Shieldhill, Falkirk

California (Scottish Gaelic: Calafòrnia) is a former pit village in the Falkirk council area of Scotland. It lies between Shieldhill and Avonbridge on the uplands which form the southern edge of the council area. The population recorded in the United Kingdom 2001 census was 702, down from 747 in 1991.

The Battle of Falkirk (Scottish Gaelic: Blàr na h-Eaglaise Brice), on 22 July 1298, was one of the major battles in the First War of Scottish Independence. Led by King Edward I of England, the English army defeated the Scots, led by William Wallace. Shortly after the battle Wallace resigned as Guardian of Scotland.

Callendar House is a mansion set within the grounds of Callendar Park in Falkirk, central Scotland. During the 19th century, it was redesigned and extended in the style of a French Renaissance château fused with elements of Scottish baronial architecture. However, the core of the building is a 14th-century tower house.During its 600-year history, Callendar House has played host to many prominent historical figures, including Mary, Queen of Scots, Oliver Cromwell, Bonnie Prince Charlie and Queen Victoria. The current building is by far the most substantial historical building in the area, with a 300 ft (91 m) frontage. It is protected as a category A listed building, and the grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland, the national listing of significant gardens.

The Polmont rail accident, also known as the Polmont rail disaster, occurred on 30 July 1984 to the west of Polmont, near Falkirk, in Scotland. A westbound push-pull express train travelling from Edinburgh to Glasgow struck a cow which had gained access to the track through a damaged fence from a field near Polmont railway station, causing all six carriages and the locomotive of the train to derail. 13 people were killed and 61 others were injured, 17 of them seriously. The accident led to a debate about the safety of push-pull trains on British Rail.

Glen Village is a settlement in the Falkirk council area of Scotland, situated at the southern end of Callendar Park, and around 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Falkirk town centre. It adjoins the housing estate of Hallglen, with the two localities counted together in most official statistics.

Graeme High School is a non-denominational public secondary school located in Falkirk, Scotland. The school is operated by Falkirk Council on behalf of the Education Department of the Scottish Government. The catchment area, from which the school's pupil population is drawn, comprises Hallglen, Laurieston, St. Margaret's, Victoria and Westquarter primary schools, located in the east of Falkirk itself and in the nearby Lower Braes villages.

Reddingmuirhead is a village located in Stirlingshire, Falkirk council area, Central Scotland. A few hundred yards uphill from the village of Redding, it is between Shieldhill and Brightons. The village contains a large Co-operative Society building, the shops of which provide most everyday requirements, one small general store, and one licensed grocer who also looks after the post office, and a large secondary school Braes High. It was notable in recent times due to the success of its local Sunday football team, Blairlodge AFC, which competed in the Falkirk and District League.Reddingmuirhead is also the location of the Polmont Young Offenders Institution.

Westquarter is a village in the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The village is 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Polmont and 1.8 miles (2.9 km) south-east of the town of Falkirk. Westquarter can be accessed from the north via the A803 road and from the south via the B805 road. At the 2001 census the village of Westquarter was recorded as having a resident population of 1,105. In 1876 George McRoberts who already manufactured detonators (for mining) at Westquarter, was joined by Alfred Nobel to build the Nobel Explosives Factory in Westquarter.

Laurieston is a village in the Falkirk council area in Central Scotland. It is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east Falkirk, 1.6 miles (2.6 km) south-west of Grangemouth and 1.6 miles (2.6 km) west of Polmont. Laurieston is located on the A803 road between Falkirk and Polmont. At the time of the 2001 census, Laurieston had a population of 2,752 residents, down from 3,000 in 1991 and 3,300 in 1971.The course of the Antonine Wall runs through the village with the largest fort on the wall located at Mumrills.

Falkirk bus station is a disused bus station situated in Falkirk, Scotland. It is privately owned.

Wallacestone is a village in the area of Falkirk, central Scotland. It lies 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south-west of Polmont, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south-east of Falkirk and 1.0 mile (1.6 km) north-east of California. The population of Wallacestone was recorded as 746 residents at the time of the 2001 census.

The Redding pit disaster was a coal mining disaster in September 1923 when an inrush of water trapped 66 miners underground at a mine shaft in the Central Belt of Scotland, with 40 fatalities.