East Kilbride (district) facts for kids
| East Kilbride | |
 Civic Centre, Andrew Street, East Kilbride |
|
 East Kilbride district within Scotland |
|
| Geography | |
| Status | District |
| HQ | East Kilbride |
| History | |
| Created | 16 May 1975 |
| Abolished | 31 March 1996 |
| Succeeded by | (Part of) South Lanarkshire |
Quick facts for kids Demography |
|
|---|---|
| 1994 population | 82,777 |
| Politics | |
| Governance | East Kilbride District Council |
East Kilbride (also known as Cille Bhrìghde an Ear in Scottish Gaelic and East Kirkbride in Scots) was a special area in Scotland. It was a type of local government area called a district. This district was part of the larger Strathclyde region.
East Kilbride district existed from 1975 to 1996. It was located south of Glasgow, which was the main city of the Strathclyde region.
Contents
History of East Kilbride District
How the District Was Created
The East Kilbride district was set up in 1975. This happened because of a new law called the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. This law changed how local areas were managed across mainland Scotland. It created a two-level system:
- Bigger areas called regions.
- Smaller areas within them called districts.
East Kilbride was one of 19 districts created inside the Strathclyde region.
Areas Included in the District
The new East Kilbride district took parts from three older areas. These older areas were from the historic county of Lanarkshire and were closed down at the same time:
- The old East Kilbride Burgh (a type of town area).
- Part of the Fourth District, specifically the Avondale election area.
- Parts of the Eighth District. This included bits of High Blantyre, Cambuslang South, and Carmunnock election areas. These parts were within the special area of East Kilbride New Town.
East Kilbride was one of five districts in the Lanark sub-region of Strathclyde. It got its name from its main town, East Kilbride, which was a new town. The district also included countryside to the south of East Kilbride. This rural area had the small town of Strathaven and villages like Chapelton, Glassford, and Thorntonhall.
When the District Ended
The East Kilbride district stopped existing in 1996. This was due to another law, the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994. This new law changed Scotland's local government again. It replaced the regions and districts with single-level areas called unitary council areas.
The new South Lanarkshire council area was formed. It covered the old districts of Clydesdale, Hamilton, and some parts of the City of Glasgow district.
Political Control of the District
Who Ran the Council?
The first election for the East Kilbride district council happened in 1974. At first, this new council worked alongside the old councils. It officially started its duties on 16 May 1975.
Here's how different political parties controlled the council from 1975:
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| No overall control | 1975–1977 | |
| SNP | 1977–1980 | |
| Labour | 1980–1996 | |
Council Buildings
The East Kilbride district council was based at the Civic Centre. This building is located at the corner of Andrew Street and Cornwall Street in East Kilbride. It was built in 1968 for the old East Kilbride Town Council.
Today, the South Lanarkshire Council still uses this building for offices. However, their main headquarters are in Hamilton at the Lanark County Buildings.
See also
- 1992 East Kilbride District Council election
- Subdivisions of Scotland
