning examples of Victorian architecture and is an architectural conservation area of the Karoo. It was named by Reverend Andrew Murray from Scotland, who never forgot his north-east roots. Unfortunately, as in many other parts of the Republic, crime is prevalent in the area, but the locals have been working hard to tackle the blight. Their main activities can be followed here Aberdeen, Hong Kong (Population: Approximately 60,000, as of 2006). This town is named in memory of George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen, who was a former Prime Minister of The United Kingdom (1852-1855) and former Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1841-1846). 'Aberdeen' can refer to the areas of Aberdeen, Wong Chuk Hang and Ap Lei Chau, but it is more often used to refer to the town only. Aberdeen Harbour is the link between the community and Ap Lei Chau, and is one of the nine harbours in Hong Kong. It is a famous resort, not only to tourists, but also Hong Kong locals for its floating village and floating seafood restaurants. It has also proved picturesque enough to have appeared in many well-known films. In 1973, the seminal Hollywood martial arts film Enter the Dragon, starring Bruce Lee, used Aberdeen Harbour as a filming location for the scenes where the principal characters assemble on Han's junk for the sea journey to his island. And, in 2003, the Hollywood movie Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life starring Angelina Jolie featured the eponymous heroine on a floating houseboat in the Harbour using the Chinese family's satellite to communicate. There are also places called Aberdeen in such far-flung destinations as Jamaica, Guyana, Antigua and all over the USA from Mississippi to Texas. Do you live in any of these communities or anywhere else called Aberdeen, out with Scotland?