Greater Manchester County is a metropolitan county and combined authority area in North West England.[1] It is a metropolitan county in northwest England, with a population of 2.95 million[2], known for its dynamic urban centers, extensive waterways, and diverse landscapes. Covering approximately 493 square miles (1,276 square kilometers)[3], it consists of ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the cities of Manchester and Salford.[4] Though geographically landlocked, it is connected to the sea by the Manchester Ship Canal which is still open to shipping in Salford and Trafford. Greater Manchester borders the ceremonial counties of Cheshire, Derbyshire, West Yorkshire, Lancashire and Merseyside.[5]
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Greater Manchester: landscape, industry, agriculture, and attractions
Greater Manchester has a mix of urban and rural landscapes, with cityscapes primarily concentrated around Manchester, Salford, and the surrounding boroughs. To the north and east, the Pennines form rolling hills and moorlands that define Greater Manchester's natural boundaries with neighboring counties like West Yorkshire and Lancashire. Areas like Saddleworth Moor in Oldham and Winter Hill in Bolton are popular for hiking and outdoor activities. Manchester is the largest urban center in Greater Manchester and is known as a major hub for commerce, arts, and culture. The city of Salford, which borders Manchester, is home to the Salford Quays, a revitalized docklands now housing cultural venues.[1]
Greater Manchester has successfully transitioned from its industrial past to a diverse and innovative economy. The region's strong academic institutions, skilled workforce, and excellent infrastructure continue to attract investment and drive economic growth.[6] The birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, Manchester continues to be a city that innovates across a variety of sectors. Manchester outperforms all other major UK cities in the fields of AI and data, advanced materials, cyber, construction tech, eCommerce, IoT, MedTech and service design.[6]
Agriculture in Greater Manchester is limited, but it still plays a role in the local food system. Some of the remaining agricultural activities include: Market Gardening:[7]
- Small-scale production of fruits, vegetables, and herbs for local markets,
- Livestock Farming: Primarily focused on smaller-scale operations, such as sheep and cattle farming.
- Urban Agriculture: A growing trend, with community gardens and urban farms producing fresh food for local consumption.
As England's second largest city, Greater Manchester has a variety of attractions. The East Lancashire Railway spans 12 miles of beautiful Lancastrian scenery and over a century of rich history. The railway can trace its storied origins back to the heady days of the Industrial Revolution when it was part of a network ferrying goods and people around the region.[8] The University of Manchester holds a special place in history. Its origins as England’s first civic university are closely linked to Manchester’s development as the world’s first industrial city.[9] John Rylands Research Institute and Library is a Victorian Gothic masterpiece housing a world-class collection of rare books and manuscripts. The Victoria Baths is a restored public bath house that catered to flocks of local bathers, but by the 1990s the ornate public pool had fallen into disrepair, until it was voted to be saved on a television competition.[10] The Alan Turing Memorial commemorates the father of modern computing.
Greater Manchester history
The land that is now Greater Manchester has a rich history stretching back to prehistoric times. Evidence of human activity, including tools and settlements, has been found dating back to the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods.[11] The Romans arrived in the area around 79 AD, establishing a fort at Mamucium (modern-day Manchester) to guard a key route between Chester and York. This Roman presence left a lasting impact on the region, with remnants of Roman roads, baths, and pottery still visible today.[12]
After the Romans departed, the area was settled by Anglo-Saxon tribes. The region became part of the Kingdom of Northumbria, and later Mercia[13]. During this period, many of the region's place names, such as Manchester and Salford, have their origins in Old English.[14]
The Norman Conquest of 1066 brought significant changes to the region. The area was divided into manors, and the feudal system was established. Manchester, in particular, grew in importance as a market town and center of textile production.[15]
Greater Manchester in the 15th century was a very different place than it is today. It was a rural area with a small population, and most people lived in villages and worked as farmers or craftsmen. The area was divided into several manors, each ruled by a lord. The most important town in the area was Manchester, but it was still a small market town at this time.[16]
The 16th century was a period of significant change for Greater Manchester. While it remained a predominantly rural area, the seeds of its future industrial prominence were being sown. The textile industry, particularly wool and cotton, began to emerge as a significant economic force. Manchester, in particular, started to develop as a center for textile production and trade.[17]
The 17th century was a period of significant change and development for Greater Manchester, although it remained primarily a rural region. The textile industry continued to grow, with Manchester emerging as a major center for the production of fustian, a type of cloth made from cotton and linen. This industry would lay the foundation for the region's future industrial dominance.[15]
The 18th century marked a transformative period for Greater Manchester, laying the foundation for its industrial prominence. Prior to this, Manchester was a significant wool trading town. However, with the advent of the Industrial Revolution, the region experienced a dramatic shift towards cotton manufacturing.[18] The cotton industry flourished, driven by technological advancements like the spinning jenny and water frame. Manchester became a hub for cotton production, earning the nickname "Cottonopolis."[19]
The 19th century was a period of immense transformation for Greater Manchester, solidifying its position as a global industrial powerhouse. Building on the foundations laid in the 18th century, the region experienced rapid growth, social change, and significant advancements in technology and infrastructure.[15] The development of railways revolutionized transportation, connecting Manchester to other industrial centers and facilitating the movement of goods and people.[20]
The 20th century was a period of significant change for Greater Manchester, marked by both decline and regeneration. As global competition increased and synthetic fibers gained popularity, Manchester's once-dominant textile industry began to decline.[3] In the post-war period, Manchester began to diversify its economy, focusing on sectors such as engineering, chemicals, and insurance.[21]
Greater Manchester parishes and unparished areas
There are 14 civil parishes in Greater Manchester, which account for about 5.2% of the county's population. These parishes are located in the following boroughs: Bolton: 4 parishes (Bolton, Bradshaw, Horwich, and Turton), Oldham: 3 parishes (Chadderton, Crompton, and Royton), Rochdale: 2 parishes (Milnrow and Newhey), Tameside: 3 parishes (Denton, Haughton Green, and Stalybridge), and Trafford: 2 parishes (Hale and Bowdon).[22]
The majority of Greater Manchester is unparished, meaning it's not divided into civil parishes. This includes the entire metropolitan boroughs of Bury, Rochdale, Salford, and Stockport, as well as large parts of the other boroughs.[22]
Greater Manchester geography
Manchester occupies a featureless plain made up of river gravels and the glacially transported debris known as drift. It lies at a height of 133 feet (40 metres) above sea level, enclosed by the slopes of the Pennine range on the east and the upland spur of Rossendale on the north.[3] Manchester is located in the northwest of England. It is roughly 160 miles northwest of London and is close to other major cities such as Liverpool and Birmingham. Several rivers flow through the city, including the River Mersey, which connects Manchester and Liverpool.[23]
Black Chew Head in Saddleworth in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham is the highest point or county top of Greater Manchester in northern England. It stands on moorland on the edge of the Peak District at a height of 542 m (1,778 ft) above sea level.[24]
Greater Manchester has a temperate maritime climate, typical of much of the United Kingdom, with relatively mild, wet winters and cool, rainy summers. Due to its proximity to the Pennines, it can experience higher levels of rainfall, particularly on the eastern edges where the land begins to rise.[25]
Researching family history in Greater Manchester
The Manchester & Lancashire Family History Society has over 3.5 million records unique to the Society. The Manchester City Council has links to helpful historical genealogical records. The Manchester District Library has Resources for Genealogists. The John Rylands Research Institute at Library of the University of Manchester holds a wealth of printed, archival and visual material relating to local history and genealogy. The Manchester City Library has a Genealogy and Family Research section on its website. The Bolton Library has list of helpful genealogy websites. The Greater Manchester County Record Office stores historical records relating to the Greater Manchester area and makes them available for members of the public for research.
Ethnicities in Greater Manchester
The demographic distribution of the Greater Manchester population is as follows:[26] the majority of Manchester's residents (313,630) identify with the White ethnic group (57%) followed by the Asian ethnic group (115,113, 21%) and the Black ethnic group (65,891, 12%). A 21,479 decrease in residents identifying as White (-6%) and increases of 5,860 in residents selecting Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups and 12,887 selecting Other ethnic group has occurred since Census 2011. This is because many residents identify with one or more ethnic groups that have not been included in the options provided in the Census so have written in their ethnicity. This table outlines the main ethnic groups in Manchester.
| Ethnic Group | Number of residents |
|---|---|
| Asian/Asian British | 115,113 |
| Black/Black British | 65,891 |
| Mixed | 29,021 |
| Other ethnic group | 28,274 |
| White | 313,630 |
Surnames in Greater Manchester
The demographic distribution of Greater Manchester surnames is as follows:[27]
| Surname | Incidence | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Smith | 29,118 | 1:98 |
| Jones | 25,113 | 1:113 |
| Taylor | 21,163 | 1:135 |
| Williams | 14,107 | 1:202 |
| Brown | 12,144 | 1:235 |
| Davies | 11,922 | 1:239 |
| Johnson | 10,825 | 1:263 |
| Khan | 9,993 | 1:285 |
| Wilson | 9,846 | 1:289 |
| Jackson | 9,789 | 1:291 |
Explore more about English Counties
MyHeritage.com has 351 collections that contain millions of English records that cover a huge variety of genealogical historical events that can help you find your ancestors. The MyHeritage Knowledge Base contains helpful information about genealogical research. The Legacy Family Tree Webinars website contains more than 2000 valuable genealogical webinars including over 50 webinars about English research.
See also
- Administrative structure of England
- English genealogy
- English immigration
- English emigration
- English archives
- England historical records
- Vital records in England
- Birth records in England
- Death records in England
- Marriage records in England
- Census records in England
- Civil registrations in England
- Church records in England
- Newspaper records in England
- English military records
References
- ↑ Greater Manchester Combined Authority
- ↑ Greater Manchester population by district 2023
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Manchester | History, Population, Map, & Facts | Britannica
- ↑ Greater Manchester | Industrial Revolution, Cotton Mills, Urbanization | Britannica
- ↑ Greater Manchester
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Industry expertise
- ↑ Exploring the need for innovation in greening urban environments: Reflecting on radical practice in Greater Manchester, UK
- ↑ East Lancashire Railway
- ↑ About The University of Manchester
- ↑ Victoria Baths
- ↑ Early Prehistory
- ↑ Mamucium
- ↑ Kings and Queens of Mercia, 515 - 918 AD
- ↑ Salford, Greater Manchester
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 The world's first industrial city | Science and Industry Museum
- ↑ Centers of Progress, Pt. 22: Manchester (Industrialization)
- ↑ Manchester - Industrialization, Textiles, Growth | Britannica
- ↑ Manchester - Industrialization, Textiles, Growth | Britannica
- ↑ Manchester, cotton and slavery | Science and Industry Museum
- ↑ Railways
- ↑ Manchester - Textiles, Manufacturing, Trade | Britannica
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Civil parishes in Greater Manchester explained
- ↑ What is the location and importance of Manchester?
- ↑ Black Chew Head
- ↑ Manchester climate: weather by month, temperature, rain - Climates to Travel
- ↑ Census 2021 - Identity Summary | Census 2021 - Identity Summary | Manchester City Council
- ↑ Most Common Surnames in Greater Manchester, With Meanings