Editing Caithness

{{Short description|Historic county in northern Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
| name                            = Caithness
| native_name                     = {{Native name|gd|Gallaibh}}
| native_name_lang                = 
| settlement_type                 = [[Shires of Scotland|Historic county]]
| image_skyline                   = 
| image_alt                       = 
| image_caption                   = 
| image_flag                      = Flag of Caithness.svg
| flag_size                       = 150px
| flag_link                       = Flag of Caithness
| flag_alt                        = 
| image_seal                      = 
| seal_alt                        = 
| image_shield                    = 
| shield_alt                      = 
| nickname                        = 
| motto                           = 
| image_map                       = File:Caithness-Scotland.svg
| map_alt                         = 
| map_caption                     = 
| pushpin_map                     = 
| pushpin_map_alt                 = 
| pushpin_map_caption             = 
| coor_pinpoint                   = 
| coordinates                     = {{Coord|58|25|N|3|30|W|display=inline,title|region:GB_type:adm2nd_source:GNS-enwiki}}
| coordinates_footnotes           = 
| subdivision_type                = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name                = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| subdivision_type1               = [[Subdivisions of the United Kingdom|Country]]
| subdivision_name1               = {{flag|Scotland}}
| subdivision_type2               = [[Council area]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Highland (council area)|Highland]]
| established_title               = 
| established_date                = 
| founder                         = 
| seat_type                       = [[County town]]
| seat                            = [[Wick, Caithness|Wick]]
| government_footnotes            = 
| leader_party                    = 
| leader_title                    = 
| leader_name                     = 
| unit_pref                       = UK<!-- or US or Metric -->
| area_footnotes                  = 
| area_total_sq_mi                = 618
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 
| area_water_sq_mi                = 
| area_total_km2                  = {{convert|618|sqmi|km2|disp=number|0}}
| area_land_km2                   = 
| area_water_km2                  = 
| area_water_percent              = 
| area_note                       = Ranked 14th of 34
| elevation_footnotes             = 
| elevation_m                     = 
| population_footnotes            = 
| population_total                = 25,347<ref name=pop />
| population_as_of                = 2021
| population_density_km2          = auto
| population_demonym              = Caithnesian
| population_note                 = 
| timezone1                       = 
| utc_offset1                     = 
| timezone1_DST                   = 
| utc_offset1_DST                 = 
| postal_code_type                = [[Chapman code]]
| postal_code                     = CAI
| area_code_type                  = 
| area_code                       = 
| iso_code                        = 
| website                         = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| footnotes                       = 
| official_name                   = 
}}

'''Caithness''' ({{IPAc-en|k|eɪ|θ|ˈ|n|ɛ|s}}; {{langx|gd|Gallaibh}} {{IPA|gd|ˈkal̪ˠɪv|}}; {{langx|non| Katanes}}<ref name=snh/>) is a [[Shires of Scotland|historic county]], [[registration county]] and [[Lieutenancy areas of Scotland|lieutenancy area]] of [[Scotland]].

There are two towns, being [[Wick, Caithness|Wick]], which was the county town, and [[Thurso]]. The county includes the northernmost point of mainland Britain at [[Dunnet Head]], and also the most north-easterly point at [[Duncansby Head]] near [[John o' Groats]]. The [[Flow Country]] is the largest [[blanket bog]] in Europe, and covers a large inland area in the west of the county. Caithness has a land boundary with the historic county of [[Sutherland]] to the west and is otherwise bounded by sea. The land boundary follows a [[drainage divide|watershed]] and is crossed by two roads (the [[A9 road (Great Britain)|A9]] and the [[A836 road|A836]]) and by one railway (the [[Far North Line]]). Across the [[Pentland Firth]], ferries link Caithness with [[Orkney]], and Caithness also has an airport at [[Wick, Highland|Wick]]. The Pentland Firth island of [[Stroma, Scotland|Stroma]] is within Caithness.

From the 9th century the Caithness area was ruled by the [[Jarl of Orkney]], who at different times owed allegiance to both [[Norway]] and Scotland. Caithness subsequently became a separate [[provincial lordship]] from Orkney in the 14th century, being an [[earldom]] controlled by the [[Earl of Caithness]]. The name was also used for the [[Diocese of Caithness]] from the 12th century to the 17th century. The diocese was larger than the later county, also including Sutherland. A [[Shires of Scotland|shire]] called Caithness covering the same area as the earldom was created in 1641, after a couple of earlier abortive attempts. Shires gradually eclipsed the old provinces in administrative importance, and also became known as counties.

The county ceased to be used for local government purposes in 1975, when the area became part of the [[Highland (council area)|Highland]] region, which in turn became a single-tier [[Council areas of Scotland|council area]] in 1996. There was a [[Districts of Scotland|local government district]] called Caithness from 1975 to 1996, which was a lower-tier district within the Highland region. The pre-1975 county boundaries are still used for certain functions, being a registration county.

The [[Norn language]] was historically the language of everyday communication for people in Caithness, but was gradually overtaken by Scots and then English. Norn had probably become extinct in Caithness by the 15th century.

==Toponymy==
The ''Caith'' element of the name ''Caithness'' comes from the name of a [[Picts|Pictish]] tribe known as the ''Cat'', ''Catt'' or ''Catti'' people, whose [[Kingdom of Cat]] covered what would become Caithness and parts of Sutherland from the 9th century. The {{lang|non|-ness}} element comes from [[Old Norse language|Old Norse]] and means "headland". The Norse called the area {{lang|non|Katanes}} ("headland of the Catt people"), and over time this became ''Caithness''.<ref name=snh>
[http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/gaelic/gaelicnorseinthelandscape.pdf Gaelic and Norse in the Landscape: Placenames in Caithness and Sutherland] {{Webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110921192834/http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/gaelic/gaelicnorseinthelandscape.pdf |date= 21 September 2011 }}. Scottish National Heritage. pp.7–8.
</ref>

The [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]] name for Caithness, {{lang|gd|Gallaibh}}, means "among the strangers", referring to the Norse. The name of the Catti survives in the Gaelic name for eastern [[Sutherland]], {{lang|gd|Cataibh}},<ref name=snh/> and in the old Gaelic name for [[Shetland]], {{lang|gd|Innse Chat}}.

==Geography==
Caithness extends about {{convert|30|mi|km}} north-south and about {{convert|30|mi|km}} east-west, with a roughly triangular-shaped area of about {{cvt|712|sqmi|km2}}. The topography is generally flat, in contrast to the majority of the remainder of the North of Scotland. Until the latter part of the 20th century when large areas were planted in [[conifer]]s, this level profile was rendered still more striking by the almost total absence of woodland.
[[File:caithness.jpg|thumb|left|Caithness landscape, looking towards [[Halkirk]] from Beinn Freiceadain]]

It is a land of open, rolling farmland, [[moorland]] and scattered settlements. The county is fringed to the north and east by dramatic coastal scenery and is home to large, internationally important colonies of seabirds. The surrounding waters of the [[Pentland Firth]] and the [[North Sea]] hold a great diversity of marine life. Notable features of the north coast are [[Sandside Bay]], [[Thurso Bay]] and [[Dunnet Bay]], [[Dunnet Head]] (the northernmost point of Britain) and [[Duncansby Head]] (the north-east tip of Britain); along the east coast can be found Freswick Bay, [[Sinclairs Bay]] and [[Wick Bay]]. To the north in Pentland Firth lies [[Stroma, Scotland|Stroma]], the only major island of the county. Away from the coast, the landscape is dominated by open moorland and blanket [[bog]] known as the [[Flow Country]] which is the largest expanse of blanket bog in Europe, extending into Sutherland. This is divided up along the ''straths'' ([[river]] [[valley]]s) by more fertile farm and [[croft (land)|croft]] land. In the far south the landscape is slightly hillier, culminating in [[Morven, Caithness|Morven]], the highest peak in the county at 706&nbsp;m (2,316&nbsp;ft).

The county contains a number of lochs, though these are smaller in comparison with the rest of northern Scotland. The most prominent are [[Loch Heilen]], [[St. John's Loch]], [[Loch Watten]], [[Loch More, Caithness|Loch More]], [[Loch Shurrery]], [[Loch Calder]] and [[Loch of Mey|Loch Mey]].

The underlying geology of most of Caithness is [[Old Red Sandstone]] to an estimated depth of over {{convert|4000|m|ft}}. This consists of the cemented sediments of [[Orcadian Basin|Lake Orcadie]], which is believed to have stretched from [[Shetland]] to [[Grampian]] during the [[Devonian]] period, about 370 million years ago. Fossilised fish and plant remains are found between the layers of sediment. Older metamorphic rock is apparent in the [[Scaraben]] and [[Ord of Caithness|Ord]] area, in the relatively high southwest area of the county. Caithness's highest point ([[Morven, Caithness|Morven]]) is in this area.

Because of the ease with which the sandstone splits to form large flat slabs ([[flagstone]]) it is an especially useful building material, and has been used as such since [[Neolithic]] times.

===Natural heritage===
[[File:St John's Loch near Dunnet Head - geograph.org.uk - 326534.jpg|thumb|St John's Loch near [[Dunnet Head]] has the distinction of supporting the most northerly hatch of [[Mayfly]] in the British Isles]]
Caithness is one of the [[Watsonian vice-counties]], subdivisions of [[Great Britain|Britain]] and [[Ireland]] which are used largely for the purposes of biological recording and other scientific data-gathering. The vice-counties were introduced by [[Hewett Cottrell Watson]], who first used them in the third volume of his ''{{lang|la|Cybele Britannica}}'', published in 1852.

The underlying geology, harsh climate, and long history of human occupation have shaped the natural heritage of Caithness. Today a diverse landscape incorporates both common and rare habitats and species, and Caithness provides a stronghold for many once common breeding species that have undergone serious declines elsewhere, such as [[wader]]s, [[European water vole|water vole]]s, and flocks of [[bird migration|overwintering]] birds.

Many rare mammals, birds, and fish have been sighted or caught in and around Caithness waters. [[Harbour porpoise]]s, dolphins (including [[Risso's dolphin|Risso's]], [[bottle-nosed dolphin|bottle-nosed]], [[common dolphin|common]], [[Atlantic white-sided dolphin|Atlantic white-sided]], and [[white-beaked dolphin]]s), and [[minke whale|minke]] and [[long-finned pilot whale]]s<ref>ALISTAIRMUNRO. 2017. [https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/lifestyle/outdoors/1332966/video-amazing-footage-pilot-whales-rissos-dolphins-off-coast-caithness/ VIDEO: Amazing footage of pilot whales and Risso’s dolphins off the coast of Caithness] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930180212/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/lifestyle/outdoors/1332966/video-amazing-footage-pilot-whales-rissos-dolphins-off-coast-caithness/ |date=30 September 2017 }}. ''[[The Press and Journal (Scotland)|The Press and Journal]]''. 30 September 2017</ref> are regularly seen from the shore and boats. Both [[grey seal|grey]] and [[common seal]]s come close to the shore to feed, rest, and raise their pups; a significant population over-winters on small islands in the Thurso river only a short walk from the town centre. [[Otter]]s can be seen close to river mouths in some of the quieter locations.

Much of the centre of Caithness is known as the [[Flow Country]], a large, rolling expanse of [[peat]]land and [[wetland]] that is the largest expanse of [[blanket bog]] in Europe. Around {{cvt|1500|km2}} of the Flow Country is protected as both a [[Special Protection Area]] (SPA) and [[Special Area of Conservation]] (SAC) under the name [[Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands]],<ref name=spa>{{cite web|url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8476|title=Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands SPA|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|access-date=2019-01-30|archive-date=31 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131092837/https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8476|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8218|title=Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands SAC|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|access-date=2019-01-30|archive-date=31 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131093010/https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8218|url-status=live}}</ref> and a portion is further designated as the [[Forsinard Flows National Nature Reserve|Forsinard Flows national nature reserve]].<ref name="nnr">{{cite web|url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10526|title=Forsinard Flows National Nature Reserve|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|access-date=2019-01-29|archive-date=31 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131093103/https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10526|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2014 {{convert|44|sqmi|km2}} of the eastern coastline of Caithness between [[Helmsdale]] and [[Wick, Caithness|Wick]] was declared a [[Marine Protected Areas in Scotland|Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area]] under the title [[East Caithness Cliffs]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10408|title=East Caithness Cliff MPA(NC)|access-date=30 August 2019|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|archive-date=16 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816095231/https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10408|url-status=live}}</ref> The cliffs are also designated as both a Special Protection Area and a Special Area of Conservation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8492|title=East Caithness Cliffs SPA|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|access-date=27 September 2019|archive-date=27 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927120403/https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8492|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=sac>{{cite web|url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8248|title=East Caithness Cliffs SAC|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|access-date=27 September 2019|archive-date=27 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927120404/https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8248|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
The Caithness landscape is rich with the remains of pre-historic occupation. These include the [[Grey Cairns of Camster]], the [[The Stone Lud|Stone Lud]], the [[Hill O Many Stanes]], a complex of sites around Loch of Yarrows near [[Thrumster, Caithness|Thrumster]], and over 100 [[broch]]s. A [[prehistoric]] [[souterrain]] structure at Caithness has been likened to discoveries at [[Midgarth]] and on [[Shapinsay]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=17936 |title=C.Michael Hogan, ''Castle bloody'', The Megalithic Portal, ed. A. Burnham, 2007 |access-date=12 February 2008 |archive-date=10 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610071831/http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=17936 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The study of Caithness prehistory is well represented in the county by groups including Yarrows Heritage Trust,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yarrowsheritagetrust.co.uk/|title=Yarrows Heritage Trust – Home|website=yarrowsheritagetrust.co.uk|access-date=16 March 2018|archive-date=13 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613044752/http://www.yarrowsheritagetrust.co.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref> Caithness Horizons<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/caithness-horizons-museum-p256591|title=Caithness Horizons Museum|access-date=3 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204004746/https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/caithness-horizons-museum-p256591|archive-date=4 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Caithness Broch Project]].

[[File:Keiss Castle, Caithness - geograph.org.uk - 2379256.jpg|thumb|[[Keiss Castle]]: 16th century but possibly on site of an earlier building]]
Numerous coastal castles (now mostly ruins) are [[Norway|Norwegian]] ([[West Norse]]) in their foundations.<ref>Scholarly essays in J.R. Baldwion and I.D. Whyte, eds. ''The Viking Age in Caithness, Orkney and the North Atlantic'' (Edinburgh University Press) 1993, give an overview.</ref> When the Norsemen arrived, probably in the 10th century, the county was inhabited by the [[Picts]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Priests and Picts|url=http://www.caithnessarchaeology.org.uk/picts.html|website=Caithness Archaeology|access-date=7 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220071800/http://www.caithnessarchaeology.org.uk/picts.html|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> but with its culture subject to some [[Goidelic]] influence from the [[Celtic Church]]. The name Pentland Firth can be read as meaning Pictland Fjord.

Norse settlers landed in the county, and gradually established themselves around the coast. On the [[Latheron]] (south) side, they extended their settlements as far as Berriedale. Many of the names of places are Norse in origin.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Logan|first1=F. Donald|title=The Vikings in History|date=2005|publisher=Routledge|location=New York|page=28|isbn=9781136527098|edition=3rd|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jfz7AQAAQBAJ&q=norse+names+of+caithness+places&pg=PA28|access-date=7 August 2016|archive-date=17 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117114507/https://books.google.com/books?id=Jfz7AQAAQBAJ&q=norse+names+of+caithness+places&pg=PA28#v=snippet&q=norse%20names%20of%20caithness%20places&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, some Caithness surnames, such as [[Clan Gunn|Gunn]], are Norse in origin.<ref>{{cite book|last1=MacBain|first1=Alexander|title=Place Names Highlands and Islands of Scotland|date=1922|publisher=Mackay|location=Stirling|isbn=978-1179979427|page=21|url=https://archive.org/stream/placenameshighla00macbuoft#page/n7/mode/2up|access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref>

The area was anciently part of the [[Picts|Pictish]] kingdom of [[Kingdom of Cat|Cat]], which also included Sutherland. It was conquered in the 9th century by [[Sigurd Eysteinsson]], Jarl of Orkney. The Jarls owed allegiance to the [[Monarchy of Norway|Norwegian crown]]. The [[Kingdom of Scotland|Scottish crown]] claimed the overlordship of the Caithness and Sutherland area from Norway in 1098.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Crawford |first1=Barbara E. |editor1-last=Stringer |editor1-first=Keith J. |title=Essays on the Nobility of Medieval Scotland |date=2004 |publisher=John Donald |location=9781788853408 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y0tWEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT48 |access-date=6 October 2024 |chapter=The Earldom of Caithness and the Kingdom of Scotland, 1150–1266|isbn=978-1-78885-340-8 }}</ref> The Earls of Orkney thereafter owed allegiance to the Scottish crown for their territory on the mainland, which they held as the [[Mormaer of Caithness]], but owed allegiance to the Norwegian crown for Orkney itself.<ref name=Grant>{{cite book |last1=Grant |first1=Alexander |editor1-last=Cowan |editor1-first=Edward J. |editor2-last=McDonald |editor2-first=R. Andrew |title=Alba: Celtic Scotland in the Middle Ages |date=2000 |publisher=Tuckwell Press |location=East Linton |isbn=1-86232-151-5 |pages=98–110 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/albacelticscotla0000unse/page/98/mode/2up |access-date=28 August 2024 |chapter=The Province of Ross and the Kingdom of Alba}}</ref>

The [[Diocese of Caithness]] was established in the 12th century. The bishop's seat was initially at [[Halkirk]], but in the early 13th century was moved to [[Dornoch Cathedral]] (now in Sutherland), which was begun in 1224.<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num= LB24632|desc= Dornoch Cathedral |access-date=23 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Farmer|first=David Hugh|title=The Oxford Dictionary of Saints|year=1997|publisher=Oxford University Press Press|location=Oxford|isbn=0-19-280058-2|pages=208–209|edition=4}}</ref>

Caithness became a separate earldom during the 14th century, under the [[Feudalism|feudal]] control of the [[Earl of Caithness]]. The title Earl of Caithness had sometimes been used by the mormaers who were also Jarls of Orkney; the earldoms had been separated by the time [[David Stewart, Earl of Strathearn]] was made Earl of Caithness, sometime between 1375 and 1377.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Paul |editor1-first=James Balfour |title=The Scots Peerage: Volume 2 |date=1905 |publisher=David Douglas |location=Edinburgh |page=321 |url=https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun02paul/page/320/mode/2up |access-date=30 September 2024}}</ref>

===Shire and county===
In terms of shires (areas where justice was administered by a [[Sheriff principal|sheriff]]), the north of mainland Scotland was all included in the [[Inverness-shire|shire of Inverness]] from the 12th century.<ref name=Grant/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Taylor |first1=Alice |title=The Shape of the State in Medieval Scotland, 1124–1290 |date=2016 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=9780198749202 |pages=144, 234–235 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2XvnCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA144 |access-date=30 August 2024}}</ref> In 1455 the Earl of Caithness gained a grant of the [[justiciar|justiciary]] of the area, giving Caithness partial independence from the [[Sheriff of Inverness]].<ref name=Campbell>{{cite book |last1=Campbell |first1=H. F. |title=Caithness and Sutherland |date=1920 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |pages=1–2 |isbn=978-1-107-69280-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MZfrtfS7gJIC&pg=PA1 |access-date=30 September 2024}}</ref>

An act of parliament in 1504 acknowledged that the shire of Inverness was too big for the effective administration of justice, and so declared [[Ross, Scotland|Ross]] and Caithness to be separate shires. The boundary used for the shire of Caithness created in 1504 was the diocese of Caithness, which included Sutherland. The [[Sheriff of Caithness]] was directed to hold courts at either [[Dornoch]] or Wick.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Keith |title=Legislation: final legislation published outwith the parliamentary register, Edinburgh, 11 March 1504 |website=The Records of the Parliament of Scotland to 1707 |url=http://www.rps.ac.uk/trans/A1504/3/105 |publisher=University of St Andrews |access-date=30 August 2024}}</ref> That act was set aside for most purposes in 1509, and Caithness once more came under the sheriff of Inverness.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Keith |title=Legislation, 8 May 1509 |website=The Records of the Parliament of Scotland to 1707 |url=http://www.rps.ac.uk/trans/A1509/5/3 |publisher=University of St Andrews |access-date=23 September 2024}}</ref> The sheriff of Inverness was then directed to appoint a number of deputies, including one based in Wick.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mackintosh |first1=John |title=Historic Earls and Earldoms of Scotland |date=1898 |publisher=W. Jolly & Sons |location=Aberdeen |page=130 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3_8OAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA130 |access-date=30 September 2024}}</ref> In 1584, [[George Sinclair, 5th Earl of Caithness]], forfeited the justiciary of the area after a dispute with [[George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly|George Gordon, Earl of Huntly]], who was sheriff of Inverness at the time.<ref>{{cite book |title=Dictionary of National Biography: Volume 52 |date=1897 |pages=292–293 |publisher=Smith, Elder, & Company |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GbkcAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA293 |access-date=26 September 2024}}</ref>

Caithness was restored to being a shire in 1641.<ref name=Campbell/> The shire of Caithness created in 1641 just covered the earldom of Caithness; Sutherland had been made its own shire in 1633.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Keith |title=Act in favour of John Gordon, Earl of Sutherland, 28 June 1633 |website=The Records of the Parliament of Scotland to 1707 |url=http://www.rps.ac.uk/trans/1633/6/74 |publisher=University of St Andrews |access-date=23 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Chamberlayne |first1=John |title=Magnae Britanniae Notita: or, the Present State of Great Britain |date=1748 |location=London |page=314 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7re2keiml2YC&pg=PA314 |access-date=23 September 2024}}</ref> Wick was declared to be the head [[burgh]] of the shire, and the Earl of Caithness became the hereditary sheriff.<ref name=Campbell/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Keith |title=Ratification in favour of the town of Wick of their infeftment, with a declaration declaring the said town to be the head burgh of the sheriffdom of Caithness, 17 November 1641 |website=The Records of the Parliament of Scotland to 1707 |url=http://www.rps.ac.uk/trans/1641/8/425 |publisher=University of St Andrews |access-date=1 October 2024}}</ref>

Over time, Scotland's shires became more significant than the old provinces, with more administrative functions being given to the sheriffs. In 1667 [[Commissioners of Supply]] were established for each shire, which would serve as the main administrative body for the area until the creation of county councils in 1890. Following the [[Acts of Union 1707|Acts of Union]] in 1707, the English term 'county' came to be used interchangeably with the older term 'shire'.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Keith |title=Act of the convention of estates of the kingdom of Scotland etc. for a new and voluntary offer to his majesty of £72,000 monthly for the space of twelve months, 23 January 1667 |url=http://www.rps.ac.uk/trans/1667/1/10 |website=Records of the Parliament of Scotland |publisher=University of St Andrews |access-date=25 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Scottish Counties and Parishes: their history and boundaries on maps |url=https://maps.nls.uk/geo/boundaries/history.html |website=National Library of Scotland |access-date=2 September 2024}}</ref>

Following the [[Jacobite rising of 1745]], the government passed the [[Heritable Jurisdictions (Scotland) Act 1746]], returning the appointment of sheriffs to the crown in those cases where they had become hereditary positions, as had been the case in Caithness.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Whetstone |first1=Ann E. |year= 1977|title=The Reform of the Scottish Sheriffdoms in the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries |journal=Albion: A Quarterly Journal Concerned with British Studies |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=61–71 |doi=10.2307/4048219 |jstor=4048219}}</ref> From 1748 the government merged the positions of Sheriff of Sutherland and Sheriff of Caithness into a single post. Although they shared a sheriff after 1748, Caithness and Sutherland remained legally separate counties, having their own commissioners of supply and, from 1794, their own [[Lord-lieutenant|lord lieutenants]].<ref>[[Sheriffs (Scotland) Act 1747]]</ref>

[[File:Wick Town Hall (geograph 6897593) cropped.jpg|thumb|left|[[Wick Town Hall]], built 1828: Former meeting place of both Caithness County Council and Wick Town Council]]
Although Wick had been declared the head burgh of the shire in 1641, for much of the next 200 years the sheriff held most courts and had his clerk's offices in Thurso. In 1828 a new Town and County Hall (now known as [[Wick Town Hall]]) was completed on Bridge Street in Wick, jointly funded by Wick Town Council and the county's commissioners of supply. Whilst it was under construction, the Wick authorities took legal action against the sheriff, successfully securing an order requiring him to hold regular courts and have his clerk's offices in Wick.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4xEvAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA32  |title= Sketch of the Civil and Traditional History of Caithness, from the Tenth Century|first= James Tait|last= Calder|year=1861|publisher=T. Murray & Son|page=32}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=2UBNAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA650  |title= Cases Decided in the Court of Session, Teind Court, Court of Exchequer and House of Lords |volume=6|year=1828|page=650|publisher=Scottish Council of Law Reporting}}</ref>

Elected county councils were established in 1890 under the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889]], taking most of the functions of the commissioners of supply (which were eventually abolished in 1930). Caithness County Council held its first meeting on 22 May 1890 at the Town and County Hall in Wick.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wick |url=https://maps.nls.uk/townplans/background/wick.html |website=National Library of Scotland |access-date=28 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Caithness County Council |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=28 September 2024 |work=Northern Ensign |date=27 May 1890 |location=Wick |page=2}}</ref> The county council moved its administrative offices to the [[County Offices, Wick|County Offices]] on High Street, Wick, in 1930, but continued to hold its meetings at the Town and County Hall.<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num= LB48834|desc= County Council Offices, 73, 75 & 77 High Street, Wick|access-date=18 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shields |first1=Alan |title=From newspaper office to council HQ |url=https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/from-newspaer-office-to-council-hq-122970/ |access-date=28 September 2024 |work=John O'Groat Journal and Caithness Courier |date=15 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=County of Caithness |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=28 September 2024 |work=John O'Groat Journal |date=26 December 1952 |location=Wick |page=1 |quote=The proposal will be considered by the County Council as a meeting to be held within the Town Hall, Wick, on Saturday, 28th February 1953...}}</ref>

The 1889 Act also led to a review of boundaries, with parish and county boundaries being adjusted to eliminate cases where parishes straddled county boundaries. The parish of [[Reay]] had straddled Sutherland and Caithness prior to the act; the county boundary was retained, but the part of Reay parish in Sutherland was transferred to the parish of [[Farr, Sutherland|Farr]] in 1891.<ref name=Hay>{{cite book |last1=Shennan |first1=Hay |title=Boundaries of counties and parishes in Scotland as settled by the Boundary Commissioners under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 |date=1892 |publisher=W. Green |location=Edinburgh |page=129 |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_meygAAAAMAAJ/page/n165/mode/2up |access-date=1 October 2024}}</ref>

===Since 1975===
[[Image:ScotlandHighlands.png|thumb|[[Highland council area|Highland]]: Region 1975–1996, council area since 1996]]
Local government was reformed in 1975 under the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973]], which replaced Scotland's counties, burghs and [[landward district]]s with a two-tier structure of upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts. Caithness became part of the [[Highland Region]]. At the district level there was a '''Caithness District''', which initially covered the pre-1975 county plus the parishes of [[Farr, Sutherland|Farr]] and [[Tongue, Sutherland|Tongue]] from Sutherland.<ref name=1973act>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973|year=1973|chapter=65|accessdate=17 April 2023}}</ref><ref name=OSsheet3>{{cite web |title=Quarter-inch Administrative Areas Maps: Scotland, Sheet 3, 1968 |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/222075455 |website=National Library of Scotland |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=24 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=14587|page=1125|date=1 October 1929|city=e}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=14632|page=264|date=7 March 1930|city=e}}</ref> The transfer of Farr and Tongue to Caithness district was not popular; less than two years later, in 1977, they were transferred to the Sutherland district, after which the district covered the same area as the pre-1975 county.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Caithness and Sutherland Districts (Tongue and Farr) Boundaries Order 1977|year=1977|number=14|access-date=1 August 2024}}</ref>

Caithness District Council was based at the former county council's headquarters at the County Offices in Wick, and held its meetings alternating between Wick Town Hall and [[Thurso Town Hall]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=23939|page=397|date=20 February 1996|city=e}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Highlands and Islands Telephone Directory |date=July 1977 |page=19}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Municipal Year Book |date=1976 |publisher=Municipal Journal |page=1039}}</ref> Throughout the district's existence from 1975 to 1996, a majority of the seats were held by [[Independent politician|independent]] councillors.<ref>{{cite web |title=Compositions calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/?page_id=3825 |website=The Elections Centre | date=4 March 2016 |access-date=14 September 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Welcome to Caithness Sign - geograph.org.uk - 6171484.jpg|thumb|left|County boundary sign on the [[A836 road|A836]] west of Reay]]
Further local government reforms in 1996 under the [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994]] saw the regions and districts created in 1975 abolished and replaced with single-tier [[council area]]s. The former Highland region became one of the new council areas.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|year=1994|chapter=39|accessdate=17 April 2023}}</ref> The boundaries of the historic county are still used for some limited official purposes connected with land registration, being a [[registration county]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ros.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/14921/LandMassCoverageReport2015-proofed.pdf |title=Land Mass Coverage Report |publisher=Registers of Scotland |access-date=2015-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232505/https://www.ros.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/14921/LandMassCoverageReport2015-proofed.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The pre-1996 district (being the same area as the pre-1975 county) is also used as a [[Lieutenancy areas of Scotland|lieutenancy area]], served by the [[Lord Lieutenant of Caithness]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Lord-Lieutenants (Scotland) Order 1996|year=1996|number=731|access-date=1 September 2024}}</ref>

The [[Highland Council]] has an [[area committee]] called the Caithness Committee, comprising the councillors representing the wards which approximately cover the Caithness area. The council also marks the historic county boundaries with road signs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Caithness Committee |url=https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/20003/committee_information/669/caithness_committee |website=The Highland Council |access-date=1 October 2024}}</ref>

==Parishes==
{{further|List of civil parishes in Scotland}}
[[File:Caithness_Shire_1845_parish_map.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Parish map 1845]]
Parishes existed from medieval times. From 1845 to 1894 they had parish boards and from 1894 to 1930 they had parish councils. They have had no administrative functions since 1930, but continue to be used for the presentation of statistics.<ref>{{cite web |title=Civil Parishes |url=https://spatialdata.gov.scot/geonetwork/srv/api/records/d93dbde9-6936-4245-9938-0ef41a5cc0e4 |website=National Records of Scotland |access-date=15 September 2024}}</ref>

Following the 1891 parish boundary changes, Caithness contained the following civil parishes:<ref name=OSsheet3/>
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
*[[Bower, Highland|Bower]]
*[[Canisbay]]
*[[Dunnet]]
*[[Halkirk]]
*[[Latheron]]
*[[Olrig]]
*[[Reay]]
*[[Thurso]] (included burgh of same name)
*[[Watten, Highland|Watten]]
*[[Wick, Caithness|Wick]] (included burgh of same name)
{{div col end}}

Halkirk was formed at the [[Scottish Reformation|Reformation]] by the merger of the ancient parishes of Halkirk and Skinnet.<ref>{{Cite web|last=GENUKI|title=Genuki: Halkirk, Caithness|url=https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/CAI/Halkirk|access-date=2021-01-30|website=genuki.org.uk|language=en|archive-date=4 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204121615/https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/CAI/Halkirk|url-status=live}}</ref> Watten was created from part of Bower parish in 1638.<ref>{{Cite web|last=GENUKI|title=Genuki: Watten, Caithness|url=https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/CAI/Watten|access-date=2021-01-30|website=genuki.org.uk|language=en|archive-date=5 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205040839/https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/CAI/Watten|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Community councils===
[[Community council]]s were created in 1975 under the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973]]. They have no statutory powers, but serve as a representative body for their communities. The Highland Council designates community council areas, but a community council is only formed if there is sufficient interest from the residents. Since a review in 2019, Caithness has comprised the following communities, of which all except Bower have community councils operating as at 2024:<ref>{{cite web |title=Community Councils in the Highland Council area |url=https://highland.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=c2d1be61708c43929ea239823d1248a5 |website=The Highland Council |access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Scheme review 2018/2019 |url=https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/772/politicians_elections_and_democracy/364/community_councils/7 |website=The Highland Council |access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
*[[Berriedale, Highland|Berriedale]] and [[Dunbeath]]
*[[Bower, Highland|Bower]]
*Caithness West
*[[Castletown, Highland|Castletown]]
*[[Dunnet]] and [[Canisbay]]
*[[Halkirk]]
*[[Latheron]], [[Lybster]] and [[Clyth]]
*[[Sinclairs Bay|Sinclair's Bay]]
*Tannach and District
*[[Thurso]]
*[[Watten, Highland|Watten]]
*[[Wick, Caithness|Wick]]
{{div col end}}

==Parliamentary constituency==
The [[Caithness (UK Parliament constituency)|Caithness constituency]] of the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of Great Britain]] (1708 to 1801) and the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] (1801 to 1918) represented essentially the county from 1708 to 1918. At the same time however, the county town of [[Wick, Highland|Wick]] was represented as a component of [[Tain Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)|Tain Burghs]] until 1832 and of [[Wick Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)|Wick Burghs]] until 1918.

Between 1708 and 1832 the Caithness constituency was paired with [[Buteshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Buteshire]] as ''alternating constituencies'': one constituency elected a [[member of parliament]] (MP) to one parliament and then the other elected an MP to the next. Between 1832 and 1918 Caithness elected an MP to every parliament.

In 1918 the Caithness constituency and Wick were merged into the then new constituency of [[Caithness and Sutherland (UK Parliament constituency)|Caithness and Sutherland]]. In 1997 Caithness and Sutherland was merged into [[Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (UK Parliament constituency)|Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross]].

The [[Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Scottish Parliament constituency of Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross]] was created in 1999 and now has boundaries slightly different from those of the House of Commons constituency. It was replaced by the larger constituency of [[Caithness, Sutherland and Ross (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Caithness, Sutherland and Ross]] in 2011.

The modern constituencies may be seen as more sub-divisions of the Highland area than as representative of counties (and burghs). For its own purposes, however, the Highland Council uses more conservative sub-divisions, with names which refer back to the era of district councils and, in some cases, county councils.

In the [[Scottish Parliament]] Caithness is represented also as part of the [[Highlands and Islands (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Highlands and Islands]] [[Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions|electoral region]].

==Towns and villages==
[[File:The John O'Groats Signpost - geograph.org.uk - 6979188 (cropped etc).jpg|thumb|right|John o' Groats]]
[[File:Thurso from the hill at Mountpleasant - geograph.org.uk - 8869.jpg|thumb|right|Thurso]]
[[File:Bridge of Wick - geograph.org.uk - 252159.jpg|thumb|right|Wick]]
In 2021, Caithness had a resident population of 25,347<ref name=pop>[https://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/media/ho2mlgsk/demography-caithness-2022.pdf "Caithness: Partnership Profile Demography and Deprivation"], NHS, November 2022</ref> (26,486 in 2011).

There are two towns in Caithness: [[Thurso]] and [[Wick, Caithness|Wick]]. 54% of the population live in one of those towns.<ref name=pop />

There are also a few villages large enough to have amenities such as a shop, a cafe, a post office, a hotel, a church or a bank. These include [[Castletown, Caithness|Castletown]], [[Dunbeath]], [[Dunnet]], [[Halkirk]], [[John o' Groats]], [[Keiss]], [[Lybster]], [[Reay]]/New Reay, [[Scrabster]] and [[Watten, Highland|Watten]].

Other, smaller settlements include: 
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
*[[Achingills]]
*[[Achreamie]]
*[[Achvarasdal]]
*[[Ackergill]]
*[[Altnabreac]]
*[[Auckengill]]
*[[Balnabruich]]
*[[Berriedale, Scotland|Berriedale]]
*[[Bilbster]]
*[[Borgue, Highland|Borgue]]
*[[Bower, Highland|Bower]]
*[[Brabsterdorran]]
*[[Braemore]]
*[[Broubster]]
*[[Brough, Caithness|Brough]]
*[[Bruan]]
*[[Buldoo]]
*[[Burnside, Caithness|Burnside]]
*[[Canisbay]]
*[[Clyth]]
*[[Crosskirk]]
*[[Dorrery]]
Dunbeath 
*[[Forss, Highland|Forss]]
*[[Fresgoe]]
*[[Freswick]]
*[[Gillock]]
*[[Gills, Caithness|Gills]]
*[[Ham, Caithness|Ham]]
*[[Harrow, Caithness|Harrow]]
*[[Haster]]
*[[Houstry]]
*[[Huna, Caithness|Huna]]
*[[Killimster]]
*[[Landhallow]]
*[[Latheron]]
*[[Latheronwheel]]
*[[Mey, Highland|Mey]]
*[[Murkle]]
*[[Mybster]]
*[[Newlands of Geise]]
*[[Newport, Caithness|Newport]]
*[[Papigoe]]
*[[Ramscraig]]
*[[Reaster]]
*[[Reiss, Scotland|Reiss]]
*[[Roadside, Caithness|Roadside]]
*[[Roster, Caithness|Roster]]
*[[Sarclet]]
*[[Scarfskerry]]
*[[Shebster]]
*[[Skirza]]
*[[Smerral]]
*[[Sordale]]
*[[Spittal, Highland|Spittal]]
*[[Staxigoe]]
*[[Swiney]]
*[[Thrumster, Caithness|Thrumster]]
*[[Ulbster]]
*[[Upper Camster]]
*[[Upper Lybster]]
*[[Westerdale, Highland|Westerdale]]
*[[Westfield, Highland|Westfield]]
*[[Weydale]]
*[[Whiterow]]
{{Div col end}}
{{Clear}}

==Transport==
[[File:Thurso station - geograph.org.uk - 1724781.jpg|thumb|right|Thurso train station, the northernmost station in the UK]]
Caithness is served by the [[Far North Line|Far North railway line]], which runs west–east across the middle of the county serving [[Altnabreac railway station|Altnabreac]] and [[Scotscalder railway station|Scotscalder]] before splitting in two at [[Georgemas Junction railway station|Georgemas Junction]], from where the east branch continues to [[Wick railway station|Wick]] whilst the north branch terminates at [[Thurso railway station|Thurso]].

[[Stagecoach Group]] provided bus transport between the major towns, and on to [[Inverness]] via Sutherland and Ross-shire.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/Timetables/North%20Scotland/Highlands/Caithness-Guide-20AUG18-WEB.pdf |title=Stagecoach North Scotland – Caithness and Sutherland Area Guide from 20 August 2018 |access-date=23 June 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The ferry port at [[Scrabster]] provides a regular service to [[Stromness]] in the Orkney Islands. Ferries also run from [[Gills Bay]] to [[St Margaret's Hope]] on [[South Ronaldsay]]. A summer-only ferry runs from John o' Groats to [[Burwick, Orkney|Burwick]] on [[South Ronaldsay]].

[[Wick Airport]] provided regular flights to [[Aberdeen]] and [[Edinburgh]] until 2020 when Loganair and Eastern Airways cancelled their flights.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hial.co.uk/wick-airport/destinations/|title=Destinations|website=HIAL|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-11-01|archive-date=25 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025031627/https://www.hial.co.uk/wick-airport/destinations/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2021 there were no scheduled flights to and from Wick Airport. Starting on 11 April 2022, [[Eastern Airways]] started a scheduled operation to Wick from Aberdeen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hial.co.uk/wick-john-ogroats-airport/destinations-11/1|title=Destinations|website=HIAL|language=en-GB|access-date=2022-07-22|archive-date=7 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707020009/https://www.hial.co.uk/wick-john-ogroats-airport/destinations-11/1|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Language==
At the beginning of recorded history, Caithness was inhabited by the [[Picts]], whose language [[Pictish language|Pictish]] is thought to have been related to the [[Brythonic languages]] spoken by the [[Celtic Britons|Britons]] to the south. The [[Norn language]] was introduced to Caithness, Orkney, and Shetland by the Norse occupation, which is generally proposed to be c. AD 800.<ref>The Viking age in Caithness, Orkney and the North Atlantic, Edinburgh University Press {{ISBN|0-7486-0430-8}}, page 121</ref> Although little is known of that Norn dialect, some of this linguistic influence still exists in parts of the county, particularly in place names. Norn continued to be spoken in Caithness until perhaps the 15th century.<ref name=jones>Jones, Charles (1997). The Edinburgh history of the Scots language. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. p. 394.</ref> and lingered until the late 18th century in the [[Northern Isles]].

It is sometimes erroneously claimed that Gaelic has never been spoken in Caithness, but this is a result of [[language shift]] to [[Scots language|Scots]],<ref>[[John Jamieson|Jamieson, J.]] (1808), ''An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language''.</ref><ref>The New Statistical Account of Scotland (1845) Vol. XV</ref><ref>Transactions of the Hawick Archaeological Society (1863)</ref><ref>Murray, James A. H. (1873) The Dialect of the Southern Counties of Scotland, Transactions of the Philological Society, Part II, 1870–72. London-Berlin, Asher & Co.</ref><ref>Grant, William; Dixon, James Main (1921) Manual of Modern Scots. Cambridge, University Press.</ref><ref>The [[Scottish National Dictionary]] (1929–1976) vol. I</ref> and then towards Standard [[Scottish English]] during recent centuries.<ref name="linguae-celticae.org"/> The Gaelic name for the region, ''Gallaibh'', translates as "Land of the Gall (''non-Gaels'')", a name which reflects historic Norse rule. [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]] speakers seem to first figure in the early stage of the Scandinavian colonisation of Caithness, gradually increasing in numerical significance from the 12th century onwards.<ref>The Viking age in Caithness, Orkney and the North Atlantic, Edinburgh University Press {{ISBN|0-7486-0430-8}}, page 125</ref> Gaelic has survived, in a limited form, in western parts of the county.<ref name="linguae-celticae.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.linguae-celticae.org/dateien/Gaelic_1901-2001.ppt|title=1901–2001 – Gaelic in the Census|format=ppt|website=linguae-celticae.org|access-date=28 July 2008|archive-date=7 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101207211745/http://www.linguae-celticae.org/dateien/Gaelic_1901-2001.ppt|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

[[Scots language|Scots]] began supplanting Norn in the early 14th century at the time of the [[Wars of Scottish Independence]].<ref>Mairi Robinson (editor-in-chief), The Concise Scots Dictionary, Aberdeen University Press, 1985 p.x</ref> The emergent [[North Northern Scots|Northern Scots]] dialect became influenced by both Gaelic and Norn<ref>McColl Millar. 2007. Northern and Insular Scots. Edinburgh: University Press Ltd. p. 191</ref> and is generally spoken in the lowlying land to the east of a line drawn from [[Clyth]] Ness to some {{convert|4|mi|0}} west of [[Thurso]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dsl.ac.uk/INTRO/intro2.php?num=27|title=SND Introduction|access-date=8 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517181927/http://www.dsl.ac.uk/INTRO/intro2.php?num=27|archive-date=17 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The dialect of Scots spoken in the neighbourhood of [[John o' Groats]] resembles to some extent that of [[Orcadian dialect|Orkney]]. Since the 17th century, [[Standard Scottish English]] has increasingly been replacing both Gaelic and Scots.

Records showing what languages were spoken apparently do not exist from before 1706, but by that time, "[I]f ye suppose a Parallel to the hypotenuse drawn from [[Wick, Caithness|Week]] to Thurso, these on the Eastside of it speak most part English, and those on the Westside Irish; and the last have Ministers to preach to them in both languages." Similarly, it is stated at that time that there were "Seven parishes [out of 10 or 11] in [the Presbytery of] Caithness where the Irish language is used."<ref name="bratach.co.uk">[http://www.bratach.co.uk/bratach/archive/Jun08/jun08_caithness-gaelic.html Caithness of the Gael and the Lowlander] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908010259/http://www.bratach.co.uk/bratach/archive/Jun08/jun08_caithness-gaelic.html |date=8 September 2008 }}</ref>

As previously indicated, the language mix or boundary changed over time, but the ''New Statistical Record'' in 1841 says: "On the eastern side of [the Burn of East Clyth] scarcely a word of Gaelic was either spoken or understood, and on the west side, English suffered the same fate". Other sources state:

* "There are Seven parishes in [the Presbytery of] Caithness where the Irish language is used, viz. Thurso, Halkrig [Halkirk], Rhae [Reay], Lathrone [Latheron], Ffar [Farr], Week [Wick], Duirness [Durness]. But the people of Week understand English also." (Presbytery of Caithness, 1706)<ref name="bratach.co.uk"/>
* "A presbytery minute of 1727 says of 1,600 people who had 'come of age', 1500 could speak Gaelic only, and a mere five could read. Gaelic at this time was the principal language in most parishes except Bower, Canisbay, Dunnet and Olrig".<ref>Omand, D. ''From the Vikings to the Forty-Five'', in ''The Caithness book''.</ref>
* "Persons with a knowledge of Gaelic in the County of Caithness (in 1911) are found to number 1,685, and to constitute 6.7 per cent of the entire population of three years of age and upwards. Of these 1,248 were born in Caithness, 273 in Sutherland, 77 in Ross & Cromarty, and 87 elsewhere.... By an examination of the age distribution of the Gaelic speakers, it is found that only 22 of them are less than 20 years of age."<ref>J. Patten MacDougall, Registrar General, 1912</ref>

According to the 2011 Scotland Census, 282 (1.1%) residents of Caithness age three and over can speak Gaelic while 466 (1.8%) have some facility with the language. The percentage figures are almost exactly the same as for all of Scotland (1.1% and 1.7%, respectively).<ref>[http://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/ods-web/data-warehouse.html 2011 Scotland Census] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140604200212/http://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/ods-web/data-warehouse.html |date=4 June 2014 }}, Table QS211SC.</ref> Nearly half of all Gaelic speakers in the county live in Thurso civil parish. The town of [[Thurso]] hosts the only Gaelic-medium primary school unit in all of Caithness (see [[Thurso#Language|Language in Thurso]]).

The bilingual road sign policy of Highland Region Council has led to some controversy in the region. In 2008, eight of the ten Caithness representatives to the [[Highland Council#Highland Council|Highland Council]] tried to prevent the introduction of bilingual English-Gaelic road signs into the county.<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7280834.stm Bid to exclude Gaelic signs fails] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531105412/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7280834.stm |date=31 May 2014 }}", BBC News, 6 March 2008.</ref> The first bilingual sign in Caithness was erected in 2012.<ref>Gordon Calder, "[http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/News/New-bilingual-sign-sparks-fresh-wrangle-10082012.htm New bilingual sign sparks fresh wrangle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531105843/http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/News/New-bilingual-sign-sparks-fresh-wrangle-10082012.htm |date=31 May 2014 }}," John O'Groat Journal, 10 August 2012.</ref> In 2013, a bilingual road sign on the A99 road next to [[Wick Airport]] was damaged by gunfire within 24 hours of it being placed. Gaelic-speaking Councillor Alex MacLeod, at the time representing Landward Caithness in the Highland Council, referred to it as "an extreme anti-Gaelic incident".<ref>Alisdair Munro, "[http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/anti-gaelic-gunmen-shoot-road-sign-in-caithness-1-3075913 ‘Anti-Gaelic gunmen’ shoot road sign in Caithness] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712113204/http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/anti-gaelic-gunmen-shoot-road-sign-in-caithness-1-3075913 |date=12 July 2015 }}", The Scotsman, 5 September 2013.</ref>

==Flag==
{{further|Flag of Caithness}}
In 2016 a flag was adopted for Caithness, following a competition organised by the Highland Council.<ref>{{cite news |title=Winner of Caithness flag competition announced |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-35407820 |access-date=1 October 2024 |work=BBC News |date=26 January 2016}}</ref> The winning design has a black background representing the county's dark flagstone, with a [[Nordic cross]] in yellow and blue representing the area's Norse heritage and the county's coast. A [[galley]] with a raven on its sail appears in one quarter; this was a traditional symbol of the county and had appeared on the old county council's coat of arms.<ref>{{cite web |title=Caithness flag unfurled |url=https://www.highland.gov.uk/news/article/9241/caithness_flag_unfurled |website=The Highland Council |access-date=1 October 2024 |date=26 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=New Caithness flag unveiled by Highland Council |url=https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/new-caithness-flag-unveiled-by-highland-council-1484508 |access-date=1 October 2024 |work=The Scotsman |date=27 January 2016}}</ref>

==Local media==

=== Newspapers ===

''[[The John O'Groat Journal]]'' and ''[[The Caithness Courier]]'' are weekly [[newspapers]] published by Scottish Provincial Press Limited<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snpa.org.uk/scottish.htm|title=Scottish Provincial Press Limited website|access-date=28 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629150053/http://www.snpa.org.uk/scottish.htm|archive-date=29 June 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> trading as North of Scotland Newspapers<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caithness-courier.co.uk|title=Services North – Search for local businesses in the North of Scotland|publisher=Caithness Courier|access-date=28 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011070042/http://caithness-courier.co.uk/|archive-date=11 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> and using offices in Union Street, [[Wick (Highland)|Wick]] (but with public reception via Cliff Road) and Olrig Street, [[Thurso]].

News coverage tends to concentrate on the former counties of Caithness and [[Sutherland]]. ''The John O'Groat Journal'' is normally published on Fridays and ''The Caithness Courier'' on Wednesdays. The two papers share a website.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/Home/|title=John O'Groat Journal – Home|website=johnogroat-journal.co.uk|access-date=28 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020155557/http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/Home/|archive-date=20 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Historically, they have been independent newspapers, with the ''Groat'' as a Wick-centred paper and the ''Courier'' as a Thurso-centred paper. Even now, the ''Groat'' is archived in the public library in Wick, while the ''Courier'' is similarly archived in the library in Thurso. The ''Courier'' was printed, almost by hand, in a small shop in High Street, Thurso until the early 60's by Mr Docherty and his daughter. The ''Courier'' traditionally covers that week's cases at [[Wick Sheriff Court]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/courts/|title=Courts|newspaper=John O'Groat Journal and Caithness Courier|access-date=25 December 2022|archive-date=25 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225151126/https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/courts/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Radio===
''Caithness FM'' has been broadcasting since 1993 and the Orkney Commercial Radio, [[The Superstation Orkney|Superstation Orkney]] from Kirkwall from 2004 to 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caithnessfm.co.uk/|title=Caithness FM|access-date=10 July 2007|archive-date=16 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216062844/http://caithnessfm.co.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
'''Constituencies'''
* [[Caithness (UK Parliament constituency)]] (1708 to 1918)
* [[Tain Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)]] (1708 to 1832)
* [[Wick Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)]] (1832 to 1918)
* [[Caithness and Sutherland (UK Parliament constituency)]] (1918 to 1997)
* [[Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (UK Parliament constituency)]] (1997 to present)
* [[Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (Scottish Parliament constituency)]] (1999 to 2011)
* [[Caithness, Sutherland and Ross (Scottish Parliament constituency)]] (2011 to present)

'''Other'''
* [[Caithness Broch Project]]
* [[Caithness Glass]]
* [[Clan Gunn]]
* [[Clan Sinclair]]
* [[Counties of Scotland]]
* [[List of counties of Scotland 1890–1975]]
* [[Local government in Scotland]]
* [[Local government areas of Scotland 1973 to 1996]]
* [[Maiden Paps, Caithness]]
* [[Bishop of Caithness|Medieval Diocese of Caithness]]
* [[Politics of the Highland council area]]
* [[Subdivisions of Scotland]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{EB1911 poster|Caithness}}
*[http://www.caithness.org Caithness Community Website]
*[http://www.scots-online.org/grammar/nnscots.htm Caithness Dialect] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504150258/http://www.scots-online.org/grammar/nnscots.htm |date=4 May 2015 }}
*[http://www.scotslanguage.com/books/view/8/796 Caithness Dialect at Scots Language Centre]
* [http://www.caithnessarts.org.uk/ Caithness Arts website]
* [http://www.castletown.info/ Castletown and District Community Council website]
* [http://www.castletownheritage.co.uk/ Castletown Heritage Society]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070808193157/http://www.dunnetandcanisbaycc.org/ Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council]}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071107105916/http://www.castleofmey.org.uk/ Castle of Mey website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150801071352/http://castlesinclairgirnigoe.org/ Castle Sinclair Girnigoe]
* [http://forum.caithness.org Caithness forum]
* [https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/caithnessnotorg/ Caithness alternative community forum]
* [http://www.thebrochproject.co.uk/ Caithness Broch Project]

{{Scottish provinces|major}}
{{Scotland counties}}
{{Former local government regions of Scotland}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Caithness| ]]
[[Category:Lieutenancy areas of Scotland]]
[[Category:Counties of Scotland]]
[[Category:Orkneyinga saga places]]
[[Category:Norn language]]
[[Category:Counties of the United Kingdom (1801–1922)]]
[[Category:Districts of Scotland]]