title: Angus, Scotland
text: Angus (; ) is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross. Main industries include agriculture and fishing. Global pharmaceuticals company GSK has a significant presence in Montrose in the east of the county.
  
  Angus was historically a province, and later a sheriffdom and county (known officially as Forfarshire from the 18th century until 1928), bordering Kincardineshire to the north-east, Aberdeenshire to the north and Perthshire to the west; southwards it faced Fife across the Firth of Tay; these remain the borders of Angus, minus Dundee which now forms its own small separate council area. Angus remains a registration county and a lieutenancy area. In 1975 some of its administrative functions were transferred to the council district of the Tayside Region, and in 1995 further reform resulted in the establishment of the unitary Angus Council.
  
  History
  
  Etymology
  The name "Angus" indicates the territory of the eighth-century Pictish king of that name.
  
  Prehistory
  The area that now comprises Angus has been occupied since at least the Neolithic period. Material taken from postholes from an enclosure at Douglasmuir, near Friockheim, about five miles north of Arbroath has been radiocarbon dated to around 3500 BC. The function of the enclosure is unknown, but may have been for agriculture or for ceremonial purposes.
  
  Bronze Age archaeology is to be found in abundance in the area. Examples include the short-cist burials found near West Newbigging, about a mile to the North of the town. These burials included pottery urns, a pair of silver discs and a gold armlet. Iron Age archaeology is also well represented, for example in the souterrain nearby Warddykes cemetery and at West Grange of Conan, as well as the better-known examples at Carlungie and Ardestie.
  
  Medieval and later history
  The county is traditionally associated with the Pictish territory of Circin, which is thought to have encompassed Angus and the Mearns. Bordering it were the kingdoms of Cé (Mar and Buchan) to the North, Fotla (Atholl) to the West, and Fib (Fife) to the South. The most visible remnants of the Pictish age are the numerous sculptured stones that can be found throughout Angus. Of particular note are the collections found at Aberlemno, St Vigeans, Kirriemuir and Monifieth.
  
  Angus is first recorded as one of the provinces of Scotland in 937, when Dubacan, the Mormaer of Angus, is recorded in the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba as having died at the Battle of Brunanburh.
  
  The signing of the Declaration of Arbroath at Arbroath Abbey in 1320 marked Scotland's establishment as an independent nation. Partly on this basis, Angus is marketed as the birthplace of Scotland. It is an area of rich history from Pictish times onwards. Notable historic sites in addition to Arbroath Abbey include Glamis Castle, Arbroath Signal Tower museum and the Bell Rock Lighthouse, described as one of the Seven Wonders of the Industrial World.
  
  Geography
  
  Angus can be split into three geographic areas. To the north and west, the topography is mountainous. This is the area of the Grampian Mountains, Mounth hills and Five Glens of Angus, which is sparsely populated and where the main industry is hill farming. Glas Maol – the highest point in Angus at 1,068 m (3,504 ft) – can be found here, on the tripoint boundary with Perthshire and Aberdeenshire. To the south and east the topography consists of rolling hills (such as the Sidlaws) bordering the sea; this area is well populated, with the larger towns. In between lies Strathmore (the Great Valley), which is a fertile agricultural area noted for the growing of potatoes, soft fruit and the raising of Aberdeen Angus cattle.
  
  Montrose in the north east of the county is notable for its tidal basin and wildlife. Angus's coast is fairly regular, the most prominent features being the headlands of Scurdie Ness and Buddon Ness. The main bodies of water in the county are Loch Lee, Loch Brandy, Carlochy, Loch Wharral, Den of Ogil Reservoir, Loch of Forfar, Loch Fithie, Rescobie Loch, Balgavies Loch, Crombie Reservoir, Monikie Reservoirs, Long Loch, Lundie Loch, Loch of Kinnordy, Loch of Lintrathen, Backwater Reservoir, Auchintaple Loch, Loch Shandra, and Loch Esk.
  
  Demography
  
  Population structure
  
  In the 2001 census, the population of Angus was recorded as 108,400. 20.14% were under the age of 16, 63.15% were between 16 and 65 and 18.05% were aged 65 or above.
  
  Of the 16 to 74 age group, 32.84% had no formal qualifications, 27.08% were educated to 'O' Grade/Standard Grade level, 14.38% to Higher level, 7.64% to HND or equivalent level and 18.06% to degree level.
  
  Language in Angus
  The most recent available census results (2001) show that Gaelic is spoken by 0.45% of the Angus population. This, similar to other lowland areas, is lower than the national average of 1.16%. These figures are self-reported and are not broken down into levels of fluency.
  
  Meanwhile, the 2011 census found that 38.4% of the population in Angus can speak Scots, above the Scottish average of 30.1%. This puts Angus as the council area with the sixth highest proficiency in Scots, behind only Shetland, Orkney, Moray, Aberdeenshire, and East Ayrshire.
  
  Historically, the dominant language in Angus was Pictish until the sixth to seventh centuries AD when the area became progressively gaelicised, with Pictish extinct by the mid-ninth century. Gaelic/Middle Irish began to retreat from lowland areas in the late-eleventh century and was absent from the Eastern lowlands by the fourteenth century. It was replaced there by Middle Scots, the contemporary local South Northern dialect of Modern Scots, while Gaelic persisted as a majority language in the Highlands and Hebrides until the 19th century.
  
  Angus Council are planning to raise the status of Gaelic in the county by adopting a series of measures, including bilingual road signage, communications, vehicle livery and staffing.
  
  Government
  
  Local government
  
  The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 established a uniform system of county councils in Scotland and realigned the boundaries of many of Scotland's counties. Subsequently, Angus County Council was created in 1890. In May 1975 the county council was abolished and its functions were transferred to Tayside Regional Council: the local area was served by Angus District Council. The county council was based at the County Buildings in Market Street in  Forfar.
  
  Angus Council is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland after the two-tier local government council was abolished and Angus was established as one of the replacement single-tier Council Areas in 1996. As of May 2017 there are 28 seats on the council. From the May 2022 elections the seats are held as follows – SNP 13, Independent 7, Conservative 7, Labour 2.
  
  The boundaries of the present council area are the same as those of the historic county minus the Dundee City. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross.
  
  Structure 
  The council's civic head is the Provost of Angus. There have been seven Provosts since its establishment in 1996 – Frances Duncan, Bill Middleton, Ruth Leslie-Melville, Helen Oswald, Alex King, Ronnie Proctor and Brian Boyd. Angus is also a lieutenancy area; the Lord Lieutenant of Angus is appointed by the monarch and is unconnected to the council.
  
  The council has had four Chief Executives since its formation – Sandy Watson 1996–2006, David Sawers 2006–2011, Richard Stiff 2011–2017 and Margo Williamson 2017 to date. Margo Williamson is the first female Chief Executive since the council was formed.
  
  Leadership
  The role of provost is largely ceremonial in Angus. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1996 have been:
  
  Premises
  
  Council meetings are generally held at Forfar Town and County Hall at The Cross in the centre of Forfar. In 2007 the council moved its main offices to a new building called Angus House on Silvie Way in the Orchardbank Business Park on the outskirts of Forfar.
  
  Community council areas
   Angus is divided into 25 community council areas and all apart from Friockheim district have an active council. The areas are: Aberlemno; Auchterhouse; Carnoustie; City of Brechin & District; Ferryden & Craig; Friockheim & District; Glamis; Hillside, Dun, & Logie Pert; Inverarity; Inveresk; Kirriemuir; Kirriemuir Landward East; Kirriemuir Landward West; Letham & District; Lunanhead & District; Monifieth; Monikie & Newbigging; Montrose; Muirhead, Birkhill and Liff; Murroes & Wellbank; Newtyle & Eassie; Royal Burgh of Arbroath; Royal Burgh of Forfar; Strathmartine; and Tealing.
  
  Parliamentary representation
  
  UK Parliament
  
  Angus is represented by three MPs for the UK Parliament.
  
  Angus — covers most of the council area, is represented by Dave Doogan of the Scottish National Party.
  Dundee East — mainly covers Dundee, however a small portion of eastern Sidlaw and Carnoustie areas are part of the constituency, is represented by Stewart Hosie of the Scottish National Party.
  Dundee West — mainly covers Dundee, however a small portion of western Sidlaw area is part of the constituency, is represented by Chris Law of the Scottish National Party.
  
  Scottish Parliament
  
  Angus is represented by two constituency MSPs for the Scottish Parliament.
  
  Angus North and Mearns — covers the north of Angus and a southern portion of Aberdeenshire, is represented by Mairi Gougeon of the Scottish National Party.
  Angus South — covers the south of Angus, is represented by Graeme Dey of the Scottish National Party.
  
  In addition to the two constituency MSPs, Angus is also represented by seven MSPs for the North East Scotland electoral region.
  
  Transport
  The Edinburgh-Aberdeen railway line runs along the coast, through Dundee and the towns of Monifieth, Carnoustie, Arbroath and Montrose.
  
  There is a small airport at Dundee, which at present operates flights to London and Belfast.
  
  Settlements
  
  Largest settlements by population:
  
  Towns
  
  Arbroath, the largest town in the modern county
  Brechin
  Carnoustie
  Forfar, the county town and administrative centre
  Kirriemuir
  Monifieth
  Montrose
  
  Villages
  
  Aberlemno
  Airlie
  Arbirlot
  Ardovie
  Auchinleish
  Auchmithie
  Auchnacree
  Auchterhouse
  Balintore
  Balkeerie
  Balmirmer
  Barry
  Birkhill
  Boddin
  Bowriefauld
  Boysack
  Brechin
  Brewlands Bridge
  Bridge of Craigisla
  Bridge of Dun
  Bridgefoot
  Bridgend of Lintrathen
  Bucklerheads
  Burnside of Duntrune
  Caldhame
  Camuston
  Careston
  Carlogie
  Carmyllie
  Castleton
  Charleston
  Clayholes
  Clova
  Colliston
  Cortachy
  Craichie
  Craigo
  Craigton
  Douglastown
  Dun
  Dunnichen
  Eassie
  Elliot
  East Haven
  Edzell
  Farnell
  Ferryden
  Folda
  Friockheim
  Finavon
  Gallowfauld
  Gateside
  Glamis
  Greystone
  Guthrie
  Hillside
  Inveraldie
  Inverkeilor
  Inverarity
  Kellas
  Kincaldrum
  Kingennie
  Kingsmuir
  Kirkbuddo
  Kirkinch
  Kirkton of Glenisla
  Kirkton of Kingoldrum
  Letham
  Liff
  Little Brechin
  Little Forter
  Lucknow
  Lunan
  Lundie
  Marywell
  Memus
  Menmuir
  Milden
  Milton of Finavon
  Milton of Ogilvie
  Monikie
  Muirdrum
  Muirhead
  Murroes
  Newbigging
  Newtyle
  Noranside
  Oathlaw
  Old Balkello
  Panbride
  Redford
  Ruthven
  St Vigeans
  Salmond's Muir
  Stracathro
  Strathmartine
  Tannadice
  Tarfside
  Tealing
  Templeton
  Trinity
  Unthank
  Upper Victoria
  Wellbank
  Wester Denoon
  Whigstreet
  Woodhill
  
  Places of interest
  
  Aberlemno (Pictish symbols)
  Angus Folk Museum, Glamis
  Arbroath Abbey, place of signing of the Declaration of Arbroath
  Barry Mill
  Brechin Cathedral
  Brechin Castle
  Brechin Round Tower
  Caledonian Railway (Brechin)
  Cairngorms National Park
  Corrie Fee National Nature Reserve
  Eassie Stone
  Edzell Castle
  Glamis Castle
   Glenesk Folk Museum
  House of Dun
  Loch of Kinnordy Nature Reserve
  Meffan Institute, museum and art gallery in Forfar
  Monboddo House
  Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre, site of the first operational military airfield in Britain RAF Montrose
  Montrose Basin Nature Reserve
  Montrose Museum
  
  Sister areas
  
    – Yantai, Shandong, China.
  
  Surnames
  Most common surnames in Angus (Forfarshire) at the time of the United Kingdom Census of 1881:
  
   1. Smith
   2. Robertson
   3. Anderson
   4. Stewart
   5. Scott
   6. Mitchell
   7. Brown
   8. Duncan
   9. Milne
   10. Thomson
  
  See also
  Earl of Angus
  High schools in Angus
  List of counties of Scotland 1890–1975
  Medieval Diocese of Angus
  Primary schools in Angus
  
  References
  
  External links
  
  Angus Council
  
   
  Council areas of Scotland
  Provinces of Scotland
  Counties of Scotland
  Lieutenancy areas of Scotland
  Counties of the United Kingdom (1801–1922)