

With a population of more than 46000 inhabitants, Ayr is the largest town, port as well as settlement in the Ayrshire. Ayr has held the status of a royal burgh since 1205 and is currently the administration centre for the council area of south Ayrshire. Ayr was among the four Scottish counties competing for the commemorative status of the city upon Queen Elizabeth II’s golden jubilee in the year 2002.
Towns like Prestwick, famous for its golf and aviation as well as Glasgow Prestwick international airport, and Alloway, famous for its association with Robert Burns adjoin Ayr but fail to overshadow it. It was one of four Scottish towns and counties to compete for the title of city in Queen Elizabeth’s golden jubilee commemoration in 2002, though the title was won by Stirling.
Ayr is a land of rich history, since the time the first castle was built by the riverside of Ayr; a burgh was soon built by King William I of Scotland in 1205. Ayr held the honors to hold the first parliament in Scotland in 1315. In times past, Ayr was once more commonly called Invenrair/Invenrayr and the name still holds in some Scottish dialects.
Industry has flourished slowly but steadily through time, mainly because of river Ayr. Ship building in the eighteenth century made a landmark in improvement on Ayr’s economy. Part of the harbor still functions as a commercial port. With the first departmental store, Ayr has been a centre of shopping in south Scotland.
Part of the historic port in Ayr still functions today, its main exports being coal and fish. Ayr has been a hub for shopping for all of south Scotland, having a port in times past and also being the first county to have a functioning departmental store since 1896.
The county is well connected. With three main roads connecting the port county from outlying areas, though ferry services are not yet available, the county has its own railway station. Just two miles away from Ayr lies the Glasgow Prestwick international airport which effectively connects the area with the rest of Scotland, or one could drive 35 miles to Glasgow airport whence many other locations worldwide are accessible.
The county of Ayr has 15 primary schools all told, access to 5 secondary schools and 2 each of colleges and universities. Ayr has a sandy beach with an esplanade, popular among joggers and day trippers. Many other leisure activities are also available, either upon the beach or in Ayr’s leisure centre. Of late many new tourist venues are being built, all contributing towards making Ayr one of the most favored tourism spots outside Glasgow.
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