Leven, town with ry. sta., Scoonie par., Fife, on W. side of Largo Bay, Firth of Forth, at influx of river Leven, l0¾ miles NE. of Kirkcaldy, pop. (including Innerleven) 3067; P.O., T.O., 3 Banks; a bridge leads across the river to the suburb of Innerleven, or Dubbyside, in Markinch par. A new wet dock, with river wall and protection wall, was opened in 1880, and accommodates vessels of 800 tons. The principal industries are flax-spinning and linen-weaving, and in the neighbourhood are foundries, bone-dust and corn mills, brickworks, &c. The place gives the title of Earl of Leven, now united with that of Melville. Leven is a police burgh.

(John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887))