The thesis is written in three main sections. The first section describes and explains why a wider range of land uses can justify a central location in medium sized Scottish towns than in the larger centres studied previously. The derivation of the land use based delimitation technique used in the thesis is then described. The second section considers the historical growth of the central area in relation to its changing function and to factors attracting and constraining growth. These factors are shown to be similar to those noted in earlier studies. The central area is seen to have had continuous growth since 1882 with the growth prior to 1912 being mainly for additional retail floor space and in the direction of the main population expansion. Growth since, and particularly in the post 1938 period, has been mainly for additional office floor space, in the direction of housing suitable for conversion to offices, and for other central area uses, in the land behind and between the main shopping streets. In the third section the internal structure of the central area is investigated in relation to such geographic aspects as the location of and degree of concentration around the Peak Land ¥alue Intersection, the Central Area Mean Point and the mean points of individual land uses. The relationship between land use and land values is investigated through the county assessor's frontage rates. A clear spatial ordering of land use is identified within the central area of medium sized Scottish towns with most land uses locating in relation to their ability to command the more accessible sites. The main land use categories which do not follow this pattern are offices, many of which do not require a highly accessible site and are located more in relation to the availability of suitable premises» The spatial ordering of land use within the central areas of medium sized Scottish towns is similar to that noted by other research workers who have studied the central business districts of generally larger centres in industrialized countries. The main differences, such as the relatively low intensity of use and the lack of any increase in building height in the core of the central area, are directly related to the lower absolute demand for sites. A brief fourth section compares the character of the central areas of medium sized Scottish towns with that of the central business districts of larger settlements and also identifies some implications for planning policies.