A diverse residential suburb of Glasgow, Govanhill lies on the south side of the River Clyde between Govan and Crosshill, 2 miles (3 km) south of Glasgow city centre. Extending to 57 ha (140 acres), its territory was disputed by two burghs prior to it achieving burgh status in 1877. In 1891 Govanhill was absorbed into the city of Glasgow. Govanhill has retained its modest Victorian and Edwardian tenements, which were demolished in other areas, and these have been modernised and augmented by more modern flats, giving a high density of housing. Govanhill Housing Association own and manage around 2800 homes for social rent in the area.
The area has long been associated with immigrant communities; Irish, Italians, Belgians who left their homeland at the outset the First World War and then Jews fleeing persecution in Eastern Europe. Migrants also came from the Indian sub-continent and Eastern Europe. Govanhill is the home to Scotland's largest Roma community and the second largest in the UK. It is therefore one of most multicultural districts of Glasgow with a strong sense of community.
Notable buildings include Govanhill Trinity Church (1880), the B-listed Govanhill Library (1906, endowed by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie), Govanhill Baths (1917, closed in 2001 but under refurbishment and also B-listed), Govanhill Picture House (1926, but long neglected), the former Royal Samaritan Hospital for Women (opened 1886, closed 1991 and now converted to flats), Hutchesons' Grammar Junior School (1912, B-listed in 1992) and Govanhill Neighbourhood Centre (in a building which dates from 1900). In the centre of the area is Govanhill Park, while the Govanhill is served by Queen's Park Railway Station which lies to the southwest and Crosshill Railway Station to the south.
