Renfrewshire is a council area on the south bank of the River Clyde, immediately west of Glasgow. It covers 261 square kilometres (101 sq mi) and had a population of 183,874 at the 2022 census. The council is based in Paisley, which is the largest town in Scotland.
The modern council area, created in 1996, covers only the middle of the historic county of Renfrewshire. The eastern end became East Renfrewshire and the western end became Inverclyde.
| Country | Scotland, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Gaelic name | Siorrachd Rinn Friu |
| Status | Council area, created 1996 |
| Area | 261 km2 (101 sq mi) |
| Population (2022) | 183,874 |
| Population (2011) | 174,908 |
| Largest town | Paisley |
| Administrative centre | Paisley |
| Council | Renfrewshire Council |
| Postcode areas | PA1 to PA12 |
Towns and Villages in Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire has 23 named towns and villages. The pattern is unusual for Scotland: four large towns, Paisley, Renfrew, Johnstone and Erskine, hold most of the population, and the rest of the council area is village-scale settlement along the Gryffe and Black Cart waters.
- Bishopton
- Blackhall
- Bridge of Weir
- Brookfield
- Craigends
- Crosslee
- Elderslie
- Erskine
- Georgetown
- Hawkhead
- Houston
- Howwood
- Inchinnan
- Johnstone
- Kilbarchan
- Langbank
- Linwood
- Lochwinnoch
- Merksworth
- Millikenpark
- Paisley
- Ranfurly
- Renfrew
Paisley’s own districts, among them Ferguslie Park, Glenburn, Ralston, Hunterhill, Foxbar and Williamsburgh, are parts of the town rather than separate villages, so they are not listed above.
Geography
The Clyde forms the northern boundary, with the Erskine Bridge crossing to West Dunbartonshire. Glasgow lies immediately east, East Renfrewshire to the south-east, North Ayrshire to the south-west and Inverclyde to the west.
Low ground runs along the Clyde through Renfrew, Erskine and Inchinnan. Inland the land rises into the Renfrewshire Heights, part of Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, reaching about 500 metres at Misty Law. The Gryffe, Black Cart and White Cart Waters drain the area and meet near Inchinnan. Castle Semple Loch at Lochwinnoch is the largest body of open water and holds an RSPB reserve.
Demographics
The 2022 census recorded 183,874 residents, an increase of 8,966 on 2011. Density is about 704 people per square kilometre, so Renfrewshire ranks among the more crowded council areas despite the empty uplands in its south-west corner.
Growth has been concentrated in Erskine and around Bishopton, where the former Royal Ordnance Factory site at Dargavel has been redeveloped for several thousand homes. Paisley’s population has been broadly stable, and the smaller Gryffe villages have grown slowly on commuter demand.
Economy and Local Life
Glasgow Airport sits at Abbotsinch in Renfrewshire, between Paisley and Renfrew, and is the largest single employment site in the council area. Aerospace and engineering cluster around it, and Chivas Brothers bottles Scotch whisky at Kilmalid and Paisley.
Paisley built its wealth on thread. The Coats and Clark mills at Ferguslie and Anchor were among the biggest cotton-thread works in the world, and the Paisley pattern, copied from Kashmiri shawls, still carries the town’s name. The mills closed by the 1990s. Retail at Braehead, public services, and distribution along the M8 corridor now dominate. Paisley hosts one of Scotland’s oldest and largest Halloween festivals each autumn.
History
Walter fitz Alan, High Steward of Scotland, founded Paisley Abbey in 1163. His descendants took the name Stewart and became the royal house, so the abbey has a fair claim to being the cradle of the Stewart dynasty. Robert III is buried there.
Renfrew is older as a burgh, chartered in 1397 and long the county town. Shipyards at Renfrew and engineering at Linwood grew through the nineteenth century; the Rootes and Chrysler car plant at Linwood, which built the Hillman Imp from 1963, closed in 1981 and took 4,800 jobs with it. Erskine was designated for expansion in the 1970s and grew from a small village to a town of over 15,000.
Getting There
The M8 crosses Renfrewshire between Glasgow and Greenock, with the M898 branching to the Erskine Bridge. The A737 heads south-west towards Dalry, the A761 links Paisley to Bridge of Weir, and the A726 runs south to East Kilbride.
Paisley Gilmour Street is one of the busiest stations in Scotland, on both the Inverclyde and Ayrshire lines. Other stations include Johnstone, Milliken Park, Howwood, Lochwinnoch, Bishopton and Langbank. Glasgow Airport is served by frequent buses from Paisley and Glasgow city centre.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Renfrewshire?
183,874 at the 2022 census, up 8,966 on 2011.
What is the largest town in Renfrewshire?
Paisley, which is also the largest town in Scotland. Renfrew, Johnstone and Erskine follow.
Is Renfrewshire the same as the old county?
No. The historic county was split in 1996. The modern council area covers the middle section; East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde cover the rest.
Is Glasgow Airport in Renfrewshire?
Yes. The airport is at Abbotsinch, within Renfrewshire, about two miles north of Paisley town centre.
How many towns and villages are in Renfrewshire?
23 named settlements, excluding the districts and housing schemes that make up Paisley itself.
What postcodes cover Renfrewshire?
PA1 to PA5 cover Paisley and Johnstone, PA4 Renfrew, PA6 to PA12 the Gryffe villages, Erskine and Lochwinnoch.