Dundee

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City and administrative centre of Dundee City unitary authority, in eastern Scotland, on the north side of the firth of Tay; 96 km/60 mi east of Edinburgh; population (2001) 154,700. Dundee developed around the jute, jam, and journalism industries in the 19th century. In the 20th century, Dundee has diversified into biomedical research, oil-industry support, and high-technology manufacturing.

History
Dundee first started to flourish through trade with Flanders and the Baltic ports, and the first harbour was built in the 11th century. Dundee was granted its first charter at the end of the 12th century, making it a royal burgh. A long period of prosperity based on the flax, wool, and linen industries came to an end in the 17th century: the town was sacked in 1645 by the Marquis of Montrose, and destroyed in 1651 by the Cromwellian army, under General Monck. It was more than a century before growth and prosperity returned. By the late 18th century, Dundee was Europe's most important producer of linen, especially sailcloth. In the 1830s the town started to cultivate jute, initially to supplement linen, later becoming a world supplier, earning the city the unofficial title ‘Juteopolis’. Jute is used for making sacks and sacking, upholstery, and webbing. Dundee also had a large whaling industry, and whale oil was used to treat the jute. In 1878 the Tay Rail Bridge, the world's longest rail bridge, was opened, but it collapsed the following year, killing 75 train passengers and crew. It was rebuilt 1883–88. Queen Victoria conferred city status on Dundee in 1892. In 1966 the Tay Road Bridge, the longest river crossing of any road bridge, was opened.

The flag was selected following a design competition. The waves represent the Pacific Ocean. Effective date: 12 July 1979. >>