Wishaw

Wishaw
Town
Wishaw Main Street, 2025
Wishaw
Location within North Lanarkshire
Population30,050 (2020)
OS grid referenceNS795555
 Edinburgh31 mi (50 km)
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townWISHAW
Postcode districtML2
Dialling code01698
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

Wishaw (/ˈwiʃɔː/ ; Scots: Wishae or Wisha /ˈwiʃi/ ; Scottish Gaelic: Camas Neachdain) is a large town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, on the edge of the Clyde Valley, 15 miles (24 km) south-east of Glasgow city centre. The town is part of the Motherwell and Wishaw constituency. It has the postal code of ML2 and the dialling code 01698.

The Burgh of Wishaw was formed in 1855 within Lanarkshire. The town developed extensively during the Victorian era, in particular during the Second Industrial Revolution. New industry and factories were established, including those in steel and iron production, as well as manufacturing, textiles and the processing of coal. The towns population increased as a result and new homes were built resulting in a conurbation with neighbouring Motherwell and Newmains. As a result, Wishaw formed a joint large burgh with its neighbour Motherwell from 1920 until its dissolution when Scottish local authorities were restructured in 1975, and was then in Motherwell district within the Strathclyde region until 1996. The town suffered during deindustrialisation as businesses closed in the mid to late 20th century. In the 21st century, the town has a mixed economy with services industries and is a residential area within North Lanarkshire.