Other current and historical names
Location and coordinates are for the approximate centre of Stranraer within this administrative area. Geographic features and populated places may cross administrative borders.
Gazetteer of the British Isles (Edinburgh: Bartholomew, 1887). John Bartholomew
Stranraer, royal and police burgh, seaport town, and par., Wigtownshire, at head of Loch Ryan, 7½ miles NE. of Portpatrick, 73 miles W. of Dumfries, and 87 miles SW. of Glasgow by rail - par., 55 ac., pop. 3528; royal burgh, pop. 3455; police burgh, pop. 6342; town, pop. 6415; P.O., T.O., 5 Banks, 1 newspaper. Market-day, Friday. The police burgh and the town extend into Inch and Leswalt pars. Stranraer has a good agricultural trade, and daily communication by steamer with Larne in Ireland (39 miles) in connection with express railway trains. (For shipping statistics, see Appendix.) Some fishing is carried on. Stranraer was made a burgh of barony in 1596, and a royal burgh in 1617. The ruin of Stranraer or Kennedy's Castle (15th century) stands in the centre of the town. Stranraer formed one of the Wigtown District of Parliamentary Burghs, which returned 1 member until 1885.