Understanding Scottish Places

Kirkcaldy and Dysart, Fife

Population 51,117

View Kirkcaldy and Dysart on map

Kirkcaldy, known as the Lang Toun, is in Fife and Dysart is the eastern extension to the town. It had a harbour and this facilitated its varied industrial development (nails, sailcloth)in the 18th and 19th centuries. Linoleum (Nairn) is what the town became best known for and flooring is still manufactured (Forbo) in Kirkcaldy. Between 1960 and 1989 Seafield colliery operated. Other manufacturing includes the paper bag factory and flour milling (Carr's). It is a major retail and service centre for the surrounding area. Dysart (St Serf's retreat) was a salt panning and coal mining settlement which traded with the Netherlands. Meat processing and soft drinks manufacturing (Archers) are present today.

In this, and similar cities, 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.

Kirkcaldy and Dysart is an interdependent to independent town.

Its most similar towns are Dundee, and Paisley.

To gain more insight into Kirkcaldy and Dysart, 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

-4
Type average 0

Distance travelled to work

4
Type average 5

Number of public sector jobs

-4
Type average -1

Number of hospitals

-2
Type average -2

Number of GP's and dentists

0
Type average 0

Number of children in primary schools

0
Type average -1

Number of children in secondary schools

0
Type average -3

Distance travelled to study

4
Type average 5

Number of shops

4
Type average 3

Diversity of retail offer

6
Type average 6

Number of charities

Type average -1
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
Kirkcaldy and Dysart 19.13259865 20.60433701 9.960895841 24.47683375 25.82533476

Commercial

Distance travelled to study

  At home Up to 5km 5 to 10km 10 to 30km 30km and over
Kirkcaldy and Dysart 3.6465363773304382 11.724083964238902 0.671009644540955 1.2442044720934327 0.6768785335602637

Environment Indicators

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Footnotes