Aberdeen

Third most populous city of Scotland / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Aberdeen (/ˌæbərˈdn/ (Loudspeaker.svglisten); Scots: Aiberdeen [ˌeːbərˈdin] (Loudspeaker.svglisten); Scottish Gaelic: Obar Dheathain [ˈopəɾ ˈʝɛ.ɪɲ]; Latin: Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City[3]), and has a 2020 population estimate of 198,590 for the city of Aberdeen,[1] and 227,560 for the local council area[4] making it the United Kingdom's 39th most populous built-up area. 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.[5]

Quick facts: Aberdeen Aiberdeen (Scots) Obar Dhea...
Aberdeen
Aiberdeen (Scots)
Obar Dheathain (Scottish Gaelic)
Aberdeen Skyline
Church in Aberdeen
Chambers
Aberdeen Beach
Aberdeen College
From top, left to right: Skyline of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Town House, Marischal College, North Sea coast at Aberdeen Beach, Aberdeen College
Nicknames: 
"Granite City", "The Silver City by the Golden Sands", "Oil Capital of Europe"
Location within Scotland
Location within Scotland
Aberdeen is located in Scotland
Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is located in the United Kingdom
Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is located in Europe
Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Coordinates: 57.15°N 2.11°W / 57.15; -2.11
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryScotland
Council areaAberdeen City
Lieutenancy areaAberdeen
Earliest Charter1179
City status1891
Government
  Governing bodyAberdeen City Council
  Lord ProvostDavid Cameron (SNP)
  MSPs
  MPs
Area
  City and council area72 sq mi (186 km2)
  Urban
27 sq mi (69 km2)
Population
 (mid-2020 est.)
198,590[1]
  Density9,080/sq mi (3,505.7/km2)
  Urban
220,690[1]
  Metro
489,815[2]
  Language(s)
Scots (Doric) English
DemonymAberdonians
Time zoneUTC±0 (GMT)
  Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
Postcode areas
Area code01224
ISO 3166-2GB-ABE
ONS codeS12000033
OS grid referenceNJ925065
NUTS 3UKM50
Primary AirportAberdeen Airport
Websitewww.aberdeencity.gov.uk
Map
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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.[6] Since the discovery of North Sea oil in 1969, Aberdeen has been known as the offshore oil capital of Europe.[7] 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.[8]

Aberdeen received royal burgh status from David I of Scotland (1124–1153),[9] 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,[10] and the seaport is the largest in the north-east part of Scotland.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13]