Inverclyde

Inverclyde
Inerclyde
Inbhir Chluaidh
Coat of arms of Inverclyde
Official logo of Inverclyde
Map
Coordinates: 55°54′N 4°45′W / 55.900°N 4.750°W / 55.900; -4.750
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryScotland
Lieutenancy areaRenfrewshire
Admin HQGreenock
Government
 • BodyInverclyde Council
 • ControlLabour minority (council NOC)
 • MPs
 • MSPs
Area
 • Total60 sq mi (160 km2)
 • RankRanked 29th
Population
 (2022)
 • Total78,340
 • RankRanked 28th
 • Density1,300/sq mi (490/km2)
ONS codeS12000018
ISO 3166 codeGB-IVC
Websitewww.inverclyde.gov.uk

Inverclyde (Scots: Inerclyde, Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Chluaidh, pronounced [iɲiɾʲˈxl̪ˠuəj], "mouth of the Clyde") is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Together with the East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire council areas, Inverclyde forms part of the historic county of Renfrewshire, which currently exists as a registration county and lieutenancy area. Inverclyde is located in the west central Lowlands. It borders the North Ayrshire and Renfrewshire council areas, and is otherwise surrounded by the Firth of Clyde.

Inverclyde was formerly one of nineteen districts within Strathclyde Region, from 1975 until 1996. Prior to 1975, Inverclyde was governed as part of the local government county of Renfrewshire, comprising the burghs of Greenock, Port Glasgow and Gourock, and the former fifth district of the county. Its landward area is bordered by the Kelly, North and South Routen burns to the southwest (separating Wemyss Bay and Skelmorlie, North Ayrshire), part of the River Gryfe and the Finlaystone Burn to the south-east.

It is one of the smallest in terms of area (29th) and population (28th) out of the 32 Scottish unitary authorities. Along with the council areas clustered around Glasgow it is considered part of Greater Glasgow in some definitions,[1] although it is physically separated from the city area by open countryside and does not share a border with the city.

The name derives from the extinct barony of Inverclyde (1897) conferred upon Sir John Burns of Wemyss Bay and his heirs.

  1. ^ "Glasgow and Clyde Valley Structure Plan Joint Committee". www.gcvcore.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 20 May 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2022.