Edinburgh County

Created: 1911   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.
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

Notes

Each of the four historical Scottish cities had a separate county report from 1911 onwards. For Dundee, Aberdeen and Glasgow the start date for the "County of City" status has been identified. For Edinburgh the status start date is undetermined and because of this it has been assigned a start date of 1911 by when it must have existed.

The following alternate names for this unit exist:

Name Status Language Start End Authority
EDINBURGH Preferred English 1911 1975 The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer
CITY OF EDINBURGH Alternate English     The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer
EDINBURGH CITY Alternate 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'.
S621487 CASWEB identifiers for 1971 Local Govt Districts English    

This unit contained the following units:

Name Type Start End Authority
CANONGATE Burgh Scottish Burgh/District   1856 The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer
CRAMOND Burgh Scottish Burgh/District   after 1579 The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer
EDINBURGH Burgh Scottish Burgh/District 1911 1975 The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer
LEITH Burgh Scottish Burgh/District   1920 The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer
PORTSBURGH Burgh Scottish Burgh/District   1856 The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer
RESTALRIG Burgh Scottish Burgh/District     The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer
RESTALRIG AND CALTON Burgh Scottish Burgh/District   1725 The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer
WESTER DUDDINGSTON Burgh Scottish Burgh/District     The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer
EDINBURGH Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
LEITH Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
EDINBURGH Scottish Parish     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
BROUGHTON ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
CALTON ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
CENTRAL LEITH ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
COLINTON ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
CORSTORPHINE ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
CRAIGENTINNY ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
CRAIGMILLAR ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
GEORGE SQUARE ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
GORGIE DALRY ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
HOLYROOD ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
LIBERTON ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
MERCHISTON ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
MORNINGSIDE ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
MURRAYFIELD CRAMOND ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
NEWINGTON ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
PILTON ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
PORTOBELLO ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
SIGHTHILL ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
SOUTH LEITH ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
ST ANDREWS ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
ST BERNARDS ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
ST GILES ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.
WEST LEITH ScoWard Local Govt. Ward     1951 Census of Scotland, Table 26, 'Household Arrangements', for 'Counties, Cities, Wards of Cities, Burghs'.

This unit was associated with the following other units:

Nature of association Other unit involved Type of unit Authority
was succeeded by EDINBURGH City 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 1911 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 enlarged by gaining part of EAST LOTHIAN The part of Fala and Soutra parish previously in Haddington.   H. Shennan, Boundaries of Counties and Parishes in Scotland (Edinburgh: Wm. Green & Sons, 1892), p. 104.
1891 was enlarged by gaining part of EAST LOTHIAN The part of Humbie parish previously in Haddington.   H. Shennan, Boundaries of Counties and Parishes in Scotland (Edinburgh: Wm. Green & Sons, 1892)
1891 was enlarged by gaining part of WEST LOTHIAN The part of Dalmeny parish previously in Linlithgow.   H. Shennan, Boundaries of Counties and Parishes in Scotland (Edinburgh: Wm. Green & Sons, 1892), p. 102.
16 May 1954 was enlarged by gaining part of CURRIE DoC   1961 Census of Scotland, Table 5, 'Intercensal Changes of Boundary, 1951-1961', for 'Areas changed'.; Act of the UK Parliament (Edinburgh corporation Order Confirmation Act 1954)
16 May 1954 was enlarged by gaining part of MIDLOTHIAN   1961 Census of Scotland, Table 5, 'Intercensal Changes of Boundary, 1951-1961', for 'Areas changed'.; Act of the UK Parliament (Edinburgh corporation Order Confirmation Act 1954)
16 May 1954 was enlarged by gaining part of MUSSELBURGH DoC   1961 Census of Scotland, Table 5, 'Intercensal Changes of Boundary, 1951-1961', for 'Areas changed'.; Act of the UK Parliament (Edinburgh corporation Order Confirmation Act 1954)

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

URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10262835

Date accessed: 10th December 2025