Aberdeen
Aberdeen (/ˌæbərˈdiːn/ ⓘ; Scots: Aiberdeen [ˌeːbərˈdin] ⓘ; Scottish Gaelic: Obar Dheathain [ˈopəɾ ˈʝɛ.ɪɲ]; Latin: Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous Scottish city. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and has a 2020 population estimate of 198,590 for the city, making it the United Kingdom's 39th most populous built-up area, and 227,430 for the wider council area including outlying localities. The city is 93 mi (150 km) northeast of Edinburgh and 398 mi (641 km) north of London, and is the northernmost major city in the United Kingdom. Aberdeen has a long, sandy coastline and features an oceanic climate, with cool summers and mild, rainy winters.
Aberdeen
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City and council area | |
From top, left to right: Skyline of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Town House, Marischal College, His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen Arts Centre | |
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Flag | |
| Nicknames: "Granite City", "The Silver City by Sea", "Oil Capital of Europe" | |
Location within Scotland | |
Aberdeen Aberdeen Aberdeen | |
| Coordinates: 57.15°N 2.11°W | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Aberdeen City |
| Lieutenancy area | Aberdeen |
| Earliest Charter | 1179 |
| City status | 1891 |
| Government | |
| • Governing body | Aberdeen City Council |
| • Lord Provost | David Cameron (SNP) |
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| Area | |
| • Locality | 23.4 sq mi (60.7 km2) |
| • Urban | 29.2 sq mi (75.6 km2) |
| • Council area | 71.7 sq mi (185.6 km2) |
| Population (mid-2020 est.)(2021) | |
| • Locality | 198,590 |
| • Density | 8,500/sq mi (3,300/km2) |
| • Urban | 220,690 |
| • Urban density | 7,600/sq mi (2,900/km2) |
| • Metro (2020) | 489,840 |
| • Council area | 227,430 |
| • Council area density | 3,180/sq mi (1,226/km2) |
| • Language(s) | Scots (Doric) English |
| Demonym | Aberdonians |
| GVA | |
| • Metro | £16.064 billion (2021) |
| Time zone | UTC±0 (GMT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (BST) |
| Postcode areas | |
| Area code | 01224 |
| ISO 3166-2 | GB-ABE |
| GSS code | S12000033 |
| OS grid reference | NJ925065 |
| NUTS 3 | UKM50 |
| Primary Airport | Aberdeen Airport |
| Website | www |
| Click the map for an interactive fullscreen view | |
During the mid-18th to mid-20th centuries, Aberdeen's buildings incorporated locally quarried grey granite, which may sparkle like silver because of its high mica content. Since the discovery of North Sea oil in 1969, Aberdeen has been known as the offshore oil capital of Europe. Based upon the discovery of prehistoric villages around the mouths of the rivers Dee and Don, the area around Aberdeen has been thought to have been settled for at least 6,000 years.
Aberdeen received royal burgh status from David I of Scotland (1124–1153), which transformed the city economically. The traditional industries of fishing, paper-making, shipbuilding, and textiles have been overtaken by the oil industry and Aberdeen's seaport. Aberdeen Heliport is one of the busiest commercial heliports in the world, and the seaport is the largest in the north-east part of Scotland. A university town, the city is known for the University of Aberdeen, founded in 1495 as the fifth oldest university in the English-speaking world and located in Old Aberdeen.
In 2012, HSBC named Aberdeen as a leading business hub and one of eight 'super cities' spearheading the UK's economy, marking it as the only city in Scotland so designated. In 2018, Aberdeen was found to be the best city in the UK to start a business in a study released by card payment firm Paymentsense.