People in Argyll and Bute said a resounding No to independence – by a majority of more than 10,000 votes.
The region’s result was among the last to be declared, at 5.55am, with 26,324 Yes votes and 37,143 backing the Better Together campaign.
The total electorate for Argyll and Bute is 72,002, and a turnout of 88.2% meant 63,516 votes were cast.
Speaking at the count in Lochgilphead, Mike Russell, SNP MSP for Argyll and Bute, said: “Obviously I am very disappointed in the result.
“We had a wonderful group of people campaigning across Argyll, I feel gutted for them. But the verdicts are very clear both in Argyll and Scotland.
“We need to make sure we honour that verdict, which is clearly saying Scotland needs more powers, that is what has been offered this week.
“We need to make sure they are delivered and politicians across the spectrum have to work to deliver them.”
The region’s Liberal democrat MP Alan Reid said: “I am certainly very pleased that Argyll and Bute and Scotland as a whole have voted to keep the Union.
“I think it is important that all parties work together to bring more power to the Scottish Parliament. It is also important that devolution doesn’t stop at Holyrood, that more powers are devolved down to local communities.
“I am not surprised by the result, I was always confident that we were going to win by a comfortable majority in Argyll.”
Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Jamie McGrigor said: “My reaction is absolute elation. I’m thrilled that Scotland will be staying as part of our family of nations within the United Kingdom.
“I think the exercise has been incredibly important for Scottish politics and it has shown that we must rejuvenate the Union and make it more fit for purpose, for Scotland in particular.
“This was a hard-fought campaign in an SNP constituency but it wasn’t about political parties, it was about people wondering what was best for the future of Argyll and for Scotland.”
Alongside postal votes and proxies, ballot papers made their way across Argyll and Bute in boxes transported by car, boat, and helicopter to be counted at Lochgilphead Joint Campus.
Counting officer Sally Loudon said: “Argyll and Bute’s diverse geography means we have to consider the logistics of a major count very carefully.”
Yes 26,324
No 37,143
Turnout 88.2%