A city in the north east of Scotland. A settlement (or group of several settlements) at Aberdeen has existed since at least the twelfth century.  The burgh was founded during the reign of David I (1124-53).  Aberdeen became the principal market town for agricultural produce in the North East of Scotland, the largest fishing port in Scotland and a leading North Sea trading port.  By the nineteenth century the town had become associated with shipbuilding, fish processing, granite working, textiles, and numerous other industries. The Police Commissioners of Aberdeen were incorporated into the municipal (elected) council by virtue of a local act of 1871. Boundary extensions swallowed up parts of Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire, including the separate burghs of Old Aberdeen and Woodside in 1891. Aberdeen became a county of a city in 1900. The parishes of Peterculter, Dyce, Newhills and the Bridge of Don area of Old Machar parish were incorporated into the City of Aberdeen in 1974.