Background of Aberdeen

Though Old Aberdeen, extending from the area surrounding Aberdeen University to the southern banks of the Don, had a separate charter, privileges, and history, the distinction between it and New Aberdeen can no longer be said to exist. Aberdeen’s popular name of the “Granite City”, is justified by the fact that the bulk of the city is built of granite, but to appreciate its more poetical designation of the “Silver City by the Golden Sands”, it should be seen after a heavy rainfall when its public buildings and countless houses gleam pure and white under brilliant sunshine. It is also known as the ‘Flower of Scotland’, as Aberdeen has long been famous for its outstanding parks, gardens and floral displays that include 2 million roses, 11 million daffodils and 3 million crocuses. Aberdeen has won the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom contest on numerous occasions, and at one time was banned from entering to enable other cities to win. On 5 March 2003 Aberdeen was granted Fairtrade City status.

The area of the city extends to 71.22 square miles (184.46 km²), and includes the former burghs of Old Aberdeen, New Aberdeen, Woodside and the district of Torry to the south of the Dee. The city was first incorporated in 1891. The city is represented in Westminster by two MPs who are both from the Labour party, and in the Scottish Parliament by three MSPs (one Labour, one SNP and one Liberal Democrat). The city council comprises forty-three councillors who represent the city’s wards and is headed by the Lord Provost. The current Lord Provost is John Reynolds.

As of 1996, Aberdeen has been governed by the unitary Aberdeen City Council and no longer has any direct control over the neighbouring area of Aberdeenshire (although the headquarters of Aberdeenshire Council are located within the city’s boundaries).

Aberdeen has good links to the rest of Scotland and the UK. The main road south to Edinburgh is a fast dual carriageway and plans are in hand to build a bypass round the city. Aberdeen is served by good rail links to the south and north to Inverness, all services running from the Railway Station in the city centre. Although there are no direct sea links south any more there is still a ferry service running to Orkney and Shetland. Aberdeen Airport is located at Dyce, about 5 miles (8 km) north west of the city centre, and has frequent services to London and several international destinations.

The mean temperature is 8 °C (47 °F) and it varies between 0.4 °C (32.7 °F) in winter and 17.6 °C (63.7 °F) in summer. The average yearly rainfall is 816 mm. The city is one of the healthiest in Scotland.