Saint Helens

Saint Helens

Saint Helens, urban area (from 2011 built-up area) and metropolitan borough, metropolitan county of Merseyside, historic county of Lancashire, northwestern England. It lies in the industrial belt between Liverpool and Manchester.

Coal pits were exploited in the locality in the 16th century, and sand deposits led to the introduction of glassmaking in 1773. Glassmaking long dominated the borough’s industrial structure but has declined; there has been some economic diversification. Area metropolitan borough, 53 square miles (136 square km). Pop. (2001) urban area, 102,629; metropolitan borough, 176,843; (2011) built-up area, 102,885; metropolitan borough, 175,308.