CLACKMANNANSHIRE, the smallest county in Scotland, bounded south-west by the Forth, west by Stirlingshire, north north-east and north-west by Perthshire, and east by Fifeshire. It has an area (excluding water) of 34,927 acres. An elevated ridge starting on the west, runs through the middle of the county, widen ing gradually till it reaches the eastern boundary, and skirting the alluvial or carse lands in the valleys of the Forth and Devon. Still farther north are the Ochil hills, which reach a height of 2,363 ft., a volcanic range of the Old Red Sandstone period, consisting mainly of basalts and andesites. A fault along their southern base brings down the Carboniferous strata, which occupy the southern part of the county. The rivers of importance are the Devon and the Black or South Devon. The first, noted in the upper parts for its scenery and trout-fishing, runs through the county near the base of the Ochils, and falls into the Forth at the village of Cambus, after a winding course of 33 m., although as the crow flies its source is only 5 miles distant. The Black Devon, rising in the Cleish Hills, flows westwards in a direction nearly parallel to that of the Devon, and falls into the Forth near Clackmannan. It supplies power to mills and collieries; and its whole course is over the Carboniferous strata. The Forth is navigable as far as it forms the boundary of the county. The only lake is Gartmorn which has been dammed in order to furnish water to Alloa and power to mills.
The soil is generally productive and well culti vated, though the greater part of the high ground between the carse lands on the Forth and the vale of Devon at the base of the Ochils on the north consists of inferior soils, often lying upon an impervious clay. Oats are the chief crop. The Ochils afford excel lent sheep pasture. There is a small tract of moorland in the east, called the Forest, bounded on its northern margin by the Black Devon. Copper, silver, lead and other minerals have been dis covered in small quantity in the Ochils, between Alva and Dollar. The Carboniferous strata belong mainly to the coal-measures, forming a northern continuation of the Lanarkshire basin and including a number of valuable coal-seams. Fire-clay, sandstone, and igneous rock are also worked. Coal is mined at Sauchie, Coalsnaughton, Devonside, Clackmannan and other pits. The spinning-mills at Alloa and Clackmannan are active, Alloa yarns and fingering being famous; and woollen goods are largely manu factured at Alva, Clackmannan and Tillicoultry. Distilleries and breweries have a large export business. Minor trades include glass blowing, coopering, iron-founding, ship-building and paper-making. Mentsrie near Alloa has a large furniture factory. The London and North Eastern railway serves the whole county, while the London, Midland and Scottish has access to Alloa.
The population was 32,543 in 1921 and 31,947 in 1931, when 156 persons spoke Gaelic and English. The county, with part of Stirling, returns one member to parliament. Clackmannan (pop. 2,585) is the county town, but Alloa (13,322), Alva (3,82o), and Tillicoultry (2,953) take pre cedence in population and trade. Clackmannan forms a sheriffdom with Stirling and Dumbarton shires, and a sheriff-substitute sits at Alloa. There are an exceptionally well-equipped secondary school in Alloa and a well-known academy at Dollar.
