Editing East Ayrshire (section)

==Geography==
{{Main|Ayrshire and Arran}}
{{further|Firth of Clyde}}

===Geographical location===
East Ayrshire is located on the west coat of Scotland, sharing borders with the following neighbouring council areas; [[North Ayrshire]], [[South Ayrshire]], [[Dumfries and Galloway]], [[East Renfrewshire]] and [[South Lanarkshire]]. Blackcraig Hill reaches an elevation of 2,298 feet (700 metres), the highest peak in East Ayrshire.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kilmarnock |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Kilmarnock |website=www.britannica.com |publisher=Britannica |access-date=25 January 2024}}</ref> Combining the existing Kilmarnock & Loudoun and Cumnock & Doon Valley government districts offered a simple solution to the issue of giving territory to be administered from Kilmarnock, with the population also roughly balanced with those of Cunninghame and Kyle & Carrick (which became North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire respectively); however, it did mean some settlements historically within [[Kyle, Ayrshire|Kyle]], more closely aligned to [[Ayr]] for amenities and which would typically have been described as located in the south of the county – particularly [[Dalrymple, East Ayrshire|Dalrymple]], [[Drongan]], [[Patna, East Ayrshire|Patna]] and [[Dalmellington]], the latter of which is {{convert|20|miles}} south of [[Dundonald, South Ayrshire]] – became politically aligned to the East division.

The local council boasts the proximity to [[Glasgow]], the largest city in Scotland, as a unique selling point for the area. Additionally, the area is said to "combine an idyllic mix of rural beauty and urban living", and being set in the "midst of some of Scotland's finest countryside".<ref>{{cite web |title=About East Ayrshire |url=https://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/CouncilAndGovernment/About-the-Council/About-East-Ayrshire.aspx |website=www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk |publisher=East Ayrshire Council |access-date=25 January 2024}}</ref>

===Settlements===
{{Location map+|Scotland East Ayrshire
 |caption={{left|The largest settlements in East Ayrshire.}}
 |float=right
 |width=350
 |places =
  {{Location map~|Scotland East Ayrshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.61106|-4.49571}}|position=top|label='''[[Kilmarnock]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland East Ayrshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.45294|-4.2638}}|position=right|label='''[[Cumnock]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland East Ayrshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.680|-4.515}}|position=top|label='''[[Stewarton]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland East Ayrshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.60037|-4.3798}}|position=top|label='''[[Galston, East Ayrshire|Galston]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland East Ayrshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.59846|-4.45205}}|position=bottom|label='''[[Hurlford]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland East Ayrshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.610035|-4.280882}}|position=top|label='''[[Darvel]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland East Ayrshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.516|-4.379}}|position=right|label='''[[Mauchline]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland East Ayrshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.473349|-4.298517}}|position=right|label='''[[Auchinleck]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland East Ayrshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.4355|-4.4599}}|position=right|label='''[[Drongan]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland East Ayrshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.639444|-4.530278}}|position=right|label='''[[Kilmaurs]]'''|label_size=}}

<!-- Bordering council areas -->
  {{Location map~|Scotland East Ayrshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.783|-4.45|}}|position=right|label=''[[East Renfrewshire#Settlements|East Renfrewshire]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland East Ayrshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.511|-3.99|}}|position=right|label=''[[South Lanarkshire#Settlements|South Lanark.]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland East Ayrshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.26|-4.16|}}|position=right|label=''[[Dumfries and Galloway#Settlements|Dumfries and Galloway]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland East Ayrshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.53|-4.55|}}|position=right|label=''[[South Ayrshire#Settlements|South Ayrshire]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland East Ayrshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.705|-4.70|}}|position=right|label=''[[North Ayrshire#Settlements|North Ayrshire]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
}}

[[File:Train Station Panorama.jpg|thumb|220px|[[Kilmarnock]] is the largest settlement in East Ayrshire with a population of over 46,000 and is home to the HQ for East Ayrshire Council]]
[[File:By The Lugar Water - geograph.org.uk - 937324.jpg|thumb|220px|[[Cumnock]] is the second largest settlement in East Ayrshire]]

[[Kilmarnock]] is the largest town in East Ayrshire, and has served as the administrative centre of [[East Ayrshire Council]] since 1996.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/BusinessAndTrade/TownCentreManagement/KilmarnockTownCentre.aspx|title=Kilmarnock town centre · East Ayrshire Council|website=East-ayrshire.gov.uk|date=25 October 2019}}</ref> It is the East Ayrshire region's main commercial and industrial centre.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kilmarnock town centre |url=https://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/PlanningAndTheEnvironment/RegenerationAndTownCentreManagement/Kilmarnock-town-centre/Kilmarnocktowncentreregeneration.aspx#:~:text=Kilmarnock%20is%20East%20Ayrshire%27s%20key,focus%20on%20culture%20and%20entertainment. |website=www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk |publisher=East Ayrshire Council |access-date=12 January 2024}}</ref> The town grew considerably during the 1870s and the town's growth subsumed the village of [[Bonnyton, East Ayrshire|Bonnyton]],<ref>{{cite web |title=KILMARNOCK – A HISTORICAL SURVEY |url=https://www.kilmarnockhistory.co.uk/cm-content/files/Aspects%20of%20Local%20History.pdf |website=www.kilmarnockhistory.co.uk |publisher=Kilmarnock History Group |access-date=13 January 2024}}</ref> and by the 1960s, new purpose built suburbs such as [[New Farm Loch]] were constructed to accommodate the increasing population of Kilmarnock.<ref name="Kilmarnock Through Time">{{cite book |last1=Beattie |first1=Frank |title=Kilmarnock Through Time |date=2012 |publisher=Amberley Publishing |isbn=9781848684102 |page=14}}</ref> By mid–2020, the population of the town was estimated to be 46,970,<ref>{{cite web |title=Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland |url=https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/population/population-estimates/settlements-and-localities/mid-2020 |website=www.nrscotland.gov.uk |publisher=National Records of Scotland |access-date=19 January 2024}}</ref> making Kilmarnock the [[List of towns and cities in Scotland by population|14th most populated settlement in Scotland]] as well as the largest town in [[Ayrshire]] by population.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newmunicipalism.ballotbox.scot/ayrshire|title=Ayrshire – New Municipalism Scotland|website=Newmunicipalism.ballotbox.scot|access-date=25 June 2022}}</ref>

The second largest town in East Ayrshire is [[Cumnock]], which sits at the confluence of the [[Glaisnock Water]] and the [[Lugar Water]]. There are three neighbouring [[housing projects]] which lie just outside the town boundaries, Craigens, [[Logan, East Ayrshire|Logan]] and [[Netherthird]], with the former [[ironworks]] settlement of [[Lugar, East Ayrshire|Lugar]] also just outside the town, contributing to a population of around 13,000 in the immediate locale. A new housing development, [[Knockroon]], was granted planning permission on 9 December 2009 by [[East Ayrshire Council]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110406040720/http://www.s1cumnock.com/news/knockroon-development-princes-green-town-next-to-cumnock-gets-outline-planning.htm] </ref> The town is home to the [[Robert Burns Academy]], a new educational campus housing the main Robert Burns Academy secondary school following the merger of [[Cumnock Academy]] and Auchinleck Academy, Lochnorris Primary School and Cherry Trees Early Childhood Centre. The campus is the largest educational establishment in Scotland.<ref name="auto1">{{cite news |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/ayrshire/scotlands-biggest-school-finished-tomorrow-22812148 |title=Scotland's biggest school will be finished tomorrow in East Ayrshire |first=Sarah |last=Hilley |newspaper=Daily Record |date=8 October 2020 |access-date=31 October 2021}}</ref>

Largest settlements by population:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Settlement
!Population<br />({{Scottish settlement population citation|year}})<ref name="auto">{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</ref>
|-
|[[Kilmarnock]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Kilmarnock}}
|-
|[[Cumnock]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Cumnock}}
|-
|[[Stewarton]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Stewarton}}
|-
|[[Galston, East Ayrshire|Galston]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Galston}}
|-
|[[Hurlford]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Hurlford and Crookedholm}}
|-
|[[Darvel]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Darvel}}
|-
|[[Mauchline]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Mauchline}}
|-
|[[Auchinleck]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Auchinleck}}
|-
|[[Drongan]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Drongan}}
|-
|[[Kilmaurs]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Kilmaurs}}
|-
|}

===Towns and villages===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
*[[Auchinleck]]
*[[Bellsbank]]
*''[[Bonnyton, East Ayrshire|Bonnyton]]'' (former village, now an area of Kilmarnock)
*[[Burnton]]
*[[Catrine]]
*[[Chapeltoun]]
*Coalhall
*[[Barony and Castle of Corsehill|Corsehill]]
*Craigens
*[[Craigmalloch]]
*[[Cronberry]]
*[[Crookedholm]]
*[[Crosshouse]]
*[[Cumnock]]
*[[Dalmellington]]
*[[Dalrymple, East Ayrshire|Dalrymple]]
*[[Darvel]]
*[[Drongan]]
*[[Dunlop, East Ayrshire|Dunlop]]
*[[Fenwick, East Ayrshire|Fenwick]]
*[[Galston, East Ayrshire|Galston]]
*[[Gatehead, East Ayrshire|Gatehead]]
*[[Glenbuck]]
*[[Greenholm]]
*[[Haugh, East Ayrshire|Haugh]]
*[[Hurlford]]
*[[Kilmarnock]]
*[[Kilmaurs]]
*[[Knockentiber]]
*[[Logan, East Ayrshire|Logan]]
*[[Lugar, East Ayrshire|Lugar]]
*[[Lugton]]
*[[Mauchline]]
*[[Moscow, East Ayrshire|Moscow]]
*[[Muirkirk]]
*[[Netherthird]]
*[[New Cumnock]]
*[[Newmilns]]
*[[Ochiltree]]
*[[Patna, East Ayrshire|Patna]]
*[[Polnessan]]
*[[Priestland]]
*[[Rankinston]]
*[[Riccarton, Ayrshire|Riccarton]]
*Sinclairston
*[[Skares]]
*[[Sorn, East Ayrshire|Sorn]]
*[[Stair, East Ayrshire|Stair]]
*[[Stewarton]]
*[[Trabboch]]
*[[Waterside, East Ayrshire|Waterside]]
{{div col end}}