Glasgow
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Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland. It lies in the west central lowlands, on the Clyde River. It is the third most populous city in the United Kingdom. People from Glasgow are called Glaswegians, as well as the local dialect. It is home to Scotland’s leading businesses. In the Victorian era it was known as the “Second City of the British Empire”.
Glasgow was founded by a Christian missionary (St Mungo) in the 6th century and at first it was a small salmon fishing village. In the Medieval times it was Scotland’s second largest bishopric, reorganized by King David I of Scotland and John, Bishop of Glasgow. In 1451 the University of Glasgow was founded. At the beginning of the 18th century Glasgow Port was opened and it became the main port for trading with Americas, mostly for tobacco, cotton and sugar. The city’s economy was strongly influenced by the Scottish Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution. At the end of the century shipbuilding became a major industry. After the World War I the city was on the decline. However, after the World War II it grew. 1960s was the second period of economic decline of the city but by the 1990s, there had been a significant resurgence in Glasgow's economic fortunes. In 1990 it became the European City of Culture.
The area of Glasgow is 67.76 square miles (175.5 square kilometers). The population is around 580,000 inhabitants with the density 3,300 inhabitants per square kilometer. However, the population of urban area is 1,750,000 and of metro area 2.3 million.
Glasgow is divided into several districts and suburbs. The city centre is bounded by the High Street to the east, the River Clyde to the south and the M8 motorway to the west and north. It is built in grid pattern. The heart is George Square with many of Glasgow's public statues and the Victorian Glasgow City Chambers, headquarters of Glasgow City Council. To the south and west are the shopping precincts. The main shopping centers are Buchanan Galleries and the St. Enoch Centre. The centre is also home to many cultural facilities such as The Theatre Royal, The King's Theatre, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow Film Theatre, Gallery of Modern Art. The world's tallest cinema Cineworld is sited on Renfrew Street. There are also four of Glasgow's higher education institutions here: The University of Strathclyde, The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow Caledonian University.
East of the centre is the district of Merchant City (former residential place for rich merchants in the 18th and 19th centuries). Its center was Glasgow Cross that encompassed the Tolbooth Clock Tower (the only remaining part of original City Chambers). Glasgow Cathedral lies in this city part as well. Western edge of the city centre is occupied by the financial district, officially known as International Financial Services District (IFSD), and by press often nicknamed as the "square kilometre" or "Wall Street on Clyde".
Although Glasgow is not as attractive for tourists as Edinburgh, it boasts world famous art collections, many buildings built in Victorian architectural style the best shopping in the United Kingdom outside London, and the most vibrant and exciting nightlife in Scotland.
Glasgow was founded by a Christian missionary (St Mungo) in the 6th century and at first it was a small salmon fishing village. In the Medieval times it was Scotland’s second largest bishopric, reorganized by King David I of Scotland and John, Bishop of Glasgow. In 1451 the University of Glasgow was founded. At the beginning of the 18th century Glasgow Port was opened and it became the main port for trading with Americas, mostly for tobacco, cotton and sugar. The city’s economy was strongly influenced by the Scottish Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution. At the end of the century shipbuilding became a major industry. After the World War I the city was on the decline. However, after the World War II it grew. 1960s was the second period of economic decline of the city but by the 1990s, there had been a significant resurgence in Glasgow's economic fortunes. In 1990 it became the European City of Culture.
The area of Glasgow is 67.76 square miles (175.5 square kilometers). The population is around 580,000 inhabitants with the density 3,300 inhabitants per square kilometer. However, the population of urban area is 1,750,000 and of metro area 2.3 million.
Glasgow is divided into several districts and suburbs. The city centre is bounded by the High Street to the east, the River Clyde to the south and the M8 motorway to the west and north. It is built in grid pattern. The heart is George Square with many of Glasgow's public statues and the Victorian Glasgow City Chambers, headquarters of Glasgow City Council. To the south and west are the shopping precincts. The main shopping centers are Buchanan Galleries and the St. Enoch Centre. The centre is also home to many cultural facilities such as The Theatre Royal, The King's Theatre, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow Film Theatre, Gallery of Modern Art. The world's tallest cinema Cineworld is sited on Renfrew Street. There are also four of Glasgow's higher education institutions here: The University of Strathclyde, The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow Caledonian University.
East of the centre is the district of Merchant City (former residential place for rich merchants in the 18th and 19th centuries). Its center was Glasgow Cross that encompassed the Tolbooth Clock Tower (the only remaining part of original City Chambers). Glasgow Cathedral lies in this city part as well. Western edge of the city centre is occupied by the financial district, officially known as International Financial Services District (IFSD), and by press often nicknamed as the "square kilometre" or "Wall Street on Clyde".
Although Glasgow is not as attractive for tourists as Edinburgh, it boasts world famous art collections, many buildings built in Victorian architectural style the best shopping in the United Kingdom outside London, and the most vibrant and exciting nightlife in Scotland.