Kintore, Aberdeenshire
Description
Kintore is a town and former royal burgh near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, now bypassed by the A96 road between Aberdeen and Inverness. It is situated on the banks of the River Don. Its Town House dates from 1747.The name Kintore comes from the Gaelic, Ceann Tòrr. Ceann means the head, or the end, and Tòrr means a round hill. So the name signifies that the town was at the head or end of a round hill. This probably refers to Tuach Hill to the south of the town.Established in the ninth century AD as a royal burgh, Kintore had its royal charter renewed by King James IV in 1506. But the area has clearly been a popular settlement since prehistoric times. Recent archaeological excavations show Neolithic finds dating to at least 5000 BC.Nearby are the remains of Hallforest Castle, former stronghold of the Earls of Kintore.Kintore is said to be the fastest growing town in Aberdeenshire in percentage terms. The population in the 2001 census was 1696. By 2001 Aberdeenshire Council's figures gave the population as 2170, with a predicted 2521 in 2006. The 2011 census recorded the population of Kintore at 4,476.NECRNECR (North East Community Radio) is a local radio station based in School Road in Kintore (opposite the Torryburn Hotel).