Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester, former metropolitan county, 497 sq mi (1,288 sq km), W central England. It comprised ten administrative districts (metropolitan boroughs): Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan. The county, which was created in the 1974 local government reorganization, was abolished in 1986, and the districts became responsible for all services except police, fire, and civil defense, which are supervised jointly. Greater Manchester remains a ceremonial county under the Lieutenancies Act.

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