Stornoway
Stornoway (/ˈstɔːrnəweɪ/ ⓘ; Scottish Gaelic: Steòrnabhagh [ˈʃtʲɔːrˠn̪ˠəvaɣ]; Scots: Stornowa) is the main town of the Western Isles and the capital of Lewis and Harris in Scotland.
Stornoway
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Stornoway Location within the Outer Hebrides | |
| Area | 3.16 km2 (1.22 sq mi) |
| Population | 4,800 (mid-2020 est.) |
| • Density | 1,519/km2 (3,930/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Steòrnabhach, Stornowegian |
| Language | English Scottish Gaelic |
| OS grid reference | NB426340 |
| • Edinburgh | 197 mi (317 km) |
| • London | 525 mi (845 km) |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | STORNOWAY |
| Postcode district | HS1 |
| Dialling code | 01851 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
The town's population is around 6,953, making it by far the largest town in the Outer Hebrides, as well as the third-largest island town in Scotland after Kirkwall in Orkney and Lerwick in Shetland. The traditional civil parish of Stornoway, which includes various nearby villages, has a combined population of just over 10,000. The Comhairle nan Eilean Siar measures population in a different area: the Stornoway settlement area, Laxdale, Sandwick and Newmarket; in 2019, the estimated population for this area was 6,953.
Stornoway is an important port and the major town and administrative centre of the Outer Hebrides. It is home to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (the Western Isles Council) and a variety of educational, sporting and media establishments. Until relatively recently, observance of the Christian Sabbath (Sunday) has been associated with Hebridean culture. Recent changes mean that Sundays on Lewis now more closely resemble those in most parts of the Southern Isles, i.e., Benbecula, South Uist, Barra, and Vatersay, or on mainland Scotland.