Map of Scotland showing the historic district of Buchan
Map of Scotland showing the present-day committee area of Buchan
Buchan (pronounced /'b?kn?/; locally pronounced /'b?x?n/) is one of the six committee areas and administrative areas of Aberdeenshire Council, Scotland. These areas were created by the council in 1996, when the Aberdeenshire unitary council area was created under the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994. The council area was formed by merging three districts of the Grampian region, Banff and Buchan, Gordon and Kincardine and Deeside. The area is also an historic district and earldom. The Earldom of Mar and Buchan formed one of the seven original Scottish earldoms; later the Earl of Buchan became separated from Mar. There is also a town of Buchan. The district was eventually combined into the county of Aberdeenshire, along with Marr and later The Mearns.
The Buchan area has a population of 39,160 (2001 census) and an area of 547 km2. It contains the towns of Peterhead and Fraserburgh and is adjacent to the committee and administrative areas of Banff and Buchan and Formartine. RAF Buchan, a radar station, is in the area.
Peterhead is the largest town in Buchan and Aberdeenshire; the principal white fish landing port in Europe; and a major oil industry service centre. Equally important is the nearby gas terminal at St Fergus.
Attempts are being made to counter the negative effects of several recent key company closures and economic threats. Inland, the area is dependent upon agriculture, and many villages have seen a decline in population and services. Issues affecting Banff and Buchan also apply here, as does the future of the oil and gas industry. Part of Buchan benefits from EU aid coverage. Opportunities exist through the Buchan Local Action Plan to safeguard and enhance the economic future of Peterhead and Buchan.
The Formartine and Buchan Way runs through Buchan.
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(Source: Wikipedia) |