Renfrewshire (pop. 183,874) is a United Kingdom local government area in Scotland. It is a council area established in 1996, responsible for all local government services within its boundaries. Renfrewshire is in west-central Scotland, lying between Glasgow and Inverclyde. It used to be part of the county of Renfrewshire, which was abolished as an administrative unit in 1975.
The region is mostly urban and densely populated. It is centered on the town of Paisley. This university town, once a major textile center, has given its name to a type of fabric printed with a complex pattern of curving shapes. Paisley is still a leading producer of cotton thread. Other towns include Renfrew and Johnstone. Industries in the region include food processing, engineering, and leather tanning. Paisley has an abbey founded in the 1100’s.
