West Dunbartonshire (pop. 88,399) is a local government area in Scotland, in the United Kingdom. It is a council area established in 1996, responsible for all local government services within its boundaries. West Dunbartonshire occupies a small area in central Scotland, northwest of the city of Glasgow. It lies between Loch Lomond in the north and the River Clyde in the south. From 1975 to 1995, the region comprised two local government districts, Dumbarton and Clydebank, in Strathclyde Region. Prior to 1975, West Dunbartonshire was part of the former Scottish county of Dunbartonshire.
The chief towns in West Dunbartonshire are Dumbarton (the administrative center) and Alexandria, both of which are situated on the River Leven. Helensburgh is a residential town and tourist center. Other settlements are the former burgh (Scottish borough) of Clydebank, and the villages of Duntocher, Hardgate, and Old Kirkpatrick.
Dumbarton is famous for the production of Scotch whisky. Other products include gas turbines, kitchen furniture, oil-drilling equipment, photographic materials, and equipment for generating electric power. Shipbuilding on the River Clyde was once of major importance. It developed during the 1800’s. Many famous ships, including the Queen Mary, the Queen Elizabeth, and the Queen Elizabeth 2, were built in the Clydeside shipyards of West Dunbartonshire. Today, the shipbuilding industry has declined.
