Bolton (pronunciation (helpยทinfo)) is a large town in Greater Manchester, in the North West region of England.Anon (2003-07-31). A select gazetteer of local government areas, Greater Manchester County. Greater Manchester County Records Office. Retrieved on 2007-06-20. Situated close to the West Pennine Moors, 10 miles (16 km) north west of the city of Manchester, it is the largest and most populous settlement within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, and has a total resident population of 139,403.UK Towns with Populations over 100,000. LoveMyTown. Retrieved on 2007-06-17.UK Town Populations Compared With Council Populations. URL accessed 17 June 2007.KS01 Usual resident population: Census 2001, Key Statistics for urban areas. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved on 2007-06-17.