Old Ordnance Survey Maps of Fife


This page summarises the local government organisation of Fife since 1890.

  • Fife, sometimes called the Kingdom of Fife, was one of Scotland's historic counties in 1890.
  • Unlike most Scottish counties it has hardly been changed, becomimng a region and then a unitary council. There was minor alteration to boundaries in 1890.
  • Fife had a large number of burghs. These were the royal burghs in 1890: Anstruther Easter*, Anstruther Wester*, Auchtermuchty, Burntisland, Crail, Culross, Cupar, Dunfermline, Dysart, Earlsferry*, Falkland, Inverkeithing, Kilrenny*, Kinghorn, Kirkcaldy, Newburgh, Pittenweem, St Andrews.
  • These were the ordinary burghs in 1890: Buckhaven & Methil, Cowdenbeath, Elie*, Ladybank, Leslie, Leven, Lochgelly, Markinch, Newport-on-Tay, Tayport.
  • The burghs marked * were merged in 1929 with new royal burghs of Kilrenny, Anstruther Easter & Anstruther Wester; and Elie & Earlsferry.
  • Kirkcaldy absorbed Dysart in 1930.
  • St Monance became a burgh in 1933.
  • In 1975 there was major reorganisation as the counties were abolished and replaced by 12 Regions. Fife became a region.
  • Beneath the region in a two-tier structure were 3 Districts: Dunfermline., Kirkcaldy, and North East Fife.
  • In 1996 there was further reorganisation as the Regions and Districts were abolished and replaced by 32 unitary councils. Fife then became a unitary council. There are 3 management areas covering similar areas to the former districts: Dunfermline & West Fife, Kirkcaldy & Mid Fife, and St Andrews & East Fife.
  • For a list of Fife maps go to the Fife page. For a full list of Scottish maps, return to the Scotland page
  • You can order maps direct from our On-line Mapshop.
    Minor changes are not listed here, but please advise us of any significant errors or omissions.
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    The Godfrey Edition / sales@alangodfreymaps.co.uk / 18 November 2016