Manchester, City and metropolitan borough (pop., 2004 est.: 437,000), in the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester, northwestern England. Lying northwest of London and east of Liverpool, it was the site of a Roman fort (78–86 ce) but was abandoned after the 4th century. By 919 the town of Manchester had sprung up nearby. In the 16th century it was important in the wool trade, and with the onset of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century it became an important manufacturing city known for its textile production. The world’s first modern railroad, the Liverpool and Manchester, opened in 1830. The city was beset by urban and industrial problems in the second half of the 20th century. Thereafter it was redeveloped, ushering in a cultural renaissance. Its many educational institutions include the University of Manchester.
