Lanarkshire, also called the County of Lanark, is a historic county, lieutenancy area and registration county in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. The county is no longer used for local government purposes, but gives its name to the two modern council areas of North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire.
Rolling Lanarkshire countryside near Lanark
The former headquarters of Lanark County Council at Lanarkshire House in Glasgow
County Buildings, Hamilton: County Council's headquarters after 1964.
Lanarkshire's arms, as seen on the Great Western Bridge in Glasgow
The shires of Scotland, or counties of Scotland, are historic subdivisions of Scotland established in the Middle Ages and used as administrative divisions until 1975. Originally established for judicial purposes, from the 17th century they started to be used for local administration purposes as well. The areas used for judicial functions (sheriffdoms) came to diverge from the shires, which ceased to be used for local government purposes after 1975 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.
The county buildings in Paisley, formerly the seat of Renfrew County Council