East Kilbride
South Lanarkshire

Situated 12 miles (19.3 km) south of Glasgow and 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Paisley on an exposed upland plateau, East Kilbride is Scotland's sixth largest town and was its first New Town being designated as such on 6th May 1947 as part of the solution to Glasgow's overspill population problem. Work began in 1948 and today its economy is supported by a growing population with a strong local identity; there are several industrial estates as well as attractive and widely popular shopping areas.

The town developed from a 12th Century village East Kilbride (with its neighbour of Maxwellton) which may have been dedicated to St Bride or Bridget; it supported dairy farming and weaving (primarily muslin) while a cotton spinning mill was established by General Stuart of Torrance in 1793; this soon shifted east to use the water power of the Rotten Calder at Newhouse. Other industries in the area included bootmaking, coal, lime, tile making (from local clay), cement production and clock making. In 1653 the first Scottish meeting of the Society of Friends (Quakers) was held in East Kilbride.

Notable for having more than one job per household, East Kilbride's industry is wide ranging and includes a large Science Park (at the Peel Park Campus) and the Scottish Enterprise Technology Park where large operations have included the National Engineering Laboratory, Motorola and Rolls-Royce. HM Revenue & Customs have a major tax-processing and enquiries centre in the town, occupying Queensway House and Plaza Tower, while Strathclyde Police have their recruitment and training centre at Jackton on the western edge of the town. There are several ready made factories and workshops and much purpose-built plant.

Nearby are the settlements of Hamilton, Blantyre and Eaglesham. Kittoch Water flows through the town while to the east flows the Rotten Calder, which includes Calderglen Country Park, the ruins of Craigneith Castle, Torrance House (14th century) and a golf course; to the north is the James Hamilton Heritage Park with Mains Castle (13th century). There are railway stations at Hairmyres and East Kilbride centre.

The anatomists William and John Hunter were born at Long Calderwood House, now a museum.

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