Clackmannanshire

Clackmannanshire, the smallest county in Scotland, comprising only 29,440 acres, is bounded S. by the river Forth and part of Perthshire, N. and E. by Perthshire and Fifeshire, and W. by Stirlingshire. It is drained by the rivers N. and S. Devon, and the soil is mostly alluvial and flat, producing heavy crops of peas, beans, corn, etc. The Ochil Hills, rising to over 2,000 feet in the N., and an elevated ridge traversing the centre, are only suited to pasturing sheep. The county is rich in minerals. Coal, iron-stone, hematite, copper, silver, lead, cobalt, and arsenic, are worked with profit, and sandstones and basaltic rocks are quarried. Manufactures are considerable, including woollens, shipbuilding, glass, tanning, brewing, and distilling. The chief towns are Clackmannan, Alloa, Tillicoultry, and Dollar. Jointly with Kinross the county sends one member to Parliament. The town of Clackmannan is near the point where the Devon enters the Forth, and is little better than a village. Alloa is much the most important centre.