Selkirk occupies a central position within the Scottish Borders. The settlement has a population of 4,663 according to the 2022 population census, a decrease of 9.34% over that recorded at the 2001 Population Census (4,990). The Town is between Galashiels (seven miles north) and Hawick (eleven miles south), the two largest population centres within the Scottish Borders with populations around 14,000 and 16,000 respectively. Selkirk is conveniently situated to serve the other main towns within the Scottish Borders with good road links via the A7 arterial route. The Royal Burgh of Selkirk lies on the Selkirk Water a tributary of the River Tweed. The people of the town are known as the ‘Souters’ which means cobblers (‘shoemakers and menders’). Selkirk is one of the oldest Royal Burgh’s in Scotland it is reputed to have been the site of the earliest settlement within the Scottish Borders. ‘Selkirk’ means ‘Church of the Forest’ from the old English SELE (‘hall or manor’) Cirice (‘church’). Works have recently commenced to convert the former Sainsbury’s opposite into a Cooperative Supermarket.