Wishaw

Wishaw (/ˈwiʃɔː/ ^ⓘ; Scots: Wishae or Wisha /ˈwiʃi/ ^ⓘ) is a large town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland; it is sited on the edge of the Clyde Valley, 15 miles (24 km) south-east of Glasgow city centre. The town forms part of the Motherwell and Wishaw parliamentary constituency.

The Burgh of Wishaw was formed in 1855 within Lanarkshire. The town developed extensively during the Victorian era, in particular during the Second Industrial Revolution. New industry and factories were established, including those in steel and iron production, as well as manufacturing, textiles and the processing of coal. The town's population increased as a result and new homes were built; Wishaw formed a joint large burgh with its neighbour Motherwell from 1920, until its dissolution when Scottish local authorities were restructured in 1975. It was then part the Motherwell district, within the Strathclyde region, until 1996. The town suffered during deindustrialisation, as businesses closed in the mid-to-late 20th century. In the 21st century, the town has a mixed economy with services industries and is a residential area within North Lanarkshire.

Cambusnethan, Coltness, Dimsdale, Greenhead, Pather, Waterloo and Wishawhill are considered as suburbs of Wishaw; Craigneuk and Netherton are too, though they are separated by the Argyle and West Coast railway lines. The "Wishaw area", however, is sometimes taken to mean the entire ML2 postcode area, which extends to the east and south and includes Morningside, Newmains and Overtown.