Is Rutherglen a Deprived Area?

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Rutherglen and Cambuslang have long been known as some of the most disadvantaged areas in Scotland, according to recent statistics. Central Rutherglen is among the top 200 most deprived areas in the country, and is the 66th worst criminal zone. The Scottish Multiple Deprivation Index (SIMD) reveals that many communities in Rutherglen and Cambuslang are struggling with poverty. Rutherglen has been a part of Lanarkshire for over 800 years, but in 1975 it became an administrative part of the city of Glasgow in the Strathclyde region, along with Cambuslang.

Despite this, there are still some decent places to live in Rutherglen, such as Croftfoot and Kings Park. The SIMD statistics show that thousands of people in Rutherglen and Cambuslang are living in poverty. Areas such as Rutherglen Central, Springhall, Fernhill, Burnhill, Whitlawburn, Westburn, Halfway and the Circuit are among the poorest five percent of Scotland. In terms of safety, Rutherglen is in the 69th percentile, meaning that 31% of cities are safer and 69% of cities are more dangerous.

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Malcolm Grant

Malcolm Grant is a Scottish civic historian and former community heritage officer with over twenty-five years of experience researching the social, political, and geographical development of towns across the West of Scotland. Raised in the Glasgow–Lanarkshire corridor, he developed a specialisation in the evolution of historic burghs, municipal boundaries, and local identities, with Rutherglen—one of Scotland’s oldest royal burghs—becoming the central focus of his archival work. His research spans Rutherglen’s centuries-long relationship with Glasgow, its administrative transitions into South Lanarkshire, the legacy of its educational institutions such as Rutherglen Academy, and the shifting cultural and demographic patterns that shape perceptions of safety, prosperity, and community life today. Known for blending rigorous historical scholarship with clear, accessible explanation, Malcolm helps readers understand not only the chronological history of Rutherglen but the lived experiences and civic narratives that continue to shape the town’s modern identity.