Glenrothes, town (1991 pop. 33,639), Fife, E Scotland, on the Leven River. Glenrothes was designated one of the new towns in 1948 to provide housing, community services, and increased social and economic diversity for an expanding mining area. In 1961 the Glenrothes colliery closed. The town is intended to relieve overpopulation in Glasgow. Its industries include light and electronic engineering, computers, plastics, and food processing.