Understanding Scottish Places

Fort William, Highland

Population 5,757

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Fort William in Highland was, as the name suggest, originally a fort where troops were garrisoned in the 17th century. The town developed on the adjacent site. The coming of the railway and the Caledonian Canal made it a transport node. It remains an important station on the West Highland line. The town retains some industry including an aluminium smelter and distillery as well as smaller local services. Tourism is key to the local economy (including being the end of the West Highland Way and of the access to Ben Nevis).

In medium towns like this one, people experience more challenging circumstances with higher rates of unemployment, poorer health, lack of a car, lower levels of education and lower social grades than other groups. A higher proportion live in social rented housing. There is a higher proportion of single person households and lone parents.

Fort William is an independent town.

It is in a group of its own according to USP analysis, which combines typology and assessment of inter-relationships.

To gain more insight into Fort William, compare it to any of the other towns included in USP.

Inter-relationships

Dependent
Interdependent
Independent

Number of jobs

6
Type average 6

Diversity of jobs

0
Type average 0

Distance travelled to work

6
Type average 6

Number of public sector jobs

4
Type average 4

Number of hospitals

6
Type average 6

Number of GP's and dentists

6
Type average 6

Number of children in primary schools

-4
Type average -4

Number of children in secondary schools

4
Type average 4

Distance travelled to study

6
Type average 6

Number of shops

6
Type average 6

Diversity of retail offer

2
Type average 2

Number of charities

Type average 6
Dependent
Interdependent
Independent

Change

Public

Education (% all people aged 16 and over)

  No education Standard grade or equivalent Higher grade or equivalent HNC, HND, SVQ4 Degree or higher degree
Fort William 19.55582973 21.40653917 12.15299198 22.80485297 24.22373021

Commercial

Distance travelled to study

  At home Up to 5km 5 to 10km 10 to 30km 30km and over
Fort William 3.734583984714261 12.836546812575994 0.12159110647906896 0.13896126454750737 1.7370158068438424

Environment Indicators

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Discover

To gain more insight into Fort William, compare it to any of the other towns included in USP.

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Footnotes