Grampian (named because the eastern Grampian mountains lie within it) was from 1973 to 1996 a local authority region of Scotland. It was formed from the counties of Aberdeen, Kincardine, and Banff and most of Morayshire, and certain administrative functions were the responsibility of five districts. From April 1996 the new all-purpose local authorities for the former Grampian region are: Aberdeen; Aberdeenshire (comprising the former Banff/Buchan, Gordon, and Kincardine/Deeside districts); and Moray. Over 40 per cent of the region's population live in Aberdeen, Scotland's third largest city. Oil and gas deposits were first discovered in the northern North Sea in the early 1970s, with production starting in 1975; thanks to its location, Aberdeen has become the oil capital of Europe. Its prosperity since the mid-1970s engendered a diversification of much of the Grampian economy, to which agriculture and fishing are now much less important, with oil-related activity representing over 10 per cent of employment; the oil boom brought about increases in income, population, and employment well above all other parts of Scotland, with consequent boosts to services and to the tourist industry, already established by its castles and ‘Royal’ Deeside.

Charlotte M. Lythe

Grampian Region in ne Scotland, bordered by the North Sea, the Grampian Highlands and the Cairngorms; the capital is Aberdeen. The w of the region is mountainous, rising to 1311m (4301ft) at Ben Macdhui. The e is drained by the Spey, Dee, and Don rivers. Along the banks of the Spey lie many whisky distilleries. Industries: beef farming, fishing, and tourism. Area: 8707sq km (3361sq mi). Pop. (1996) 531,000.