The name Rutherglen is said to come from Gaelic for "reddish glen" after the red clay found here. At its northern border it blends into Glasgow’s suburbs and the vast Castlemilk housing scheme.

Rutherglen itself has always striven to maintain some autonomy since it was absorbed by Glasgow in the 1970s. It is the oldest burgh in Scotland - 500 years older than Glasgow, in fact - and is proud enough of its history to have its own museum. This seat includes not only Rutherglen itself but also the town of Cambuslang, and the housing scheme at Fernhill.