Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester,

former metropolitan county, 497 sq mi (1,288 sq km), W central England. It comprised ten administrative districts (metropolitan boroughs): BoltonBolton
or Bolton-le-Moors
, metropolitan borough (1991 pop. 143,960), NW England, located in the Manchester metropolitan area. Since the late 18th cent., when spinning factories were built and a canal (1791) was constructed to Manchester, Bolton has been a
..... Click the link for more information. , BuryBury
, metropolitan borough (1991 pop. 60,785), NE England, located in the Manchester metropolitan area on the Irwell River and linked by canal with Bolton and Manchester.
..... Click the link for more information. , ManchesterManchester
, city and metropolitan borough (1991 pop. 397,400), NW England, a port on the Irwell, Medlock, Irk, and Tib rivers. Manchester remains the center of the most densely populated area of England, despite the tremendous amount of outmigration between 1961 and 1981.
..... Click the link for more information. , OldhamOldham,
metropolitan borough (1991 pop. 107,095), NW England, located in the Manchester metropolitan area. The city's industries include papermaking, tanning, food processing, and mail-order distribution. Oldham's town hall, art gallery, museum, and Alexandra Park are noteworthy.
..... Click the link for more information. , RochdaleRochdale
, metropolitan borough (1991 pop. 97,282), NW England, located in the Manchester metropolitan area on the Roch River. The city's chief industry is the spinning and weaving of cotton and woolen yarns. Rayon, rubber, leather, and electrical equipment are also produced.
..... Click the link for more information. , SalfordSalford
, city and metropolitan borough (1991 pop. 96,525), NW England, located in the Manchester metropolitan area on the Irwell River. Salford was long an important textile center; many Port of Manchester docks were located in the confines of the city.
..... Click the link for more information. , StockportStockport,
metropolitan borough (1991 pop. 276,800), W central England, located in the Manchester metropolitan area on the slopes of a narrow valley at the head of the Mersey River. The ravine is crossed by a high railroad viaduct built in the 19th cent.
..... Click the link for more information. , Tameside, Trafford, and WiganWigan
, metropolitan borough (1991 pop. 88,725), N England, located in the Manchester metropolitan area on the Douglas River. Wigan has a wide variety of industries, including electrical engineering, food processing, mail order, and the manufacture of paper, glass, fiber
..... Click the link for more information. . The county, which was created in the 1974 local government reorganization, was abolished in 1986, and the districts became responsible for all services except police, fire, and civil defense, which are supervised jointly. Greater Manchester remains a ceremonial county under the Lieutenancies Act.