Editing Clackmannanshire

{{Short description|Historic county and council area of Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Clackmannanshire
| native_name             = {{native name|gd|Siorrachd Chlach Mhanann}}
| settlement_type         = [[Lieutenancy areas of Scotland|Lieutenancy]] and [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|council area]]
| image_skyline           = 
| imagesize               = 
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = 
| image_flag              = 
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = Coat of arms of Clackmannanshire.svg
| shield_alt              = 
| shield_link             = 
| image_blank_emblem      = 
| blank_emblem_size       = 
| blank_emblem_type       = 
| blank_emblem_link       = 
| etymology               = 
| nickname                = 
| motto                   = 
| image_map               = Clackmannanshire UK location map.svg
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Clackmannanshire shown within [[Scotland]]
| coordinates             = {{coord|56|10|N|3|45|W|region:GB_type:adm2nd|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type        = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name        = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Country]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Scotland]]
| subdivision_type2       = 
| subdivision_name2       = 
| subdivision_type3       = [[Lieutenancy areas of Scotland|Lieutenancy area]]
| subdivision_name3       = 
| subdivision_type4       = 
| subdivision_name4       = 
| established_title       = Unitary authority
| established_date        = [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|1 April 1996]]
| established_title1      = 
| established_date1       = 
| established_title2      = 
| established_date2       = 
| named_for               = 
| seat_type               = Administrative{{nbsp}}HQ
| seat                    = Kilncraigs, [[Alloa]]
| parts_type              = 
| parts                   = 
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes    = <ref name="Council leadership">{{cite web |url=https://www.clacks.gov.uk/council/ |title=Council & Government |website=Clackmannanshire Council |access-date=7 September 2024}}</ref>
| government_type         = [[Local government in Scotland|Council]]
| governing_body          = [[Clackmannanshire Council]]
| leader_title            = [[Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom|Control]]
| leader_name             = {{UK council control|GSS=S12000005}}
| leader_title1           = 
| leader_name1            = 
| leader_title2           = 
| leader_name2            = 
| leader_title3           = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MPs]]
| leader_name3            = [[Brian Leishman]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
| leader_title4           = [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSPs]]
| leader_name4            = [[Keith Brown (Scottish politician)|Keith Brown]] ([[Scottish National Party|SNP]])
<!-- Area -->
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="popstats">{{UK subdivision statistics citation}}</ref>
| area_total_km2          = {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000005}}
| area_land_km2           = 
| area_water_km2          = 
| area_rank               = [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|{{Scottish council area rank|GSS=S12000005}}]]
<!-- Population -->
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="popstats" />
| population_as_of        = {{UK subdivision statistics year}}
| population_total        = {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000005}}
| population_rank         = [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|{{Scottish council population rank|GSS=S12000005}}]]
| population_density_km2  = {{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000005}}
| population_demonym      = 
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1      = 
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1    = 
| demographics1_info1     = 
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2      = 
| demographics2_footnotes = 
| demographics2_title1    = 
| demographics2_info1     = 
| timezone1               = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset1             = +0
| timezone1_DST           = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = +1
<!-- Codes -->
| postal_code_type        = [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcode areas]]
| postal_code             = 
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom|Dialling codes]]
| area_code               = 
| iso_code                = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|GB-CLK]]
| blank1_name             = [[GSS coding system|GSS code]]
| blank1_info             = S12000005
| website                 = {{URL|www.clacks.gov.uk}}
}}

'''Clackmannanshire''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=Clackmannanshire.ogg|k|l|æ|k|ˈ|m|æ|n|ə|n|ˌ|ʃ|ɪər|,_|-|ʃ|ər}}; {{langx|sco|Clackmannanshire}}; {{langx|gd|Siorrachd Chlach Mhanann}}), or the '''County of Clackmannan''', is a [[Shires of Scotland|historic county]], [[Council areas of Scotland|council area]], [[registration counties|registration county]] and [[Lieutenancy areas of Scotland|lieutenancy area]] in [[Scotland]], bordering the council areas of [[Stirling (council area)|Stirling]], [[Fife]], and [[Perth and Kinross]]. To the south, it is separated from [[Falkirk (council area)|Falkirk]] by the [[Firth of Forth]]. In terms of historic counties it borders [[Perthshire]], [[Stirlingshire]] and [[Fife]].

The name consists of elements from three languages. The first element is from {{langx|gd|Clach}} meaning "Stone". Mannan is a derivative of the [[Celtic mythology|Brythonic]] name of the [[Manaw Gododdin|Manaw]], the Iron Age tribe who inhabited the area. The final element is the English word shire. As Britain's smallest historic county, it is often nicknamed "The Wee County". When written, Clackmannanshire is commonly abbreviated to '''Clacks.'''

==History==
[[File:Paterson 2007 agryfp clackmannan-stone-person 010620071941.jpg|left|thumb|The Stone of Mannan]]

Clackmannanshire takes its name from the original county town of [[Clackmannan]], which is named after a stone anciently associated with the pre-Christian deity Manau or Mannan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clackmannan_sign_about_stone,_cross_and_tollbooth.jpg |title=File:Clackmannan sign about stone, cross and tollbooth.jpg |publisher=Wikimedia Commons |access-date=2012-09-19}}</ref><ref>[http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/pls/portal/canmore.newcandig_details_gis?inumlink=48321 Site Record for Clackmannan, King Robert's Stone Clackmannan StoneDetails Details<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The stone now rests on a larger stone beside the surviving tower of [[Clackmannan Tolbooth]] and the Mercat Cross at the top of Main street, Clackmannan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clackmannanstane.jpg |title=Image of the Stone of Mannan |date=19 February 2007 |publisher=Commons.wikimedia.org |access-date=2012-09-19}}</ref>

Clackmannanshire became known for the weaving mills powered by the [[Hillfoots Villages|Hillfoots burns]]. Other industries included brewing, glass manufacture, mining and ship building. Now capitalising on its central position and transport links, Clackmannanshire attracts service industries and tourism.

The motto of Clackmannanshire is "Look Aboot Ye" (''Circumspice'' in [[Latin]]). In 2007 a re-branding exercise led to the area adopting the slogan "More Than You Imagine".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clacksweb.org.uk/document/2096.pdf |title=Logo and Visual Identity Survey |publisher=Clackmannanshire Council}}</ref>

===Administrative history===
Clackmannanshire's origins as a [[shires of Scotland|shire]] (the area controlled by a [[Sheriff principal|sheriff]]) are unclear; it had certainly become a shire by 1305, with some suggestion that it may have already existed in the early 1200s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Chalmers |first1=George |title=Caledonia (Volume 7) |date=1894 |publisher=Alexander Gardner |location=Paisley |page=89 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0Dg6AQAAMAAJ |access-date=19 April 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Main Street, Clackmannan.JPG|thumb|left|[[Clackmannan]], the historic county town. The tower is the surviving part of [[Clackmannan Tolbooth]].]]

The county town was originally Clackmannan, where the [[tolbooth]] was built in 1592 to serve as the sheriff court for the county. [[Commissioners of Supply]] were established in 1667 to act as the main administrative body for the shire. In 1822 the sheriff court and meeting place of the commissioners was moved from Clackmannan to [[Alloa]], which had grown to become the more significant town.<ref name=hes>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB1947|desc=Clackmannan Tolbooth, Mercat Cross and Clackmannan Stone, Main Street, Clackmannan|cat=A|access-date=19 April 2023}}</ref> [[County Buildings, Alloa|County Buildings]] was built in 1865 at the corner of Mar Street and Drysdale Street in Alloa to serve as the courthouse and meeting place for the commissioners.<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num= LB20970|desc= Alloa Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court|access-date=18 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/141962/alloa-mar-street-county-office|title=County Office, Mar Street, Alloa|publisher=Canmore| access-date=18 July 2021}}</ref>

[[File:County Buildings, Alloa.jpg|thumb|[[County Buildings, Alloa|County Buildings]], Mar Street, [[Alloa]]]]

Elected county councils were established in 1890 under the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889]], taking most of the functions of the commissioners (which were eventually abolished in 1930). Clackmannanshire County Council held its first meeting on 22 May 1890 at the County Buildings in Alloa, which would serve as the county council's headquarters until its abolition in 1975.<ref>{{cite news |title=Clackmannan County Council |url=https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search/british-newspapers |access-date=19 April 2023 |work=Alloa Advertiser |date=24 May 1890 |page=2}}</ref>

The 1889 act also led to a review of boundaries, with several [[exclave]]s being transferred to a county they actually bordered, and parishes which straddled more than one county being adjusted such that each parish was entirely in a single county. These changes saw Clackmannanshire cede [[Cambuskenneth]] to [[Stirlingshire]], whilst it gained [[Alva, Clackmannanshire|Alva]] from Stirlingshire and parts of Alloa parish which had been in [[Perthshire]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Shennan |first1=Hay |title=Boundaries of counties and parishes in Scotland as settled by the Boundary Commissioners under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 |date=1892 |publisher=W. Green |location=Edinburgh |page=271 |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_meygAAAAMAAJ/page/n307/mode/2up |access-date=19 April 2023}}</ref>

Clackmannanshire County Council was abolished in 1975 under the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973]], which replaced Scotland's counties, burghs and landward districts with a two-tier structure of upper-tier regions and lower-tier [[districts of Scotland|districts]]. Clackmannanshire became part of the [[Central Region, Scotland|Central region]] and a Clackmannan district was created covering the pre-1975 county plus the parish of [[Muckhart]], which had been in Perthshire prior to 1975.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973|year=1973|chapter=65|accessdate=17 April 2023}}</ref>

Further local government reforms in 1996 under the [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994]] saw the regions and districts created in 1975 abolished and replaced with [[council area]]s providing all local government services. Clackmannan district became one of the new council areas, taking on the functions of the abolished Central Regional Council.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|year=1994|chapter=39|accessdate=17 April 2023}}</ref> The 1994 act originally named the new council area "Clackmannan", but the shadow authority elected in 1995 requested a change of name to "Clackmannanshire", which was agreed by the government before the new council area came into force on 1 April 1996.<ref>{{cite web |title=Historical information from 1973 onwards |url=https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ordnancesurvey.co.uk%2Fdocuments%2Fboundary-legislation-changes-from-1973.xls&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK |website=Boundary-Line support |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=17 February 2023}}</ref>

==Governance==
{{Infobox legislature
| name               = Clackmannanshire Council
| native_name        = ''Comhairle Siorrachd Chlach Mhanann''
| transcription_name =
| legislature        =
| coa_pic            = Clackmannanshire Council.svg
| coa_res            = 150px
| house_type         =
| body               =
| houses             =
| leader1_type       = [[Convener]]
| leader1            = Phil Fairlie
| party1             = <br>[[Scottish National Party|SNP]]
| election1          = 25 May 2022
| leader2_type       = [[Local government in Scotland#Leader of the Council|Leader]]
| leader2            = Ellen Forson
| party2             = <br>SNP
| election2          = 12 Apr 2018
| leader3_type       = [[Chief Executive]]
| leader3            = Nikki Bridle
| party3             = <!--Non political role-->
| election3          = July 2018<ref>{{cite news |title=Nikki appointed as chief executive for Clacks |url=https://www.alloaadvertiser.com/news/16365165.nikki-appointed-chief-executive-clacks/ |access-date=19 April 2023 |work=Alloa Advertiser |date=19 July 2018}}</ref>
| members            = 18 councillors
| house1             =
| house2             =
| structure1         = United Kingdom Clackmannanshire County Council 2024.svg
| structure1_res     = 250px
| political_groups1  =
;Administration (8)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[Scottish National Party|SNP]] (9)
;Other parties (10)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Scottish Labour}}|border=darkgray}} [[Scottish Labour|Labour]] (5)
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Scottish Conservatives}}|border=darkgray}} [[Scottish Conservatives|Conservative]] (3)}}
: {{Color box|{{party color|Scottish Green Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[Scottish Green Party|Green]] (1)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}|border=darkgray}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (1)
| committees1        =
| committees2        =
| joint_committees   =
| voting_system1     = [[Single transferable vote]]
| voting_system2     =
| last_election1     = [[2022 Clackmannanshire Council election|5 May 2022]]
| next_election1     = 6 May 2027
| session_room       = File:Business centre - geograph.org.uk - 459906.jpg
| session_res        =
| meeting_place      = Kilncraigs, Greenside Street, [[Alloa]], FK10{{nbsp}}1EB
| website            = {{URL|www.clacks.gov.uk}}
| footnotes          =
}}

===Political control===
The first election to Clackmannan District Council was held in 1974, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new system came into force on 16 May 1975. A shadow authority was again elected in 1995 ahead of the change to council areas which came into force on 1 April 1996. Political control since 1975 has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/?page_id=3825 |website=The Elections Centre | date=4 March 2016 |access-date=16 April 2023}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+Clackmannan District Council
!colspan="2"|Party in control!!Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1975–1977
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish National Party}} || 1977–1980
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || 1980–1996
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Clackmannanshire Council
!colspan="2"|Party in control!!Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || 1996–1999
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1999–2000
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish National Party}} || 2000–2003
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || 2003–2007
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2007–present
|}

===Leadership===
The [[leader of the council|leaders of the council]] since 1996 have been:<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes |url=https://www.clacks.gov.uk/council/reports/ |website=Clackmannanshire Council |access-date=19 April 2023}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To
|-
| Teresa McNally<ref>{{cite news |title=First meeting - after 666 years |url=https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search/british-newspapers |access-date=20 April 2023 |work=Stirling Observer |date=28 April 1995 |page=5}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|1 Apr 1996 || align=right|Feb 1998
|-
| Jim Watson<ref>{{cite news |title=Watson takes over Clacks leader reins |url=https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search/british-newspapers |access-date=20 April 2023 |work=Stirling Observer |date=27 February 1998 |page=12}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|Feb 1998 || align=right|May 1999
|-
| [[Keith Brown (Scottish politician)|Keith Brown]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Clacks swings to SNP |url=https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search/british-newspapers |access-date=20 April 2023 |work=Stirling Observer |date=14 May 1999 |page=11}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Scottish National Party}} || align=right|May 1999 || align=right|May 2003
|-
| Margaret Paterson<ref>{{cite web |title=Deputy Lieutenants |url=http://lordlieutenantclackmannanshire.co.uk/about |website=Lord Lieutenancy of Clackmannanshire |access-date=20 April 2023}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|May 2003 || align=right|May 2007
|-
| Janet Cadenhead || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|24 May 2007 || align=right|23 Sep 2010
|-
| Sam Ovens || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|23 Sep 2010 || align=right|6 Jan 2012
|-
| Gary Womersley || {{party name with colour|Scottish National Party}} || align=right|6 Jan 2012 || align=right|3 Nov 2014
|-
| Les Sharp || {{party name with colour|Scottish National Party}} || align=right|3 Nov 2014 || align=right|12 Apr 2018
|-
| Ellen Forson || {{party name with colour|Scottish National Party}} || align=right|12 Apr 2018 || align=right|
|}

===Composition===
Following the [[2022 Clackmannanshire Council election|2022 election]] and a subsequent change of allegiance in December 2022, the composition of the council was:<ref>{{cite news |last1=Faulds |first1=Chris |title=Alloa councillor to stand as independent after leaving SNP |url=https://www.alloaadvertiser.com/news/23201027.alloa-councillor-stand-independent-leaving-snp/ |access-date=30 July 2024 |work=Alloa Advertiser |date=20 December 2022}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Party
! Councillors
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish National Party}} || align=center|8
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=center|5
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Conservatives}} || align=center|3
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Greens}} || align=center|1
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=center|1
|-
! colspan=2|Total
! align=center|18
|}

The next election is due in 2027.<ref>{{cite web |title=Clackmannanshire |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=clackmannanshire |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=30 July 2024}}</ref>

===Premises===
Since 2014, the council has been based at Kilncraigs, on Greenside Street in Alloa.

After the 1975 local government reorganisation, the old headquarters of Clackmannanshire County Council at the County Buildings reverted to being solely a courthouse, and the old county council's overflow offices in converted houses along nearby Marshill passed to the Central Regional Council. The Clackmannan District Council acquired a modern office building called The Whins on Whins Road to serve as its headquarters, and also took over the former Alloa Town Council building at Greenfield House on Mar Place.<ref>1984 Telephone Directory</ref>

Greenfield House had been built as a house in 1894 and had been bought by the old town council in 1952, with its gardens becoming a public park. In 1987 Greenfield House was extended, allowing it to become the district council's headquarters, with The Whins subsequently being turned into the Alloa Business Centre. Greenfield House then served as the council's headquarters until 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=Go-ahead for move to new HQ |url=https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search/british-newspapers |access-date=20 April 2023 |work=Stirling Observer |date=6 June 1986 |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB21010|desc=Greenfield House (now District Council offices)|cat=B|access-date=20 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Forsyth |first1=Valerie |title=A walk in the past: The 1914 inferno at Greenfield House |url=https://www.alloaadvertiser.com/news/17411957.walk-past-1914-inferno-greenfield-house/ |access-date=20 April 2023 |work=Alloa Advertiser |date=6 February 2019}}</ref>

In 2014 the council moved to Kilncraigs, which had been built in 1904 as the offices, factory and warehouse of [[Patons and Baldwins|John Paton, Son and Co]], manufacturers of knitting yarn. After the factory closed the whole building had been converted to offices in 2004.<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB20956|desc=Greenside Street, Kilncraigs|cat=A|access-date=20 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Kilncraigs Building, Greenside Street, Alloa |url=https://www.clacks.gov.uk/visiting/kilncraigsbuilding/ |website=Clackmannanshire Council |access-date=20 April 2023}}</ref>

==Elections==
{{main|Clackmannanshire Council elections}}
Since 2007 elections have been held every five years under the [[single transferable vote]] system, introduced by the [[Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004]]. Election results since 1995 have been as follows:<ref name=compositions/>

{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center
!rowspan=2|Year
!rowspan=2|Seats
!width="80"|[[Scottish National Party|SNP]]
!width="80"|[[Scottish Labour|Labour]]
!width="80"|[[Scottish Conservatives|Conservative]]
!width="80"|[[Scottish Greens|Green]]
!width="80"|[[Scottish Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrats]]
!width="80"|[[Independent politician|Independent / Other]]
!rowspan=2|Notes
|-
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish National Party}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Labour}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Conservatives}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Greens}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Liberal Democrats}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}}; width: 3px;" |
|-
| [[1995 Clackmannanshire Council election|1995]] || 12 || 3 || 8 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || align=left|
|-
| [[1999 Clackmannanshire Council election|1999]] || 18 || 9 || 8 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || align=left|New ward boundaries.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Clackmannanshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1998|year=1998|number=3101|accessdate=20 April 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2003 Clackmannanshire Council election|2003]] || 18 || 6 || 10 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || align=left|
|-
| [[2007 Clackmannanshire Council election|2007]]|| 18 || 7 || 8 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 1 || align=left|New ward boundaries.<ref name=2007order>{{cite legislation Scotland|type=ssi|ssi=The Clackmannanshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2006|year=2006|number=472|accessdate=20 April 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2012 Clackmannanshire Council election|2012]] || 18 || 8 || 8 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || align=left|
|-
| [[2017 Clackmannanshire Council election|2017]] || 18 || 8 || 5 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || align=left|New ward boundaries.<ref name=2016order>{{cite legislation Scotland|type=ssi|ssi=The Clackmannanshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2016|year=2016|number=268|accessdate=16 April 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2022 Clackmannanshire Council election|2022]] || 18 || 9 || 5 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 0 || align=left|
|}

===Wards===
Since 2007, the council area has been divided into five multi-member [[Wards of the United Kingdom|wards]]:

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Ward<br>number
! Location
! Ward name
! Settlements
! Seats
! Population<br>(2019)
|-
|1
|[[File:Clackmannanshire West.png|150px]]
|[[Clackmannanshire West]]
| [[Menstrie]], Glenochil, [[Tullibody]], [[Cambus, Clackmannanshire|Cambus]]
|4
|12,606<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002875 Electoral Ward: Clackmannanshire West], [[Scottish Government]] Statistics</ref> 
|-
|2
|[[File:Clackmannanshire North.png|150px]]
|[[Clackmannanshire North]]
| [[Alva, Clackmannanshire|Alva]], [[Tillicoultry]], [[Coalsnaughton]]
|4
|10,731<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002876 Electoral Ward: Clackmannanshire North], [[Scottish Government]] Statistics</ref> 
|-
|3
|[[File:Clackmannanshire Central.png|150px]]
|[[Clackmannanshire Central]]
| [[Sauchie]], [[Fishcross]], [[Alloa]]{{efn|Clackmannanshire Central covers north-eastern parts of Alloa (Branshill, Fairfield, Hallpark, Whins, Woodlea).}}
|3
|7,936<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002877 Electoral Ward: Clackmannanshire Central], [[Scottish Government]] Statistics</ref> 
|-
|4
|[[File:Clackmannanshire South.png|150px]]
|[[Clackmannanshire South]]
| [[Alloa]]{{efn|Clackmannanshire South covers most of Alloa other than north-eastern parts and the modern ''Alloa Park'' development in the south-east.}}
|4
|11,618<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002878 Electoral Ward: Clackmannanshire South], [[Scottish Government]] Statistics</ref> 
|-
|5
|[[File:Clackmannanshire East.png|150px]]
|[[Clackmannanshire East]]
| [[Clackmannan]], [[Dollar, Clackmannanshire|Dollar]], [[Muckhart]], [[Kennet, Clackmannanshire|Kennet]], [[Forestmill]], [[Solsgirth]], [[Alloa]]{{efn|Clackmannanshire East covers the ''Alloa Park'' development since 2017 – the addition of which was the only boundary change in a 2017 national review.}}
|3
|8,649<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002879 Electoral Ward: Clackmannanshire East], [[Scottish Government]] Statistics</ref> 
|-
!Total
!
! 
!
!18 
!51,540
|-
|}
{{notelist}}

==Communities==
The council area is divided into nine [[list of community council areas in Scotland|community council areas]], eight of which have [[community council]]s as at 2023, being those marked with an asterisk below.<ref>{{cite web |title=Introduction to Community Councils |url=https://www.clacks.gov.uk/community/communitycouncilsintro/ |website=Clackmannanshire Council |access-date=20 April 2023}}</ref>

{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Alloa]]*
* [[Alva, Clackmannanshire|Alva]]*
* [[Clackmannan]]*
* [[Dollar, Clackmannanshire|Dollar]]*
* [[Menstrie]]*
* [[Muckhart]]*
* [[Sauchie]] and [[Fishcross]]*
* [[Tillicoultry]], [[Coalsnaughton]] and [[River Devon, Clackmannanshire|Devonside]]*
* [[Tullibody]], [[Cambus, Clackmannanshire|Cambus]], and Glenochil
{{Div col end}}

== Town twinning ==
Since 2006, Clackmannanshire has been twinned with [[Vendargues]], in southern [[France]], and with [[Espartinas]], in [[Andalusia]], [[Spain]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=Summer 2009 |title=Twin Town Exchanges Now Open to Adults |url=https://www.clacks.gov.uk/document/2322.pdf |access-date=2024-06-19 |work=Clackmannanshire VIEW |pages=2}}</ref>

==Coat of arms==
Clackmannanshire's coat of arms is [[blazon]]ed:

''Or, a saltire gules; upon a chief vert, between two gauntlets proper, a pale argent charged with a pallet sable.''

The red saltire on gold is taken from the arms of the [[Clan Bruce]]. According to legend, [[Robert Bruce]] mislaid his gauntlets while visiting the county, and upon asking where he could find them was told to "look aboot ye" (hence the motto). The green [[chief (heraldry)|chief]] represents the county's agriculture, while the black and white [[pale (heraldry)|pale]] is taken from the arms of the [[Clan Erskine]] whose chief the [[Earl of Mar]] lives at [[Alloa Tower]]. [[Sir Thomas Bruce 1st Baron of Clackmannan]] was a member of the House of Bruce and received lands in Clackmannan from his cousin [[Robert II of Scotland|Robert II]].

==Wider politics==
In the [[2014 Scottish independence referendum]], Clackmannanshire was the first council area to declare its result. Though some predictions had seen the area as being favourable towards the "Yes" side, the "No" vote took 53.8% of the area's vote. This was seen as an early sign that Scotland would vote against independence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.sky.com/story/1338279/first-blood-to-no-as-opening-count-declared |title=First Blood To No As Opening Count Declared|publisher=[[Sky News]]|date=19 September 2014}}</ref>

In the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum]], Clackmannanshire voted by 58% to remain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/eu_referendum/results/local/c|title=EU Referendum local results - C|website=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-02}}</ref>

===Parliamentary constituencies===
{{see also|:Category:Politics of Clackmannanshire}}

* Pre-[[United Kingdom]] ([[Parliament of Scotland]])
** [[Clackmannanshire (Parliament of Scotland constituency)|Clackmannanshire]] (1600s to 1707)
* [[UK Parliament]]
** [[Clackmannanshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Clackmannanshire]] (1708 to 1832)
** [[Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire (UK Parliament constituency)|Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire]] (1832 to 1918)
** [[Clackmannan and Eastern Stirlingshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Clackmannan and Eastern Stirlingshire]] (1918 to 1983)
** [[Clackmannan (UK Parliament constituency)|Clackmannan]] (1983 to 1997)
** [[Ochil (UK Parliament constituency)|Ochil]] (1997 to 2005)
** [[Ochil and South Perthshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Ochil and South Perthshire]] (2005 to 2024)
** [[Alloa and Grangemouth (UK Parliament constituency)|Alloa and Grangemouth]] (2024 to present)
* [[Scottish Parliament]]
** [[Ochil (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Ochil]] (1999 to 2011)
** [[Clackmannanshire and Dunblane (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Clackmannanshire and Dunblane]] (2011 to present)

==Geography==
[[File:The Forth Valley near Alloa - geograph.org.uk - 723980.jpg|thumb|The [[River Forth]] at [[Alloa]] showing [[Alloa Inch]] and [[Tullibody Inch]] (at right)]]

In terms of population, Clackmannanshire is the [[List of Scottish council areas by population|smallest council area]] in mainland Scotland. Its population was {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000005}} in {{UK subdivision statistics year}},<ref name="popstats" /> around half of whom live in the main town and administrative centre, [[Alloa]].

[[File:Ben Cleuch - geograph.org.uk - 1578428.jpg|thumb|left|Ben Cleuch in the Ochil Hills, the highest point of Clackmannanshire at {{convert|721|m|ft|abbr=off}}]]

The [[Ochil Hills]] dominate the northern third of the county, where [[Ben Cleuch]], Clackmannanshire's highest point, can be found. The northernmost salient of the county lies along the Upper Glendevon Reservoir. [[Strathdevon]] is immediately to the south of the steep escarpment formed by the [[Ochil Fault]], along which the [[Hillfoots Villages]] are located. Strathdevon mostly comprises a lowland plain a few hundred metres either side of the [[River Devon, Clackmannanshire|River Devon]], which joins the [[River Forth|Forth]] near [[Cambus, Clackmannanshire|Cambus]]. There is also the [[Black Devon]] river that flows past the town of [[Clackmannan]] to join the Forth near Alloa. This confluence once had a small pier, for [[portage]] to Dunmore pier on the south shore, and [[anchor]]age of smaller sailing ships, while others of greater tonnage could be accepted at Dunmore pier on the opposite banks of the Forth. Roughly in the centre of the county lies the Gartmorn Dam County Park, and there are small patches of forest in the south-east of the county. Two unnamed peninsulas are formed by [[meander]]s in the river Forth along Clackmannanshire's southern boundary; the easternmost of these has two small islands - [[Tullibody Inch]] and [[Alloa Inch]] - either side of it.

==Economy==
[[File:Alloa Glass works.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A glassworks building with large towers on the banks of an area of water|[[Owens-Illinois]] glassworks in Alloa]]

The main industries are [[agriculture]], [[brewing]], and formerly [[coal mining]]. In 2006, permission was given for a waterfront development of the Docks area of Alloa, which has been in decline since the 1960s.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} There is a large [[Northern Glass Cone, Alloa Glass Works|glass works]] at Alloa.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Scotland's glass industry still thriving after more than 300 years|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17068617.scotlands-glass-industry-still-thriving-300-years/|access-date=2021-06-07|website=HeraldScotland|date=27 October 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

==Transport==
[[Alloa railway station]] reopened in May 2008; prior to this the county had no active railway stations. A new [[Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail link|railway line]] was completed which connected [[Kincardine-on-Forth|Kincardine]] and Stirling, and thus reconnecting Alloa to the national rail network for the first time since 1968, was opened to the public. Scheduled passenger services operate only between Alloa and Stirling and onwards to Glasgow and Edinburgh; the line to Kincardine is normally used by freight trains only but some special excursion trains are run by charter operators. An opening ceremony was held on Thursday 15 May 2008, with the first fully functioning passenger service commencing in the new summer timetable on 19 May 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clacksweb.org.uk/transport/railways/ |title=Railway information &#124; Clackmannanshire Council |publisher=Clacksweb.org.uk |date=2008-05-19 |access-date=2012-09-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clacksweb.org.uk/council/press/?release=1788 |title=Stirling Alloa Kincardine Railway celebrates first anniversary |publisher=ClacksWeb |date=2008-05-15 |access-date=2012-09-19}}</ref> The service provides an hourly connection between Alloa, Stirling and Glasgow Queen Street.

[[File:Alloa station frontage.JPG|thumb|Alloa railway station]]

The [[Clackmannanshire Bridge]], a new road crossing of the Forth intended to ease congestion and pressure on the older [[Kincardine Bridge]], opened in 2008 (technically the span of the new bridge is not within the county, instead falling just outside it and administratively divided between [[Falkirk (council area)|Falkirk]] and [[Fife]]).

Major roads in the area are the [[A91 road|A91]] between [[Bannockburn]] and [[St Andrews]] which is the main thoroughfare through the [[Hillfoots Villages]], the [[A907 road|A907]] between [[Stirling]] and [[Dunfermline]] which passes through Alloa and Clackmannan, the [[A908 road|A908]] connecting Alloa and Tillicountry, and the [[A977 road|A977]] (fed by the [[A876 road|A876]]) between [[Kincardine, Fife|Kincardine]] and [[Kinross]] which runs east of Clackmannan.

==Settlements==
[[File:Alloa from Clackmannan Tower.jpg|thumb|[[Alloa]], current administrative centre and Clackmannanshire's largest town]]

{{Location map+|Scotland Clackmannanshire
 |caption={{left|The largest settlements in Clackmannanshire}}
 |float=right
 |width=500
 |places =
   {{Location map~|Scotland Clackmannanshire|coordinates = 
{{coord|56.116|-3.793}} |position=right|label='''[[Alloa]]'''|label_size=}}
   {{Location map~|Scotland Clackmannanshire|coordinates = 
{{coord|56.135400|-3.836405}} |position=right|label='''[[Tullibody]]'''|label_size=}}
   {{Location map~|Scotland Clackmannanshire|coordinates = 
{{coord|56.128|-3.781}} |position=right|label='''[[Sauchie]]'''|label_size=}}
   {{Location map~|Scotland Clackmannanshire|coordinates = 
{{coord|56.153048|-3.799565}} |position=right|label='''[[Alva, Clackmannanshire|Alva]]'''|label_size=}}
   {{Location map~|Scotland Clackmannanshire|coordinates = 
{{coord|56.153|-3.742}} |position=right|label='''[[Tillicoultry]]'''|label_size=}}
   {{Location map~|Scotland Clackmannanshire|coordinates = 
{{coord|56.107|-3.749}} |position=right|label='''[[Clackmannan]]'''|label_size=}}
   {{Location map~|Scotland Clackmannanshire|coordinates = 
{{coord|56.15085|-3.85438}} |position=right|label='''[[Menstrie]]'''|label_size=}}
   {{Location map~|Scotland Clackmannanshire|coordinates = 
{{coord|56.162|-3.674}} |position=right|label='''[[Dollar, Clackmannanshire|Dollar]]'''|label_size=}}
   {{Location map~|Scotland Clackmannanshire|coordinates = 
{{coord|56.1417|-3.7396}} |position=right|label='''[[Coalsnaughton]]'''|label_size=}}
   {{Location map~|Scotland Clackmannanshire|coordinates = 
{{Coord|56.1405|-3.8136}} |position=right|label='''Glenochil'''|label_size=}}

<!-- Bordering council areas -->
  {{Location map~|Scotland Clackmannanshire|coordinates = {{coord|56.21|-3.68|}}|position=left|label=''[[Perth and Kinross#Settlements|Perth and Kinross]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Clackmannanshire|coordinates = {{coord|56.08|-3.67|}}|position=right|label=''[[Fife#Settlements|Fife]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Clackmannanshire|coordinates = {{coord|56.08|-3.82|}}|position=right|label=''[[Falkirk (council area)#Settlements|Falkirk]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Clackmannanshire|coordinates = {{coord|56.095|-3.89|}}|position=right|label=''[[Stirling (council area)#Settlements|Stirling]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Largest settlements by population
!Settlement
!Population<br>({{Scottish settlement population citation|year}})<ref name="auto">{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</ref>
|-
|[[Alloa]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Alloa}}
|-
|[[Tullibody]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Tullibody}}
|-
|[[Sauchie]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Sauchie}}
|-
|[[Alva, Clackmannanshire|Alva]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Alva}}
|-
|[[Tillicoultry]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Tillicoultry}}
|-
|[[Clackmannan]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Clackmannan}}
|-
|[[Menstrie]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Menstrie}}
|-
|[[Dollar, Clackmannanshire|Dollar]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Dollar}}
|-
|[[Coalsnaughton]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Coalsnaughton}}
|-
|Glenochil
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Glenochil Village}}
|}

; Other settlements

* [[Cambus, Clackmannanshire|Cambus]]
* Devonside
* [[Fishcross]]
* [[Forestmill]]
* Inglewood
* [[Kennet, Clackmannanshire|Kennet]]
* [[Muckhart]] ''(historically in [[Perthshire]])''
* Solsgirth

==Places of interest==
* [[Alloa Tower]]
* [[Auchinbaird Windmill]]
* [[Ben Cleuch]]
* [[Broomhall Castle]]
* [[Brucefield House]]
* [[Castle Campbell]]
* [[Clackmannan House]]
* [[Harviestoun Brewery]]
* [[Gartmorn Dam]]
* [[Gean House]]
* [[Menstrie Castle]]
* [[Tullibody Old Kirk]]

<gallery widths="200px" heights="160px">
File:Castle Campbell 01.jpg|[[Castle Campbell]], a medieval castle situated above the town of [[Dollar, Clackmannanshire|Dollar]]
File:Tullibody Old Kirk.jpg|Tullibody Old Kirk, a ruined 12th-century church in [[Tullibody]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Clackmannanshire}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050208063355/http://www.clacksnet.org.uk/ ClacksNet - Clackmannanshire's Community Network]
* [http://www.clacks.gov.uk/site/documents/statisticalinformation/census2001informationbulletin/ Census 2001 Information (PDF)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050908225536/http://www.nls.uk/digitallibrary/map/early/record.cfm?id=69 National Library of Scotland - Clackmannanshire Map ca. 1681]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050827193246/http://www.lookabootye.co.uk/ Look Aboot Ye - Clackmannanshire Community News, Information and Forums]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050531234129/http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/LCA/clackmannanshire.pdf ASH Consulting Group 1998. Clackmannanshire landscape character assessment. Scottish Natural Heritage Review No 96.]

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}}

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[[Category:Clackmannanshire| ]]
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