STIRLINGSHIRE

STIRLINGSHIRE, a county of Scotland, of which Stirling is the capital. It extends 20 miles in length and 12 in breadth; being bounded on the west by part of Lennox and Clydesdale; on the east, by Clackmannanshire, the river Forth, and part of Lothian; on the south-east by Lothian; and on the north by Monteith. The face of the country is open and agreeable, diversified by hill and dale, well watered with streams and rivers, the principal of which is the Forth, rising in the neighbourhood of a high mountain called Ben-Lomond, and, running eastward, forms the frith of Edinburgh. The southern part is hilly, affording plenty of game, and pasturage for sheep, horses, and black cattle. The eastern part is fertile, producing plentiful harvests

of corn, and great abundance of coal. Lead-ore is found in different parts of the county; and the rivers abound with pike, trout, and salmon.

The population of this county at two different periods, and according to the different parishes, will be seen in the following table:

In 1811 the population was 58,174. See STIRLINGSHIRE, SUPPLEMENT.