Lanark is a town in the central belt of Scotland. The name is believed to come from the Cumbric Lanerc meaning "clear space, glade".
Lanark was historically the county town of Lanarkshire, though in modern times this title belongs to Hamilton. Lanark railway station and coach station have frequent services to Glasgow. There is little industry in Lanark and some residents commute to work in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Its shops serve the local agricultural community and surrounding villages. There is a large modern livestock auction market on the outskirts of the town.