West Lothian (historic)

West Lothian, also known as Linlithgowshire (its official name until 1925), is a historic county in the east central Lowlands of Scotland. It is bounded geographically by the Avon to the west and the Almond to the east. It was reshaped significantly following local government reforms in 1975, becoming slightly larger but with major territorial changes: some areas in the north-west were transferred to Falkirk; areas in the north-east were transferred to Edinburgh; and some areas in the south that had formerly been part of Midlothian were added to a new West LothianDistrict within the Region of Lothian. This then became a standalone local authority area in the most recent major reorganisation enacted in 1996, retaining those same boundaries and name.

The county town was the royal burgh of Linlithgow, but the current council area has its headquarters at Livingston, the development of which as a new town in the second half of the 20th century represents one of the major differences between the historic and modern entities. Towns which were once in West Lothian but no longer are include Bo'ness, Kirkliston and South Queensferry, whilst localities which were only added in the 1970s include Addiewell, East Calder, Kirknewton, , Mid Calder and West Calder.