Falkirk (an Eaglais Bhreac in Gaelic) is one of the 32 unitary authority council areas in Scotland. It borders onto North Lanarkshire to the south west, Stirling to the north west, West Lothian to the south east and, across the Firth of Forth to the north east, Fife. The council area was formed on 1st April, 1996 from the exact boundaries of Falkirk District Council by way of the Local Government etc.