Nithsdale (Srath Nid in Scottish Gaelic), also known by its anglicised gaelic name Strathnith or Stranit, is the valley of the River Nith, which flows north to south through south-west Scotland. It has historically been a strategic area as it forms an invasion route into central Scotland, from England. Nithsdale was also an historic district of Scotland, bordering Annandale to the east, Clydesdale to the north, Kyle to the north-west and Galloway to the west. The district which was in the Sheriffdom of Dumfries and later became part of the County of Dumfries, one of the counties of Scotland. The main reorganisation took place during the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889, this Act established a uniform system of county councils in Scotland and realigned the boundaries of many of Scotland’s counties. It is one of three subdivisions of Dumfriesshire, along with Eskdale (previously part of Liddesdale) and Annandale.
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Nithsdale District
| Nithsdale 1975–1996 | |
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Between 1975 and 1996 Nithsdale was one of four local government districts in the Dumfries and Galloway Region. The district was formed by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 from parts of the counties of Dumfriesshire and Kirkcudbrightshire, namely:
- The burghs of Dumfries and Sanquhar
- The Districts of Thornhill and Upper Nithsdale
- Most of the the District of Dumfries
- The Eastern District of the County of Kirkcudbright
Nithsdale Committee Area
In 1996 Nithsdale was included in the Dumfries and Galloway unitary authority area. The four former districts are now committee areas within the council area.
