Old County of West Lothian (Linlithgowshire)

A former county of E Central Scotland, West Lothian (previously Linlithgowshire) had an area of 120 sq. miles (310 sq. km), making it the third smallest of the old counties. It was bounded to the N by the Firth of Forth, to the E and S by Midlothian and to the W by Stirlingshire and Lanarkshire. The county town was Linlithgow, with its principal coastal settlements being Bo'ness and South Queensferry, while inland are Armadale, Bathgate and Broxburn. Mining of coal and oil-shale were important industries. Its principal river was the Avon. In 1974 the county was incorporated into Lothian Region, with expanded boundaries, before being re-established as a separate entity in the local government reorganisation of 1996.

Use the tabs on the right of this page to see other parts of this entry