Widnes

Widnes, city in England, administrative headquarters of Halton unitary authority. The city developed on the north bank of the River Mersey at its lowest bridging point, 19 km (11 mi) east of Liverpool, and is the site of a single-arch steel bridge, opened in 1961, connecting it to Runcorn. Widnes expanded greatly during the 19th-century industrial boom and operated for most of the 20th century as an important alkali-processing centre, with related industries including the production of paints and soap. Today the chemical industry has declined, and there has been diversification into pharmaceuticals, food manufacturing and processing, and service industries. The chemical industry is commemorated in the Catalyst Museum. Population 57,162 (1991).