Editing Isle of Lewis (section)

== Demographics ==
Lewis' main settlement, the only [[burgh]] on the Outer Hebrides, is Stornoway ([[Scottish Gaelic]]: Steòrnabhagh), from which [[ferry|ferries]] sail to [[Ullapool]] on the Scottish mainland. In the 2011 census Lewis had a population of 19,658.

The island's settlements are on or near the coasts or [[sea loch]]s, being particularly concentrated on the north east coast. The interior of the island is a large area of moorland from which [[peat]] was traditionally cut as fuel, although this practice has become less common. The southern part of the island, adjoining Harris, is more mountainous with inland [[loch]]s.

=== Parishes and districts of Lewis ===
* There are four parishes: [[Barvas]] (''Barabhas''), [[Lochs, Lewis|Lochs]] (''Na Lochan''), Stornoway (''Steòrnabhagh''), and [[Uig, Lewis|Uig]] on which the original civil registration districts were based. The district of [[Carloway]] (after the village of that name) which hitherto had fallen partly within the parishes of Lochs and Uig, became a separate civil registration district in 1859.
* The districts of Lewis are [[Ness, Western Isles|Ness]] (''Nis''), [[Carloway]] (''Càrlabhagh''), [[Back, Outer Hebrides|Back]], Lochs (''Na Lochan''), Park (''{{lang|gd|A' Phàirc}}''), [[Point, Outer Hebrides|Point]] (''{{lang|gd|An Rubha}}''), Stornoway, West Side, Bernera and Uig. These designations are traditional and in use by the entire population.
* For civil registration purposes Lochs (''{{lang|gd|Na Lochan}}'') is nowadays split into North Lochs (''{{lang|gd|Na Lochan a Tuath}}'') and South Lochs (''{{lang|gd|Na Lochan a Deas}}'').
* The [[West Side, Outer Hebrides|West Side]] is a generic designation for the area covering the villages from Borve to Dalbeg (''{{lang|gd|Siabost}}'').

It is claimed that the site of the Stornoway War Memorial was chosen as it would be visible from at least one location in each of the four parishes; therefore, it may be possible to see all four parishes of Lewis from the top of the monument.<ref>[http://www.stornowayhistoricalsociety.org.uk/features/warmem/  Stornoway Historical Society]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207060922/http://www.stornowayhistoricalsociety.org.uk/features/warmem/ |date=7 February 2012 }}</ref>
<!-- Comment The seven districts of Lewis are represented in the unofficial [[Flag of Lewis]]. The flag consists of seven equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue, with a [[Flag terminology|chevron]] depicting a white [[Nordic cross]] on a red field. The seven stripes represent the seven districts while the Nordic cross alludes to the area's [[Norsemen|Norse]] heritage. – Removed due to being garbage, but not deleted just in case proof of this can be found when Elvis rides in to Stornoway on the back of the Loch Ness Monster.-->

=== Settlements ===
While Lewis has only one town, [[Stornoway]], with a population of approx 8,000, there are also several large villages and groupings of villages on Lewis, such as [[North Tolsta]], [[Carloway]] and [[Leurbost]] with significant populations. Near Stornoway, [[Laxdale]], [[Sandwick, Lewis|Sandwick]] and [[Holm, Lewis|Holm]], although still de facto villages, have now become quasi-suburbs of Stornoway. The population of the greater-Stornoway area including these (and other) villages would be nearer 12,000.
The island of Great Bernera contains the first planned crofting township created in the Outer Hebrides, Kirkibost created in 1805. This village was subsequently 'cleared' in 1823 and re-settled in 1878 using the exact land lotting divisions from 1805.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of villages in Lewis according to their location:
;[[Back, Lewis|Back]]
:[[Back, Lewis|Back]], [[Coll, Lewis|Coll]], [[Gress]], [[North Tolsta]], [[Tong, Lewis|Tong]]
;[[Ness, Western Isles|Ness]]
:[[Melbost]], [[South Galson]], [[North Galson]], [[South Dell]], [[North Dell]], [[Cross, Lewis|Cross]], [[Swainbost]], [[Habost]], [[Lionel, Lewis|Lionel]], [[Port of Ness]], [[Eoropie]], [[Fivepenny]], [[Knockaird]], [[Adabrock]], [[Eorodale]], [[Skigersta]], Cross-Skigersta Road
;[[North Lochs]]
:[[Achmore, Lewis|Achmore]], [[Grimshader]], [[Leurbost]], [[Ranish]], [[Crossbost]], [[Keose]], [[Keose Glebe]], [[Laxay]], [[Balallan]], [[Airidhbhruaich]]
;[[Park, Outer Hebrides|Park]] (South Lochs)
:[[Shieldenish]], [[Habost]], [[Kershader]], [[Garyvard]], [[Caverstay]], [[Cromore]], [[Marvig]], [[Calbost]], [[Gravir]], [[Lemreway]], [[Orinsay]]
;[[Point, Outer Hebrides|Point]]
: [[Aird, Lewis|Aird]], [[Aignish]], [[Flesherin]], [[Lower Bayble]], [[Portnaguran]], [[Portvoller]], [[Sheshader]], [[Shulishader]], [[Upper Bayble]], [[Eagleton, Lewis|Eagleton]]
;[[Uig, Lewis|Uig]]
: [[Aird Uig]], [[Cliff, Lewis|Cliff]], [[Kneep]], [[Timsgarry]], [[Valtos, Lewis|Valtos]], [[Breanish]], [[Islivik]], [[Meavag]], [[Mangursta]], [[Crowlista]], [[Geishader]], [[Carishader]], [[Gisla, Scotland|Gisla]], [[Carloway]], [[Garynahine]], [[Callanish]], [[Breasclete]], [[Breaclete]], [[Kirkibost]], [[Tobson]], [[Hacklete]]
;[[West Side, Outer Hebrides|West Side]]
: [[Arnol]], [[Ballantrushal]], [[Barvas]], [[Borve, Lewis|Borve]], [[Bragar]], [[Brue]], [[Shader, Scotland|Shader]], [[Shawbost]], [[Dalbeg, Lewis|Dalbeg]]
;[[Stornoway|Stornoway area]]
: [[Branahuie]], [[Holm, Lewis|Holm]], [[Laxdale]], [[Marybank, Lewis|Marybank]], [[Melbost]], [[Newmarket, Lewis|Newmarket]], [[Newvalley, Lewis|Newvalley]], [[Parkend, Lewis|Parkend]], [[Plasterfield]], [[Sandwick, Lewis|Sandwick]], [[Steinish]]