FALKIRK

royal burgh (town) and important industrial centre in Falkirk council area, historic county of Stirlingshire, Scotland. It lies midway between the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Grangemouth, the site of Scotland's main container port and petrochemical complex, lies 3 miles (5 km) northeast on the River Forth estuary. The Roman Antonine Wall runs through the southern part of the burgh, and the suburb of Camelon was the site of a succession of Roman forts. Falkirk's strategic position in central Scotland made it the site of two battlesone (1298) an English, the other (1746) a Scottish victory. Falkirk became a royal burgh in 1646 but lost that privilege for a time after the Rebellion of 1715. During the late 18th and 19th centuries local coal, iron ore, and fireclay in the area promoted the development of heavy industry. Although heavy industry has since declined, Falkirk is still the Scottish centre for the light (iron) casting trade, and other industries include aluminum rolling, automotive manufacturing, light engineering, and brewing. Pop. (1991) 35,610. council area, east-central Scotland, encompassing a mostly low-lying area extending inland from the south bank of the River Forth estuary. It lies about midway between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Most of the council area lies within the historic county of Stirlingshire, but its eastern portion, around Bo'ness, belongs to the historic county of West Lothian. The council area has an urban core, but it includes rural agricultural areas in the north and south. Grangemouth, on the estuary, is the site of Scotland's main container port and petrochemical complex, which receives North Sea oil by pipeline from Cruden Bay, near Aberdeen. Bo'ness, once an important seaport, is a small manufacturing town. Other industries in the council area include food processing, paper making, and bookbinding. The industrial town of Falkirk is the administrative centre. Area 115 square miles (299 square km). Pop. (1999 est.) 144,370.