Bolton (town)

Bolton (town) or Bolton-Le-Moors, town in Bolton district, in the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester, north-western England, on the River Croal. It has long been a road and rail transport centre. In the Middle Ages the town was an important market for the wool trade. The modern textile industry of Bolton dates from 1780, when the first cotton mill was built there. Urban growth was stimulated by the opening of a canal to Manchester in 1791. Nowadays the town is a major centre of industry and commerce that has seen rapid change in recent years. By diversification into new industries, it has been able to cope with the decline in textile manufacturing. Engineering plays an important role in the economy, with British Aerospace, steel, and chemicals contributing to this growth. Bolton is a retail centre for the north-west and has many mill shops. Its civic centre houses a museum, an art gallery, and an aquarium. Population (1994 estimate) 265,200.