Understanding Scottish Places

Muirkirk, East Ayrshire

Population 1,324

View Muirkirk on map

Muirkirk is in East Ayrshire. The discovery of coal in the 18th century led to the expansion of a rather mediocre fermtoun. The tar was extracted from the coal and became valued for coating ships. Another development was the invention of Macadam by the town's most famous son. The closure of the mines left little employment. Work to regenerate the town is in progress.

In this, and similar small towns, people experience more challenging circumstances with higher rates of unemployment, poorer health, lack of a car, lower levels of education and lower social grades than other groups. A higher proportion live in social rented housing. There is a higher proportion of single person households and lone parents.

Muirkirk is a dependent to interdependent town.

Its most similar towns are Addiewell, Allanton, Burnfoot, and Catrine.

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

Inter-relationships

Dependent
Interdependent
Independent

Number of jobs

-6
Type average -4

Diversity of jobs

-6
Type average -3

Distance travelled to work

-6
Type average -1

Number of public sector jobs

6
Type average -1

Number of hospitals

-6
Type average -6

Number of GP's and dentists

-6
Type average -5

Number of children in primary schools

0
Type average 0

Number of children in secondary schools

-4
Type average -6

Distance travelled to study

-2
Type average -1

Number of shops

4
Type average -2

Diversity of retail offer

-4
Type average -4

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
Muirkirk 33.12331233 20.79207921 9.9909991 23.04230423 12.69126913

Commercial

Distance travelled to study

  At home Up to 5km 5 to 10km 10 to 30km 30km and over
Muirkirk 4.6072507552870094 5.740181268882175 0 4.305135951661631 1.8882175226586102

Environment Indicators

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Discover

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

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Footnotes