Understanding Scottish Places

Ayr, South Ayrshire

Population 46,182

View Ayr on map

Ayr is the administrative centre for South Ayrshire. Its origins Lay in its role as a port, burgh and market town. The port facilities and associated shipbuilding developed with the export of coal from the Ayrshire coalfields in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Ailsa Shipbuilding Company remained in Ayr until 1960. A commercial port still operates. In the 20th century it had a strong manufacturing base but this has significantly diminished. Today it acts as a service and administrative centre.

In large towns such as this, this population includes older people, some still in work often in less well paid sectors. It also includes a significant inactive population, some in poorer health. There is a higher proportion of single households and car ownership is lower.

Ayr is an independent to interdependent town.

Its most similar towns are Dumfries, Elgin, Forfar, and Hawick.

To gain more insight into Ayr, compare it to any of the other towns included in USP.

Inter-relationships

Dependent
Interdependent
Independent

Number of jobs

4
Type average 5

Diversity of jobs

6
Type average 3

Distance travelled to work

4
Type average 4

Number of public sector jobs

4
Type average 3

Number of hospitals

0
Type average 1

Number of GP's and dentists

0
Type average 2

Number of children in primary schools

-4
Type average 0

Number of children in secondary schools

-2
Type average -2

Distance travelled to study

6
Type average 5

Number of shops

6
Type average 5

Diversity of retail offer

6
Type average 6

Number of charities

Type average 3
Dependent
Interdependent
Independent

Change

Public

Education (% all people aged 16 and over)

  No education Standard grade or equivalent Higher grade or equivalent HNC, HND, SVQ4 Degree or higher degree
Ayr 18.15787455 18.82016007 10.55054082 21.48720178 30.98933695

Commercial

Distance travelled to study

  At home Up to 5km 5 to 10km 10 to 30km 30km and over
Ayr 3.018492053180893 11.993850417911741 0.4417305443679356 0.4417305443679356 0.8055086397297648

Environment Indicators

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To gain more insight into Ayr, compare it to any of the other towns included in USP.

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Footnotes