Greenock (Grianaig in Scottish Gaelic) is a large town and former burgh of barony in the Inverclyde Council Area in western Scotland, forming part of a contiguous urban area with Gourock to the west and Port Glasgow to the east. Greenock's population was recorded as being 45,467 in the 2001 census, a decrease from about 78,000 in 1966. It lies on the south bank of the Clyde at the "Tail of the Bank" where the River Clyde expands into the Firth of Clyde, and is in what was the county of Renfrewshire.