Ayr, town, administrative center of South Ayrshire unitary authority, southwestern Scotland, on the Firth of Clyde, at the mouth of the Ayr River. Ayr is a regional agricultural market and a popular resort with a well-known racecourse. It is also a coal-exporting seaport with some fishing activity. Manufactures include machinery, metal products, and textiles. Crossing the Ayr River here is a 13th-century bridge celebrated in a poem by Robert Burns, who was born nearby in the village of Alloway and who is commemorated here by a museum. A settlement existed on the site as early as the 8th century. It was made a royal burgh in 1202, and during the Middle Ages it was an important port. Before 1975 Ayr was the county town of the former county of Ayr. Population 47,962 (1991).
