Strathclyde facts for kids

Strathclyde Srath Chluaidh''
Geography
History
Origin	Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
Created	15 May 1975
Abolished	31 March 1996
Succeeded by	Argyll and Bute East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Renfrewshire Glasgow City Council Inverclyde North Ayrshire North Lanarkshire Renfrewshire South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire West Dunbartonshire
Quick facts for kids Demography
population	c. 2.25 million
Politics
Governance	Strathclyde Regional Council

Strathclyde was a very important region in west Scotland. It was named after the River Clyde, a major river in the area. The biggest city in this region was Glasgow, which was also its capital.

Strathclyde was a special area for local government. It helped manage things like schools, roads, and social services for the people living there. It existed for about 21 years, from 1975 to 1996.

A long time ago, "Strathclyde" was also the name of an ancient kingdom. This kingdom was one of the early groups that later joined together to form the country of Scotland we know today.

What Was Strathclyde?

Strathclyde was one of the largest regions in Scotland. It covered a big area in the west of the country. About 2.25 million people lived there. This made it the most populated region in Scotland.

The region was created to make local government easier. Before 1975, Scotland had many smaller counties and burghs. The government decided to group them into larger regions. This was done to improve how public services were managed.

How Strathclyde Was Governed

Strathclyde was run by the Strathclyde Regional Council. This council was made up of elected officials. They were responsible for many important services. These services included:

• Education: Running schools and colleges.
• Social work: Helping families and people in need.
• Police and fire services: Keeping communities safe.
• Water and sewerage: Providing clean water and managing waste.
• Roads and transportation: Building and maintaining roads.

The council had its main offices in Glasgow. They worked hard to serve the large population of the region.

Where Was Strathclyde Located?

The Strathclyde region stretched from the west coast of Scotland inland. It included many different types of places. There were big cities like Glasgow. There were also smaller towns and rural areas. It even included some islands off the coast.

The region was divided into smaller areas called districts. These districts helped the regional council manage local services more closely. Each district had its own local council.

Why Did Strathclyde Change?

In 1996, the way Scotland was governed changed again. The large regions like Strathclyde were replaced. Instead, Scotland went back to having smaller, single-tier local authorities. This meant that each new council was responsible for all local services in its area.

Strathclyde was divided into 12 new council areas. These new areas are:

• Argyll and Bute
• East Ayrshire
• East Dunbartonshire
• East Renfrewshire
• Glasgow City Council
• Inverclyde
• North Ayrshire
• North Lanarkshire
• Renfrewshire
• South Ayrshire
• South Lanarkshire
• West Dunbartonshire

Even though Strathclyde no longer exists as a government region, its name is still used. You might hear it in names of businesses or organizations in the area. It reminds people of the region's history.

Images for kids

• 

  Strathclyde Regional Council's Education Department

See also

In Spanish: Strathclyde para niños