Livingston is a town in The Lothians.
Livingston is the fourth post-war new town to be built in Scotland, designated in 1962. It is located approximately 15 miles 25 km west of Edinburgh and 30 miles 50 km east of Glasgow, and is bordered by the towns of Broxburn to the northeast and Bathgate to the northwest.
Livingston is the largest town in the West Lothian area. It was built around a collection of small villages, Livingston Village, Bellsquarry and Livingston Station now Nether Dechmont or Deans . It contains a number of residential precincts or areas. These include Craigshill, Howden, Dedridge, Ladywell, Knightsridge, Murieston, Adambrae, Deans and Eliburn. Its neighbouring villages include Polbeth, West Calder, East Calder, Mid Calder, Uphall Station and Pumpherston. Livingston itself is the 7th largest town in Scotland, based on 2004 population estimates. The 2001 census showed the town had a population of 50,826 24,451 male and 26,375 female and an urban agglomeration population including Mid Calder and East Calder of 59,511.
Livingston is also the second largest settlement in the Lothians after Edinburgh. Until 1963 the area surrounding the ancient village of Livingston was open farm land. The name was taken from this village which dates back to 12th Century when a Flemish entrepreneur called De Leving was granted land in the area. He built a fortified tower which is long since gone and the settlement that grew up around it became known as Levingstoun, Layingston and eventually Livingston.
