Wishaw

Wishaw ( ; Scots: Wishae or Wisha ) is a large town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, on the edge of the Clyde Valley, 15 miles (24 km) south-east of Glasgow city centre. The town is part of the Motherwell and Wishaw constituency. It has the postal code of ML2 and the dialling code 01698. The Burgh of Wishaw was formed in 1855 within Lanarkshire. The town developed extensively during the Victorian era, in particular during the Second Industrial Revolution. New industry and factories were established, including those in steel and iron production, as well as manufacturing, textiles and the processing of coal. The towns population increased as a result and new homes were built resulting in a conurbation with neighbouring Motherwell and Newmains. As a result, Wishaw formed a joint large burgh with its neighbour Motherwell from 1920 until its dissolution when Scottish local authorities were restructured in 1975, and was then in Motherwell district within the Strathclyde region until 1996. The town suffered during deindustrialisation as businesses closed in the mid to late 20th century. In the 21st century, the town has a mixed economy with services industries and is a residential area within North Lanarkshire. Cambusnethan, Coltness, Dimsdale, Greenhead, Pather, Waterloo and Wishawhill are considered Wishaw suburbs. Craigneuk and Netherton are considered so as well, though they are separated by the Argyle and West Coast Mainline train lines. The 'Wishaw area' however is sometimes taken to mean the entire ML2 postcode area which extends to the east and south and includes Morningside, Newmains, Overtown and several other nearby smaller towns.