Orkney County

Abolished: 1975

Statistics

Population

Population

Densities and rates of growth. Age structure: concentrations of young people, and of the old.
Industry

Industry

How people made their living: identifying farming communities, pit villages, mill towns and so on.
Social Structure

Social Structure

Social class and socio-economic groups. Concentrations of professionals, and of unskilled labourers.
Learning & Language

Learning & Language

How many people were at school. The distribution of graduates, and of the unqualified.
Agriculture & Land Use

Agriculture & Land Use

How we use the land; crops and farm animals.
Life & Death

Life & Death

Numbers of babies born. Deaths, especially infant deaths. Causes of death by age and gender.
Work & Poverty

Work & Poverty

Unemployment rates and poor relief. What proportions of men and of women did paid work?
Housing

Housing

Numbers of houses. Overcrowding: persons per room. Amenities: central heating, baths and WCs.
Birthplace & Religion

Birthplace & Religion

Numbers going to church, and the kinds of churches they went to. The different religions of modern Britain.
Place marker map of Great Britain and Ireland

We know of no alternate names.

This unit contained the following units:

Name Type Start End Authority
CARRICK Burgh Scottish Burgh/District     The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer
EDAY DoC Scottish Burgh/District     1971 Census of Scotland, Table 25, 'Enumerated households by tenure and household amenities', for 'County, local authority areas'.
HOY AND WALLS DoC Scottish Burgh/District     1971 Census of Scotland, Table 25, 'Enumerated households by tenure and household amenities', for 'County, local authority areas'.
KIRKWALL Burgh Scottish Burgh/District   1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
MAINLAND DoC Scottish Burgh/District     1971 Census of Scotland, Table 25, 'Enumerated households by tenure and household amenities', for 'County, local authority areas'.
NORTH RONALDSAY DoC Scottish Burgh/District     1971 Census of Scotland, Table 25, 'Enumerated households by tenure and household amenities', for 'County, local authority areas'.
ORKNEY CLandward Scottish Burgh/District   1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
ORKNEY Burgh Scottish Burgh/District     1931 Census of Scotland, Table 16, 'Industries of Males and Females in Cities, Counties, and Large Burghs'.
ROUSAY DoC Scottish Burgh/District     1971 Census of Scotland, Table 25, 'Enumerated households by tenure and household amenities', for 'County, local authority areas'.
SANDAY DoC Scottish Burgh/District     1971 Census of Scotland, Table 25, 'Enumerated households by tenure and household amenities', for 'County, local authority areas'.
SHAPINSAY DoC Scottish Burgh/District     1971 Census of Scotland, Table 25, 'Enumerated households by tenure and household amenities', for 'County, local authority areas'.
SOUTH RONALDSAY DoC Scottish Burgh/District     1971 Census of Scotland, Table 25, 'Enumerated households by tenure and household amenities', for 'County, local authority areas'.
STROMNESS Burgh Scottish Burgh/District   1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
STRONSAY DoC Scottish Burgh/District     1971 Census of Scotland, Table 25, 'Enumerated households by tenure and household amenities', for 'County, local authority areas'.
WESTRAY DoC Scottish Burgh/District     1971 Census of Scotland, Table 25, 'Enumerated households by tenure and household amenities', for 'County, local authority areas'.
ORKNEY Scottish Poor Law Combination     Higginbotham, History of the Workhouse
KIRKWALL Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
BIRSAY AND HARRAY Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
CROSS AND BURNESS Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
EDAY Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
EVIE AND RENDALL Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
FIRTH Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
FIRTH AND STENNESS Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
HOLM Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
HOY AND GRAEMSAY Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
KIRKWALL AND ST OLA Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
LADY Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
ORPHIR Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
PAPA WESTRAY Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
ROUSAY AND EGILSAY Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
SANDWICK Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
SHAPINSAY Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
SOUTH RONALDSAY Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
ST ANDREWS AND DEERNESS Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
STENNESS Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
STROMNESS Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
STRONSAY Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
WALLS AND FLOTTA Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
WESTRAY Scottish Parish 1845 1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.

We know of no associations with other units.

This unit was part of the following units:

Name Type Start End Authority
SCOTLAND Dep Country   1975 1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
NORTHERN Scottish Census Division     Census of Population (Census 1961 Scotland, Vol. 6, Occupation, Industry and Workplace, Part 1, Occupation Tables, p.x.)

We know of no boundary changes affecting this unit.

Boundary Map of Orkney County

If the boundaries of the Scottish County changed over time, this map will show all the different boundaries.

Maps Census reports

How to reference this page:

GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, Orkney (County) through time, A Vision of Britain through Time.

URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10170096

Date accessed: 10th December 2025