Metropolitan Borough of Bolton

Borough of Bolton
Motto(s): 
Latin: Supera Moras, lit.'overcome delays'
Bolton shown within Greater Manchester
Coordinates: 53°34′39″N 2°25′48″W / 53.57750°N 2.43000°W / 53.57750; -2.43000
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryEngland
RegionNorth West
Ceremonial county and city regionGreater Manchester
Borough status1253
Incorporated1 April 1974
Named afterBolton
Administrative HQBolton Town Hall
Government
  TypeMetropolitan borough
  BodyBolton Council
  ExecutiveLeader and cabinet
  ControlNo overall control
  LeaderNick Peel (L)
  Mayor of BoltonMohammed Ayub
  MPs
Area
  Total
50 sq mi (140 km2)
  Rank170th
Population
 (2022)
  Total
298,903
  Rank48th
  Density5,540/sq mi (2,138/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
  Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
  Religion
List
Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT)
  Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
Postcode area
Dialling code
  • 01204
  • 0161
  • 01942
ISO 3166 codeGB-BOL
GSS codeE08000001
Websitebolton.gov.uk

The Metropolitan Borough of Bolton (/ˈbltən/ BOHL-tən) is a metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England, named after its largest town, Bolton, but covering a larger area which includes Blackrod, Farnworth, Horwich, Kearsley, Westhoughton, and part of the West Pennine Moors. It had a population of 298,903 in 2022, making it the third-most populous district in Greater Manchester.

The borough is in the historic county of Lancashire, and was created in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of seven former local government districts and part of an eighth; being seven urban districts from the administrative county of Lancashire, and the County Borough of Bolton. The metropolitan districts of Bury, Salford and Wigan lie to the east, south and west respectively; and the unitary authority of Blackburn with Darwen and the non-metropolitan district of Chorley in Lancashire to the north and north-west.