WIGTOWN, or WIGTON, county form ing the southwest corner of Scotland; bounded west by the North Channel, north by Ayrshire, cast by the Stcwartry of Kirkcudbright and the Solvay Firth, and south by the Irish Sea. The extent from cast to west is about 33 miles, from north to south about 26 miles; area, 485% square miles, of which about 46 per cent is arable. This county which constitutes West Galloway was formed about 1341. It lies between lat. 54° 38' and 55° 4' N., and long. 4' 16' and 5' 6' W. Wigtown is somewhat irregular in form, being deeply intersected by two arms of the sea, one of which, Loch Ryan, a long narrow inlet. stretches south from the northwest corner for nine miles into the county, while Luce Bay on the south makes a wide indentation 18 miles long with an average width of 12 miles, the heads of the inlet and bay being only six miles apart. The western part of Wigtown, known as the "Rhins of Galloway,' thus forms a pe ninsula whose length north to south is 28 miles, and breadth one and one-half to six miles; its northern extremity is Corsewall Point, and its southern the Mull of Galloway, each promon tory being provided with a lighthouse. The southeastern half of Wigtown is separated from the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright by Wig town Bay, 15 miles long and 14 wide at its mouth, and between this bay and Luce Bay Wig town extends south in a blunt triangular form, terminating in Burrow Head. Wigtown is ir
regular in surface, but with no eminences ex ceeding 500 feet. The soil is varied, and except a portion along the sea-shore, especially in the southeastern part which consists of a rich loam — the quality is inferior. The climate is mild hut moist, the rainfall being comparatively great. There are many dairy establishments. Wig town contains three rivers of considerable size, the Cree the Bladnoch and the Luce — the Cree and Bladnoch bring navigable for a few miles. Small fresh-water lochs are numerous. There were at an early period many religious houses in the country and the church, believed to be the oldest in Scotland, founded by Saint Ninian, was built near the site the present village of hithorn. The principal towns are Wigtown, Newton-Stewart, Stranraer and Whithorn. There is no mineral wealth and little trade or manufacture. Pop. 32,685.