a thriving town of Lanarkshire, eleven miles east of Glasgow, and thirty-one from Edinburgh. Pop. in 1851, 14,435. The extensive coal and iron mines in the vicinity afford employment to a considerable part of its population, and have been the means of raising it, since the commencement of the century, from the insignificance of a village to its present prosperity. The town contains one principal street, from which others diverge, and is well-built, paved, and lighted with gas. It has a handsome town-hall with a spire and clock, three Established, and three Free Churches, an Independent, a Baptist, a Roman Catholic, and other places of public worship; three branch banks, a mechanics' institute, an academy, and other schools; a cotton factory, gas-works, iron-founderies, distilleries, breweries, &c. A considerable number of its inhabitants are also engaged in the weaving of cotton goods for the Glasgow manufacturers. By the Reform Act it was created a parliamentary borough; and it unites with Lanark, Hamilton, Linlithgow, and Falkirk, in sending a member to Parliament. The municipal government, under a charter dated 1833, is vested in a provost, three bailies, and twelve councillors. Airdrie is connected with Glasgow by railway, and also by the Monkland canal.