Isles of Scilly

"Scilly" redirects here. For the region of Italy, see Sicily. For the place in Surrey, see Scilly Isles, Surrey. For the atoll in the Society Islands, sometimes called "Scilly Atoll", see Manuae (Society Islands).

Isles of Scilly
Syllan
Scillonian Cross flag
The Isles of Scilly (red; bottom left corner) within Cornwall (red & beige)
Geography
Location
45 km (24 nmi) southwest of the Cornish peninsula
Coordinates49°55′N 6°20′W / 49.917°N 6.333°W / 49.917; -6.333
ISO Code: GB-IOS
OS grid referenceSV8912
ArchipelagoBritish Isles
Adjacent toCeltic Sea
Atlantic Ocean
Total islands5 inhabited, 140 others
Major islands
Area16 km2 (6.2 sq mi) (293rd)
Highest elevation51 m (167 ft)
Highest pointTelegraph
Administration
StatusSui generis unitary
CountryEngland
RegionSouth West
Ceremonial countyCornwall
Capital and largest cityHugh Town (pop. 948 2021 census.)
LeadershipRobert Francis[1]
ExecutiveMark Boden (interim)[2]
MPAndrew George (Lib Dem)
Demographics
DemonymScillonian
Population2,281 (2022 · 296th[3])
Pop. density140/km2 (360/sq mi)
LanguagesEnglish, Cornish
Ethnic groups93.7% White British
3.7% Other White
1.1% Mixed
0.3% Asian
0.2% Black
0.9% Other groups[4]
Additional information
Official websitewww.scilly.gov.uk
Designated13 August 2001
Reference no.1095[5]

The Isles of Scilly (/ˈsɪli/ SIL-ee; Standard Written Form: Syllan, Enesek Syllan, or Enesow Syllan)[6] are a small archipelago off the southwestern tip of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. One of the islands, St Agnes, is over four miles (six kilometres) further south than the most southerly point of the British mainland at Lizard Point.

The total population of the islands at the 2021 United Kingdom census was 2,100 (rounded to the nearest 100).[7] Scilly forms part of the ceremonial county of Cornwall, and some services are combined with those of Cornwall. However, since 1890, the islands have had a separate local authority. Since the passing of the Isles of Scilly Order 1930, this authority has held the status of county council, and today it is known as the Council of the Isles of Scilly.

The adjective "Scillonian" is sometimes used for people or things related to the archipelago. The Duchy of Cornwall owns most of the freehold land on the islands. Tourism is a major part of the local economy along with agriculture, particularly the production of cut flowers.

  1. ^ "New appointments for Councillors 2019 | Council of the ISLES OF SCILLY". scilly.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  2. ^ "Mark Boden appointed Interim Chief Executive | Council of the ISLES OF SCILLY". scilly.gov.uk.
  3. ^ "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Isles of Scilly ethnic groups". Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  5. ^ "Isles of Scilly". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  6. ^ Harris, Steve, ed. (2018). "enys". A Learner's Cornish Dictionary. Ors Sempel. p. 109. ISBN 978-0-9930764-3-5.
  7. ^ "Build a custom area profile - Census 2021, ONS". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 27 March 2024.