West Lothian 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

The following alternate names for this unit exist:

Name Status Language Start End Authority
WEST LOTHIAN Preferred English     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
LINLITHGOW Alternate English     1911 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Population of Civil Parishes'.
LINLITHGOWSHIRE Alternate English     The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer

This unit contained the following units:

Name Type Start End Authority
LINLITHGOW 1841 Occupation reporting area     1841 Census of Great Britain, Table [1], 'Occupation Abstract'.
LINLITHGOW COUNTY 1841 Occupation reporting area     1841 Census of Great Britain, Table [1], 'Occupation Abstract'.
LIVINGSTON New Town    
ABERCORN Burgh Scottish Burgh/District     The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer
ARMADALE 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'.
BATHGATE 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'.
BONESS 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'.
BONESS DoC Scottish Burgh/District     1971 Census of Scotland, Table 25, 'Enumerated households by tenure and household amenities', for 'County, local authority areas'.
BRIDGENESS Burgh Scottish Burgh/District     The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer
DALMENY Burgh Scottish Burgh/District     The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer
GRANGE Burgh Scottish Burgh/District     The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer
KIRKLISTON Burgh Scottish Burgh/District     The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer
KIRKLISTON AND WINCHBURGH DoC Scottish Burgh/District     1971 Census of Scotland, Table 25, 'Enumerated households by tenure and household amenities', for 'County, local authority areas'.
LINLITHGOW DoC Scottish Burgh/District     1971 Census of Scotland, Table 25, 'Enumerated households by tenure and household amenities', for 'County, local authority areas'.
LINLITHGOW 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'.
LIVINGSTON Burgh Scottish Burgh/District     The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer
QUEENSFERRY 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'.
TORPHICHEN AND BATHGATE DoC Scottish Burgh/District     1971 Census of Scotland, Table 25, 'Enumerated households by tenure and household amenities', for 'County, local authority areas'.
UPHALL DoC Scottish Burgh/District     1971 Census of Scotland, Table 25, 'Enumerated households by tenure and household amenities', for 'County, local authority areas'.
WEST LOTHIAN Burgh Scottish Burgh/District     1931 Census of Scotland, Table 16, 'Industries of Males and Females in Cities, Counties, and Large Burghs'.
WEST LOTHIAN 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'.
WHITBURN 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'.
WHITBURN AND LIVINGSTON DoC Scottish Burgh/District     1971 Census of Scotland, Table 25, 'Enumerated households by tenure and household amenities', for 'County, local authority areas'.
LINLITHGOW Scottish Poor Law Combination 1851   Higginbotham, History of the Workhouse
BATHGATE Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
BONESS Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
BROXBURN Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
LINLITHGOW Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
ABERCORN 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'.
BATHGATE 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'.
BONESS AND CARRIDEN Scottish Parish 1895 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'.
BORROWSTOWNNESS Scottish Parish   1895 1851 Census of Great Britain, Table [1], 'Population Abstract'.
CARRIDEN Scottish Parish   1895 1851 Census of Great Britain, Table [1], 'Population Abstract'.
CRAMOND Scottish Parish 1845 1891 1851 Census of Great Britain, Table [1], 'Population Abstract'.
DALMENY 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'.
ECCLESMACHAN 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'.
KIRKLISTON 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'.
LINLITHGOW 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'.
LIVINGSTON 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'.
QUEENSFERRY Scottish Parish   1895 1851 Census of Great Britain, Table [1], 'Population Abstract'.
TORPHICHEN 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'.
UPHALL 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'.
WHITBURN 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'.

This unit was associated with the following other units:

Nature of association Other unit involved Type of unit Authority
was succeeded by WEST LOTHIAN District/Unitary Authority The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer

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'.
EAST CENTRAL Scottish Census Division     Census of Population (Census 1961 Scotland, Vol. 6, Occupation, Industry and Workplace, Part 1, Occupation Tables, p.x.)

This unit was affected by the following changes:

Date Type of change Other unit involved Area transferred Authority
1891 was reduced to enlarge EDINBURGH ScoCofC The part of Dalmeny parish previously in Linlithgow.   H. Shennan, Boundaries of Counties and Parishes in Scotland (Edinburgh: Wm. Green & Sons, 1892), p. 102.
1891 was reduced to enlarge MIDLOTHIAN The part of Cramond parish previously in West Lothian.   H. Shennan, Boundaries of Counties and Parishes in Scotland (Edinburgh: Wm. Green & Sons, 1892)
04 Aug 1922 was reduced to enlarge STIRLINGSHIRE   1931 Census of Scotland, Table 15, 'Intercensal Changes of Boundary, 1921-1931'.; Authority information missing
04 Aug 1922 was enlarged by gaining part of STIRLINGSHIRE   1931 Census of Scotland, Table 15, 'Intercensal Changes of Boundary, 1921-1931'.; Authority information missing

Boundary Map of West Lothian 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, West Lothian (County) through time, A Vision of Britain through Time.

URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10200726

Date accessed: 10th December 2025