Glasgow Facts & Worksheets

Known for its history, culture, art and music scene, architecture, green spaces, and more, Glasgow is the largest and most populous city in the country Scotland. It is dubbed “the world’s friendliest city.” It is also considered the fourth-most populous and the fifth-most visited city in the United Kingdom. The population in Glasgow is greater than Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh. According to the National Records of Scotland, Glasgow has a population of 635,640 as of June 30, 2020.

See the fact file below for more information on Glasgow, or you can download our 27-page Glasgow worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ETYMOLOGY

• The name Glasgow has Brittonic roots.
• The first part of the name, “Glas,” means “gray-green” or “gray-blue.”
• The second half, which is “cöü,” means “hollow.”
• Based on those two meanings, Glasgow could be translated as “green hollow.”
• The common belief is that the name means “dear green place.”
• The modern Gaelic name of Glasgow is Glaschu which appeared for the first time during the Gaelic period, around 1116.

GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

• Glasgow lies on the banks of the River Clyde, the country’s third-longest river in West Central Scotland.
• Glasgow experiences four seasons: spring, summer, fall/autumn, and winter.
• Mild and sunny weather is the norm during summer, but it can also be damp and drizzly, especially in the mornings.
• During spring, Glasgow’s parks, gardens, and green spaces blossom with lush trees and flowers.
• Winter is mostly characterized by damp and cold weather.

HISTORY

• In the sixth century, Glasgow was reputedly founded by the Christian missionary Saint Mungo who established a monastic church in the location where the Glasgow Cathedral is currently situated.
• At the time, the bishopric in Glasgow grew into one of the biggest and wealthiest in the Kingdom of Scotland.
• During the 1100s, Glasgow was mainly a farming village.
• There was also a water mill built in Glasgow.
• River Clyde was an ideal location for fishing.
• By the 1220s, early trades in the town took place. Merchants such as fishermen, millers, blacksmiths, bakers, cobblers, and painters traded their goods and services.
• It was around 1250 when Glasgow was officially included in the map of Britain by Matthew of Paris, an English Benedictine monk.
• The first town council was formed in 1605 by merging the Trades House and Merchants House.
• After the Acts of Union took effect in 1707, the extensive markets of Great Britain opened up to Scotland.
• Consequently, Glasgow became a center of international trade for tobacco, sugar, cotton, and manufactured products.
• As Glasgow’s commercial status grew, new public buildings and Victorian architecture were built in the city center.
• The 19th century saw a rise in industrialization in Glasgow.
• Industrialists advanced shipbuilding to become a leading industry on the upper stretches of River Clyde.
• The Glasgow Police Act 1800 led to the creation of the City of Glasgow Police, which is regarded as one of the first municipal police forces in the world.
• By 1821, the population of Glasgow had overtaken that of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland.
• By 1850, there were approximately 200,000 people residing in Glasgow.
• As industrialization in Glasgow expanded,  textile-making, engineering, industrial machinery, the coal and oil industries, food and drink manufacturing, printing and publishing, shipping, and banking were industries that boomed.
• By the end of the 1800s, Glasgow became one of the cities dubbed the “Second City of the Empire.”
• The First World War (1914-1918) resulted in many war contracts for the shipbuilding industry of Glasgow.
• When the First World War ended, mass unemployment struck the city, which led to a labor committee calling for reducing the existing 47-hour work week to 40 hours in order to make jobs available for demobilized soldiers.
• In 1919, a large strike was staged for the enactment of a 40-hour week.
• The strike was held in George Square on January 31 of that year. After the crowd reportedly grew to 25 000 people, the authorities became concerned. The protest turned into a violent confrontation between the protesters and the Glasgow City Police and came to be known as the Battle of George Square.
• The riot, which reportedly resulted in zero fatalities, is also known as Bloody Friday or Black Friday.
• The shipbuilding industry recovered during the Second World War, even as Glasgow was suffering extreme unemployment issues during the 1930s.
• Compared to the 1930s, when most jobs were in shipbuilding and manufacturing, the 1950s saw a rise in jobs in the service industries, which peaked from the 1960s to the 1990s.
• That was also the time when slums were being cleared, and many people were re-housed in other towns.
• During the later part of the 20th century, Glasgow underwent a cultural renaissance and economic revival.
• From the 1980s, Glasgow began focusing on its heritage and rebuilding architecture. 
• In 1999, Glasgow became the UK European Capital of Culture.
• During the 21st century, Glasgow flourished as a host of prestigious sporting events and a cultural hub where the art and music scene thrived.

FAMOUS SITES AND LANDMARKS

The River Clyde, which flows through Glasgow, is the third-longest river in Scotland.

The River Clyde played a crucial role in shipbuilding and trade during the Industrial Revolution.

• Constructed between the 13th and 15th centuries, Glasgow Cathedral is the oldest building in the city.
• Glasgow Cathedral is a medieval cathedral and a prime example of Scottish Gothic architecture.
• To the east of Glasgow Cathedral is a 37-acre Victorian cemetery called the Glasgow Necropolis, which is home to 50,000 burials.
• The equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington is one of the most iconic sculptures in Glasgow.
• Located near the Gallery of Modern Art, the statue was created by Italian artist Carlo Marochetti and erected in 1844.
• The sculpture is notorious for having a traffic cone placed upon its head.
• Built-in 1471, Provand’s Lordship is a medieval house that is considered the oldest surviving medieval house in Glasgow.
• The Riverside Museum provides an incredible experience for learning about Glasgow’s history of shipbuilding and transportation.
• The Glasgow City Chambers, which currently functions as the headquarters of the Glasgow City Council, is a quality example of Victorian civic architecture.
• The People’s Palace and Winter Gardens, located in Glasgow Green, is a museum and glasshouse that houses an incredible collection of objects, images, prints, and narratives of the people of Glasgow.

Glasgow, Scotland Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Glasgow across 27 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Glasgow, the largest and most populous city in the country Scotland. It is dubbed “the world’s friendliest city.” It is also considered the fourth-most populous and the fifth-most visited city in the United Kingdom.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Glasgow, Scotland Facts
2. Send Me Your Location
3. Scroll Through Time
4. According To…
5. Name The Sites
6. History Lane
7. Make It True
8. With Love From Glasgow
9. Ready, Set, Glasgow!
10. Famous Glaswegians
11. What’s New?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Glasgow famous for?

Glasgow is renowned for its pioneering architecture, with the Glasgow School of Art being a crowning achievement. Towards the end of the 18th century, when merchants in this prosperous city began to amass great wealth, they sought to reflect their newfound prestige through stately buildings designed in a neoclassical style characterized by simple and majestic lines.

Why is called Glasgow?

Glasgow’s name is believed to come from the ancient Celtic word “Cleschi”, which translates to “Dear Green Place”. Nestled in between rolling hills and situated on a valley surrounding the River Clyde that runs right through its center; Glasgow offers stunning views – every turn of your head will greet you with enchanting scenery.

What is a person from Glasgow called?

Residents of Glasgow are proud to refer to themselves as Glaswegians.

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