Wigan (borough) - Definition and Overview

Borough of Wigan
Geography
Status:	Metropolitan borough
Region:	North West England
Ceremonial County:	Greater Manchester
Area: - Total	Ranked 194th 188.19 km²
Admin. HQ:	Wigan
ONS code:	00BW
Demographics
Population: - Total (2002 est.) - Density	Ranked 17th 301,639 1,603 / km²
Ethnicity:	98.7% White
Politics
Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council http://www.wiganmbc.gov.uk
Leadership:	Leader & Cabinet
Executive:	Labour
MPs:	Andrew Burnham, Terry Lewis, Ian McCartney, Neil Turner

Wigan is a metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, in North West England.

Towns and villages in the borough include Wigan itself, Abram, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Aspull, Astley, Atherton, Billinge, Bryn, Golborne, Hindley, Leigh, Lowton, Orrell, Platt Bridge, Standish, Shevington, Tyldesley and Winstanley.

The current boundaries of Wigan date were set by the Local Government Act 1972, which on April 1, 1974 formed the metropolitan borough of Wigan from the former county borough of Wigan, along with a number of boroughs and urban districts formerly in Lancashire and Cheshire.