Banffshire County Council was established with other county councils by the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1889 (52 & 53 Vict., c.50). Banffshire was split into two, Upper (including Keith) and Lower (including Banff). County councils were made up of elected councillors and took over powers from the commissioners of supply, county road trusts, and local authorities set up under the Diseases of Animals Act. They also took over some administrative powers from the justices of the peace, but not their licensing or judicial powers. The responsibilities of the commissioners of supply for police matters were transferred to standing joint committees made up of commissioners of supply and county councillors. Parochial boards which had been responsible for duties under the Public Health Acts had such powers transferred to district committees of county councils. The 1889 Act made it compulsory for county councils to appoint full time county medical officers of health and sanitary inspectors.
Further reform of county councils came in the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929 (19 & 20 Geo V, c.25). The 1929 Act changed some of the functions of county councils and set up a system of district councils which had certain functions assigned to them by the county council.
County councils were abolished in 1975 by the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1973 (c.65). The powers of county councils were transferred to regional councils and district councils.
Chairman of County Council
Sir George MacPherson Grant bart of Ballindalloch (1890 - 1896)
Dr James Campbell (1896 - 1913)
E.A. Thurburn of Mayen (1913 - 1915)
William Forbes (1915 -1918)
Dr. George Cowie Grant of Dufftown (1919 - 1920)
Lieutenant-Colonel John James George DL of Macduff (1921 - 1930)
Colonel Sir George W. Abercromby (1930 - 1961)
Rev. George Arthur MacDonald Dickson (1961)
Colonel T.R. Gordon Duff (1961 - 1970)
James A.S. McPherson (1970 - 1975)