The Garioch

The Garioch is the name of one of six committee areas in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The "och" at the end of the word is silent and so the word as a whole is generally pronounced /'gee-ree/. It has a population of 42,947 (2001 Census).Centred on Inverurie, a traditional rural market town whose foundation dates back to the 9th century with the establishment of Christianity at Polnar, "The Kirk of Rocharl" - now St Andrew's Parish Church, Inverurie, "The Auld Kirk of Inverurie", the Garioch has also experienced rapid population growth due to its proximity to the city of Aberdeen. Significant growth in population, services and employment is anticipated in the A96 corridor and in Westhill. The area is largely agricultural, but is strongly affected by Aberdeen's economy and the oil and gas sector. The Garioch holds growing potential for tourism, in its environment and archaeological heritage.