Understanding Scottish Places

Paisley, Renfrewshire

Population 79,369

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Paisley is in Renfrewshire. Its early development was ecclesiastical. In the 19th century it became famous for textiles and in particular the trade mark 'Paisley pattern' and 'Paisley shawls'. It became a centre of thread making (Coats). Some mills were hit by a lack of cotton in the American Civil War but thread making continued until 1993. Street names reflect the trade (Shuttle Street, Thread Street). There was also engineering and shipbuilding but by the 1970s these were closing down. Food industries in the town included Robertsons Jam and Brown and Poulson who made starch and cornflour but again both have ceased production in Paisley. Pernot Ricard and Ciba Geigy both had plants in Paisley but restructuring has taken these jobs elsewhere. Much employment is now administrative as Paisley is the administrative centre for Renfrewshire. Other service industries and education also bring employment.

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.

Paisley is an interdependent to independent town.

Its most similar towns are Dundee, and Kirkcaldy and Dysart.

To gain more insight into Paisley, 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

2
Type average 0

Distance travelled to work

6
Type average 5

Number of public sector jobs

2
Type average -1

Number of hospitals

-4
Type average -2

Number of GP's and dentists

0
Type average 0

Number of children in primary schools

-2
Type average -1

Number of children in secondary schools

-4
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
Paisley 17.78958491 19.15137444 10.595169 22.73667604 29.7286839

Commercial

Distance travelled to study

  At home Up to 5km 5 to 10km 10 to 30km 30km and over
Paisley 3.6979173228842495 11.668283586790812 1.2246595018206101 1.397270974813844 0.25324748957401505

Environment Indicators

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Footnotes