Stirlingshire, a midland county of Scotland, forming the border-land between Highlands and
Lowlands, is bounded by Perth, Clackmannan, Linlithgow, Lanark, and Dumbarton shires. With a maximum length and breadth of 46 and 22 miles, it has an area of 467 sq. m., or 298,579 acres, of which 3294 are foreshore and 8946 water. The Forth traces much of the northern and all the north-eastern boundary; on the western lies Loch Lomond; and other lakes and streams belonging partly or wholly to Stirlingshire are Lochs Katrine and Arklet, and the Avon, Carron, Bannock, Endrick, and Blane. Ben Lomond, in the north-west, attains 3192 feet; and lesser elevations are the Gargunnock Hills (1591 feet), Kilsyth Hills (1393), Campsie Fells (1894), and Fintry Hills (1676). A considerable part of Stirlingshire is occupied by the carses of Stirling and Falkirk, which were formerly covered for the most part with unproductive moss. On the removal of the moss-soil, part of which was floated off into the Forth by the agency of running water, a rich clay soil, of various depths, from a plough furrow to 20 or even 30 feet, was reached, and now is cultivated with the most marked success. About 40 per cent. of the whole area of the county is in cultivation; woods cover 14,241 acres. Coal and ironstone are largely mined; and there are the great ironworks of Carron and Falkirk, besides manufactures of woollens, cotton, chemicals, &c. The chief towns are Stirling, Falkirk, Kilsyth, Denny, and Grange-mouth. The county returns one member to parliament. Pop. (1801) 50,825; (1841) 82,057; (1881) 112,443; (1891) 125,608. Antoninus' Wall is the principal antiquity; and no fewer than six battles have been fought within Stirlingshire—Stirling Bridge, 1297; Falkirk, 1298; Bannockburn, 1314; Sauchieburn, 1488; Kilsyth, 1645; and Falkirk, 1746.
See the articles on the above battles, towns, &c.; and Nimmo's History of Stirlingshire (1777; 3d ed. 1880).