Warrington (town)

Warrington (town), town, administrative centre of Warrington borough, north-western England, on the River Mersey. Warrington was once primarily an industrial town whose products included chemicals, soap, and metal products. Although these are still manufactured, there has been an increase in the service sector. Warrington was designated a New Town in 1968, which led to expansion in the 1970s; in 1981 it merged with Runcorn, a town that was intended to accommodate overspill population, mainly from Manchester. The site of Warrington is pre-Roman in origin. There is a 17th-century market cross, and an art gallery and museum. St Elphin's Church is mostly 14th century, although rebuilt with a tall spire in the mid-19th century. Population (town) 181,080 (2001).