Scots who favored rejecting independence celebrate today after the results of Thursday's historic vote were announced at a campaign event at a hotel in Glasgow. The Scots voted 55 percent to 45 percent to maintain their union with England.

EDINBURGH, Scotland — Scottish voters have resoundingly rejected independence, deciding to remain part of the United Kingdom after a historic referendum that shook the country to its core.

The decision prevented a rupture of a 307-year union with England, bringing a huge sigh of relief to Britain’s economic and political establishment, including Prime Minister David Cameron, who faced calls for his resignation if Scotland had broken away.

The vote on Thursday — 55 percent against independence to 45 percent in favor — saw an unprecedented turnout of just under 85 percent.

“We have chosen unity over division,” Alistair Darling, head of the No campaign, said early today in Glasgow. “Today is a momentous day for Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole.”

Iain Duguid, a professor of religious and biblical studies at Grove City College and a native of Scotland, said he was pleased that the “no” vote won out. He said that Scots are very proud of their national identity, but he said that there was a lot of uncertainty about what would happen economically if the “yes” vote was successful.

“That’s probably what won out in the end,” Duguid said.

He said he sees Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland having greater autonomy in the future, potentially resembling the way individual states function in the United States.

Duguid came to the U.S. in 1995. At that time, he said there was some talk of Scottish independence. However, since then, he said that the central government in the U.K. has become more conservative while the Scottish retained socialist sympathies, likely leading to more calls for independence.

He noted that Scotland is rather different from England, having a different court system and school system. He said that the systems in Wales and Northern Ireland are much more like England’s.

The result establishes a whole new political dynamic in the United Kingdom, with Cameron appearing outside No. 10 Downing Street to pledge more powers for regional governments.

Even in conceding, independence leader Alex Salmond struck an upbeat tone.

“This has been a triumph for the democratic process and for participation in politics,” he said. A much-relieved Cameron promised to live up to his promises to give Scotland new powers on taxes and spending.

Eagle staff writer John Bojarski contributed to this report.