View source for Trafford

{{Short description|Borough in Greater Manchester, England}}
{{About|the district of Greater Manchester, England}}
{{pp-move}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Borough of Trafford
| settlement_type    = [[Metropolitan borough]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple images|border = infobox|perrow=1 2 2|total_width=280px
 | image1 = Trafford-town-hall3.jpg
 | image2 = At Dunham Massey 2023 32.jpg
 | image3 = Old bank building, Altrincham (1).JPG}}
| image_caption      = Clockwise from the top; [[Trafford Town Hall]], Old Market Square in [[Altrincham]] and [[Dunham Massey Hall]] 
| image_flag         = 
| flag_alt           = 
| image_seal         = 
| seal_alt           = 
| image_shield       = Coat of arms of Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council.png
| shield_alt         = 
| shield_link        = Trafford#Coat of arms
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_size  = 
| blank_emblem_type  = 
| blank_emblem_link  = 
| etymology          = 
| nickname           = 
| motto              = Hold fast that which is good
| image_map          = Trafford UK locator map.svg
| mapsize            = 
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Trafford shown within [[Greater Manchester]]
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| pushpin_label_position = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|53|26|46|N|2|18|29|W|region:GB_type:adm2nd|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint      = 
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| subdivision_type   = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name   = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Country]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[England]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[North West England|North West]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial county]] and [[City region (United Kingdom)|city region]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Greater Manchester]]
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| established_title  = Incorporated
| established_date   = [[Local Government Act 1972|1 April 1974]]
| established_title1 = 
| established_date1  = 
| established_title2 = 
| established_date2  = 
| established_title3 = 
| established_date3  = 
| named_for          = 
| seat_type          = Administrative HQ
| seat               = [[Trafford Town Hall]]
| parts_type         = 
| parts              = <!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = <ref name="Council leadership">{{cite web |url=https://www.trafford.gov.uk/about-your-council/about-us/about-trafford-council.aspx |title=About Trafford Council |website=Trafford Council |access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref>
| government_type    = [[Metropolitan borough|Metropolitan{{nbsp}}borough]]
| governing_body     = [[Trafford Council]]
| leader_title       = [[Executive arrangements|Executive]]
| leader_name        = [[Executive arrangements#Leader and cabinet|Leader and cabinet]]
| leader_title1      = [[Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom|Control]]
| leader_name1       = {{English district control|GSS=E08000009}}
| leader_title2      = [[Executive arrangements#Leader and cabinet|Leader]]
| leader_name2       = [[Tom Ross (politician)|Tom Ross]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
| leader_title3      = [[Mayors in England|Mayor]]
| leader_name3       = Dolores O'Sullivan
| leader_title4      = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MPs]]
| leader_name4       = {{Collapsible list | title = 3 MPs
 | [[Connor Rand]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
 | [[Mike Kane]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
 | [[Andrew Western]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
 }}
<!-- Area -->| unit_pref          = Metric <!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
| area_footnotes     = <ref>{{United Kingdom district population citation|area}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = {{English district area|GSS=E08000009}}
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_rank          = [[List of English districts by area|{{English district area rank|GSS=E08000009}}]]
<!-- Population -->| population_footnotes = <ref name="popstats">{{United Kingdom district population citation}}</ref>
| population_as_of   = {{English statistics year}}
| population_total   = {{English district population|GSS=E08000009}}
| population_rank    = [[List of English districts by population|{{English district rank|GSS=E08000009}}]]
| population_density_km2 = {{English district density|GSS=E08000009}}
| population_demonym = <!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1 = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E08000009|title=Trafford Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 77.8% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 12.6% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 | 3.8% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
 | 3.4% [[Black British people|Black]]
 | 2.5% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->| demographics_type2 = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1 = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 48.4% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
 | 33.1% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
 | 8.7% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
 | 2.0% [[Hinduism in England|Hinduism]]
 | 1.0% [[History of the Jews in England|Judaism]]
 | 0.8% [[Sikhism in England|Sikhism]]
 | 0.4% [[Buddhism in England|Buddhism]]
 | 0.4% [[Religion in England|other]]
 | 5.1% not stated
 }}
| timezone1          = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset1        = +0
| timezone1_DST      = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = +1
<!-- Codes -->| postal_code_type   = [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcode area]]
| postal_code        = {{Hlist | [[M postcode area|M]] | [[WA postcode area|WA]] }}
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom|Dialling code]]
| area_code          = 0161
| iso_code           = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|GB-TRF]]
| blank1_name        = [[GSS coding system|GSS code]]
| blank1_info        = E08000009
| website            = {{URL|trafford.gov.uk}}
| module             = 
| footnotes          = 
}}
[[File:Benkid77 River Mersey sign, A56 250709.JPG|thumb|The boundary of the [[Historic counties of England|historic counties]] of [[Lancashire]] and [[Cheshire]] is marked along the [[River Mersey]] in Trafford.]]
'''Trafford''' is a [[metropolitan borough]] of [[Greater Manchester]], England, with an estimated population of {{English district population|GSS=E08000009}} in {{English statistics year}}.<ref name="popstats" /> It covers {{convert|{{English district area|GSS=E08000009}}|km2|sqmi}}<ref name="areastats">{{United Kingdom district population citation|area}}</ref> and includes the area of [[Old Trafford (area)|Old Trafford]] and the towns of [[Altrincham]], [[Stretford]], [[Urmston]], [[Partington]] and [[Sale, Greater Manchester|Sale]]. The borough was formed in 1974 as a merger of six former districts and part of a seventh. The [[River Mersey]] flows through the borough, separating North Trafford from South Trafford, and the [[Historic counties of England|historic counties]] of [[Lancashire]] and [[Cheshire]]. Trafford is the seventh-most populous district in Greater Manchester.<ref name="popstats" />

There is evidence of [[Neolithic]], [[Bronze Age]], and [[Roman Empire|Roman]] activity in the area, two castles&nbsp;– one of them a [[Scheduled Ancient Monument]]&nbsp;– and over 200 [[listed building]]s. In the late 19th century, the population rapidly expanded with the arrival of the railway. Trafford is the home of [[Manchester United F.C.]] and [[Lancashire County Cricket Club]], as well as [[Altrincham F.C.]] and [[Trafford F.C.]]. The [[Imperial War Museum North]], opened in 2002, is located in the borough.

Trafford has a strong economy with low levels of unemployment and contains both [[Trafford Park]] industrial estate and the [[Trafford Centre]], a large out-of-town shopping centre. Apart from the [[City of Manchester]], Trafford is the only borough in Greater Manchester to be above the national average for weekly income. Socially, the area includes both [[working class]] and [[middle class]] areas like [[Bowdon, Greater Manchester|Bowdon]] and [[Hale, Greater Manchester|Hale]]. In [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]], Trafford is represented by three [[United Kingdom constituencies|constituencies]]: [[Stretford and Urmston (UK Parliament constituency)|Stretford and Urmston]]; [[Altrincham and Sale West (UK Parliament constituency)|Altrincham and Sale West]]; and [[Wythenshawe and Sale East (UK Parliament constituency)|Wythenshawe and Sale East]], which mainly covers neighbouring Manchester.

== History ==
The borough was formed on 1 April 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], covering the area of six former districts which were abolished at the same time, as well as four [[civil parish]]es from a seventh abolished district:
*[[Municipal Borough of Altrincham|Altrincham Municipal Borough]]
*[[Bowdon Urban District]]
*[[Carrington, Greater Manchester|Carrington]]‡
*[[Dunham Massey]]‡
*[[Hale, Greater Manchester|Hale]] [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|Urban District]]
*[[Partington]]‡
*[[Municipal Borough of Sale|Sale Municipal Borough]]
*[[Municipal Borough of Stretford|Stretford Municipal Borough]]
*[[Urmston Urban District]]
*[[Warburton, Greater Manchester|Warburton]]‡
‡ Parishes from [[Bucklow Rural District]]

Stretford and Urmston had been in the [[Administrative counties of England|administrative county]] of [[Lancashire]] prior to the 1974 reforms, whilst all the others had been in the administrative county of [[Cheshire]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|accessdate=3 September 2022}}</ref> The new district was awarded [[borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]] from its creation, allowing the chairman of the council to take the title of mayor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1974/mar/28/district-councils-and-boroughs#S5CV0871P0_19740328_CWA_145|title=District Councils and Boroughs|date=28 March 1974|work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]|access-date=3 September 2022}}</ref>

The choice of the name Trafford for the borough was a "compromise between Altrincham, Stretford and Sale", and "seemed to have wide support".<ref name="Clark101"/> A Liberal councillor for the [[Municipal Borough of Sale]] suggested "Crossford&nbsp;... whilst "Watlingford" was suggested by councillors in Hale, after the supposed name of an ancient [[Roman road]] in the district.<ref name="Clark101"/> Those names were rejected in favour of Trafford, because of the district's "famous sports venue, a major employer as well as historic associations", referring to [[Old Trafford]] ([[Old Trafford Cricket Ground|cricket]] and [[Old Trafford|football]]), [[Trafford Park]] and the [[de Trafford baronets]] respectively.<ref name="Clark101">{{Harvnb|Clark|1973|p=101}}.</ref><ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=137|accessdate=3 September 2022}}</ref>

As a place name, Trafford is an [[Anglo-Norman language|Anglo-French]] version of Stratford, deriving from the [[Old English]] words ''stræt'' ([[street]], more specifically a [[Roman roads in Britannia|Roman road]]) and [[ford (crossing)]]. The Metropolitan Borough of Trafford has existed since 1974, but the area it covers has a long history. [[Neolithic]] arrowheads have been discovered in [[Altrincham]] and [[Sale, Greater Manchester|Sale]],<ref>Nevell (1997), pp.&nbsp;12–13.</ref> and there is evidence of [[Bronze Age]] habitation in [[Timperley]].<ref name="Timperley Old Hall">Faulkner (2004), pp.&nbsp;1–5.</ref> Fragments of [[Roman Britain|Roman]] pottery have been found in [[Urmston]], and Roman coins have been found in Sale. The Roman road between the [[legionary]] [[castra|fortresses]] at [[Chester]] ([[Deva Victrix]]) and [[York]] ([[Eboracum]]) crosses Trafford, passing through Stretford, Sale, and Altrincham.<ref>Nevell (1997), pp.&nbsp;17,&nbsp;20,&nbsp;75.</ref> The settlements in Trafford have been based largely around agriculture, although Altrincham was founded as a market town in the mid 13th century.<ref>Nevell (1997), p.&nbsp;51.</ref> Although the [[Industrial Revolution]] affected Trafford, the area did not experience the same rate of growth as the rest of [[Greater Manchester]].<ref name="90-91">Nevell (1997), pp.&nbsp;90–91.</ref> A 100% increase in population in the Trafford area between 1841 and 1861 was a direct result of an influx due to the construction of the [[Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway]], which allowed residents to commute more easily from Trafford into Manchester.<ref name="90-91"/> The area developed its own centres of industry in [[Broadheath, Greater Manchester|Broadheath]] (founded in 1885) and [[Trafford Park]] (founded in 1897).<ref>Nevell (1997), pp.&nbsp;127,&nbsp;131.</ref> They have since declined, although Trafford Park still employs 40–50,000 people.<ref name="Trafford Park1">{{cite web |title=Salford Quays & Trafford Park |publisher=Manchester Investment and Development Agency Service Ltd |url=http://www.investinmanchester.com/propertysites_salfordquays |archive-url = https://archive.today/20080117100823/http://www.investinmanchester.com/propertysites_salfordquays |archive-date = 2008-01-17}} Retrieved on 4&nbsp;May 2009.</ref><ref name="Trafford Park2">{{cite web |title=Trafford at GMeP.org |publisher=Greater Manchester e-Government Partnership |url=http://www.gmep.org.uk/ccm/content/map-links/trafford/|archive-url = https://archive.today/20071223210424/http://www.gmep.org.uk/ccm/content/map-links/trafford/ |archive-date = 23 December 2007|url-status=dead}} Retrieved on 12&nbsp;December 2007.</ref> Today, Trafford is mostly a commuter area. The borough was formed on 1&nbsp;April 1974 by the [[Local Government Act 1972]] as one of the ten metropolitan districts of Greater Manchester.<ref>HMSO.  Local Government Act 1972.  1972 c.70</ref>

== Geography ==
The metropolitan boroughs of the [[City of Salford]] and the [[City of Manchester]] border Trafford to the north and east respectively; the [[Cheshire East]] area of [[Cheshire]] lies to the south. The geology of South Trafford is [[Keuper marl]] with some Keuper waterstone and sandstone, whilst the geology of North Trafford is [[Bunter (geology)|Bunter sandstone]].<ref name="Nevell 1997, pg 3, 10, 94">Nevell (1997), pp.&nbsp;3,&nbsp;10,&nbsp;94.</ref> The [[River Mersey]] runs east to west through the area, separating North Trafford from South Trafford; other rivers in Trafford include the [[River Bollin|Bollin]], the [[River Irwell]], Sinderland Brook, and Crofts Bank Brook. The [[Bridgewater Canal]], opened in 1761 and completed in 1776, follows a course through Trafford roughly north to south and passes through Stretford, Sale, and Altrincham.<ref name="Nevell 1997, pg 3, 10, 94"/> The [[Manchester Ship Canal]], opened in 1894, forms part of Trafford's northern and western boundaries with [[City of Salford|Salford]].<ref>Nevell (1997), p.&nbsp;125.</ref>

Trafford is generally flat, with most of the land lying between {{convert|66|ft|m}} and {{convert|98|ft}} above sea level, apart from Bowdon Hill in South Trafford which rises {{convert|200|ft|m|-1}} above sea level.<ref name="Nevell 1997, pg 3, 10, 94"/> The lowest point in Trafford, near [[Warburton, Greater Manchester|Warburton]], is {{convert|36|ft|m}} above sea level.<ref>Bayliss (1996), p.&nbsp;2.</ref> There are areas of [[bog|mossland]] in low-lying areas: Warburton Moss, Dunham Moss, and Hale Moss.<ref name="Nevell 1997, pg 3, 10, 94"/> [[Green belt|Greenspace]] accounts for 51.8% of Trafford's total area, domestic buildings and gardens comprise 25.6%, the rest is made up of roads and non-domestic buildings.<ref name="land usage">{{cite web |title=Trafford Metropolitan Borough physical environment |publisher=Statistics.gov.uk |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=276784&c=Trafford&d=13&e=8&g=356269&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1200185506953&enc=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316125518/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=276784&c=Trafford&d=13&e=8&g=356269&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1200185506953&enc=1 |archive-date=2009-03-16 }} Retrieved on 13&nbsp;February 2008.</ref>

Localities within the boundaries of Trafford include:

'''North Trafford:''' [[Cornbrook]], [[Davyhulme]], [[Firswood]], [[Flixton, Greater Manchester|Flixton]], [[Gorse Hill]], [[Lostock, Trafford|Lostock]], [[Old Trafford (district)|Old Trafford]], [[Stretford]], [[Trafford Park]] and [[Urmston]].

'''South Trafford:''' [[Altrincham]], [[Ashton-Upon-Mersey]], [[Bowdon, Greater Manchester|Bowdon]], [[Broadheath, Greater Manchester|Broadheath]], [[Brooklands, Sale|Brooklands]], [[Carrington, Greater Manchester|Carrington]], [[Dunham Massey]], [[Hale, Greater Manchester|Hale]], [[Hale Barns]], [[Oldfield Brow]], [[Partington, Greater Manchester|Partington]], [[Sale, Greater Manchester|Sale]], [[Sale Moor]], [[Timperley]], [[Warburton, Greater Manchester|Warburton]] and [[West Timperley]].

== Governance ==

=== Representation ===
The residents of Trafford Metropolitan Borough are represented in the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|British Parliament]] by [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Members of Parliament]] (MPs) for three separate parliamentary constituencies. [[Altrincham and Sale West (UK Parliament constituency)|Altrincham and Sale West]] is represented by [[Connor Rand]] MP ([[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]). [[Stretford and Urmston (UK Parliament constituency)|Stretford and Urmston]] is represented by [[Andrew Western]] MP ([[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]). [[Wythenshawe and Sale East (UK Parliament constituency)|Wythenshawe and Sale East]], which also covers parts of the [[City of Manchester]], is represented by [[Mike Kane]] MP (Labour).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26184146 |title=Wythenshawe and Sale East by-election: Labour wins|date=14 February 2014 |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=[[BBC News Online]] |access-date=19 May 2014}}</ref>

=== Council ===
{{Main|Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council}}

In 1974, Trafford Council was created to administer the newly formed Trafford Metropolitan Borough and is headquartered at [[Trafford Town Hall]], which was previously named Stretford Town Hall.<ref>{{cite web|title=Listings report, Autumn 2007 |publisher=The Twentieth Century Society |url=http://www.c20society.org.uk/docs/listings/07_autumn.html |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202063621/http://www.c20society.org.uk/docs/listings/07_autumn.html |archive-date=2 December 2008 }} Retrieved on 2 March 2014.</ref> On its formation in 1974, the council was controlled by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]]; the Conservatives have been in control 1973–85, 1988–94, and 2004–2018. The only time the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] was in control was 1996–2002, and 2019 to the present. The rest of the time were periods of no overall control.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2007/councils/html/bu.stm |title=Trafford local elections 2007 |work=BBC Online |date=4 May 2007 | access-date=26 March 2010}} Retrieved on 6&nbsp;January 2008.</ref> The council meets to decide policy and allocate budget. Its duties include setting levels of [[council tax]], monitoring the health service in Trafford, providing social care, and funding schools.<ref name="Constitution">{{cite web |title=Trafford Council Constitution 2007 |author=Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council |publisher=Trafford.gov.uk |url=http://www.trafford.gov.uk/about-your-council/about-us/our-constitution.aspx}} Retrieved on 2 March 2014.</ref><ref name="Budget">{{cite web |title=Trafford Council Budget Report 2008/09 |publisher=Trafford MBC |url=http://www.trafford.gov.uk/cme/live/dynamic/DocMan2Document.asp?document_id=B11BBEAC-B7D9-4896-9C88-F76E0CF2C008 |format=PDF |date=19 February 2008 |pages=17, 22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224000935/http://www.trafford.gov.uk/cme/live/dynamic/DocMan2Document.asp?document_id=B11BBEAC-B7D9-4896-9C88-F76E0CF2C008 |archive-date=24 February 2012 }} Retrieved on 4&nbsp;May 2009.</ref> Cllr Tom Ross is the leader of the council and Cllr Amy Whyte is the current mayor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://democratic.trafford.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?bcr=1|title=Your Councillors|date=4 January 2021|website=democratic.trafford.gov.uk}}</ref>

In 2007 the [[Audit Commission (United Kingdom)|Audit Commission]] judged Trafford Council to be "improving strongly" in providing services for local people. Overall the council was awarded "three star" status meaning it was "performing well" and "consistently above minimum requirements", similar to 46% of all local authorities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council comprehensive performance assessment (CPA) scorecard 2007 |publisher=[[Audit Commission (United Kingdom)|Audit Commission]] |url=http://cpa.audit-commission.gov.uk/STCCScorecard.aspx?TaxID=108549 |year=2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090104030505/http%3A//cpa.audit%2Dcommission.gov.uk/STCCScorecard.aspx?TaxID%3D108549 |archive-date=2009-01-04 }} Retrieved on 11&nbsp;April 2008.</ref> In 2008–09, Trafford council had a budget of £150.5&nbsp;million. This was collected from [[council tax]] (57%) and government grants (43%). The council spent £31.8&nbsp;million on children and young people's services (21%); £60.1&nbsp;million on community services and social care (40%); £34.4&nbsp;million on "prosperity, planning, and development" (23%); and £33.8&nbsp;million on customer and corporate services (22%).<ref name="Budget"/>

[[Civil parish]]es form the bottom tier of local government; the parish councils are involved in planning, management of town and parish centres, and promoting tourism.<ref>{{cite web|title=What is a town, parish or community council? |author=National Association of Local Councils |publisher=nalc.gov.uk |url=http://www.nalc.gov.uk/About_NALC/What_is_a_parish_or_town_council/What_is_a_council.aspx |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110926170042/http://www.nalc.gov.uk/About_NALC/What_is_a_parish_or_town_council/What_is_a_council.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-09-26 }} Retrieved on 2 March 2014.</ref> In 2001, 8,484 people (4.0% of the borough's population) lived in Trafford's four civil parishes:<ref>{{cite web |title=Carrington civil parish population |publisher=Statistics.gov.uk |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=790589&c=Carrington&d=16&e=15&g=356170&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1190636380788&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 |access-date=24 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316125558/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=790589&c=Carrington&d=16&e=15&g=356170&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1190636380788&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 |archive-date=16 March 2009 }}<br />•{{cite web | title =Dunham Massey civil parish population | publisher =Statistics.gov.uk | url =http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=790590&c=Dunham+Massey&d=16&e=15&g=356097&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090316125603/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=790590&c=Dunham+Massey&d=16&e=15&g=356097&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 | archive-date =2009-03-16 }} Retrieved on 14&nbsp;September 2007.<br />•{{cite web | title =Partington civil parish population | publisher =Statistics.gov.uk | url =http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=790591&c=Partington&d=16&e=15&g=356171&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1190726274083&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090316125621/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=790591&c=Partington&d=16&e=15&g=356171&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1190726274083&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 | archive-date =2009-03-16 }} Retrieved on 25&nbsp;September 2007.<br />•{{cite web  | title =Warburton civil parish population  | publisher =Statistics.gov.uk  | url =http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=790592&c=Warburton&d=16&e=15&g=356099&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779  | url-status =dead  | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090316125743/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=790592&c=Warburton&d=16&e=15&g=356099&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779  | archive-date =2009-03-16  }} Retrieved on 31&nbsp;August 2007.</ref> Carrington, Dunham Massey, Partington, and Warburton. They were all previously part of [[Bucklow Rural District]]. A rural district was a type of local government district for the administration of predominantly rural areas. The rest of Trafford is [[unparished area|unparished]]. The unparished areas are: Altrincham ([[Municipal Borough]]), Bowdon ([[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|Urban District]]), Hale (Urban District), Sale (Municipal Borough), Stretford (Municipal Borough), and Urmston (Urban District). The status of each area prior to 1974 is shown in brackets. An urban district was a type of local government district which covered an urbanised area.

Following the 2018 local elections, the council, which was previously Conservative-held, came under Labour control in the form of a minority administration supported by the Liberal Democrats in a [[confidence and supply]] administration. There were a few shock results, such as in [[Altrincham (ward)]], where the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]] gained seats from the incumbent Conservative councillors. After gaining seats in the 2019 local elections, the Labour Party was in a position to form a majority-controlling administration.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Party political make-up of Trafford Council
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" | Party
! colspan="9" | Seats
|-
! [[2015 Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council election|2015]]<ref>{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151001044120/https://democratic.trafford.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=TABLE&PIC=1 | archive-date = 1 October 2015 |url=https://democratic.trafford.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=TABLE&PIC=1 |title=Trafford local election results 2015 |publisher=Trafford MBC |date=10 May 2015 |access-date =7 May 2016}}</ref>
! [[2016 Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council election|2016]]<ref>{{cite web | title = Declaration of result of poll: Trafford | url = http://www.trafford.gov.uk/about-your-council/elections/docs/Declaration-of-results-2016.pdf | website = trafford.gov.uk | publisher = [[Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council]] | date = 5 May 2016 | access-date = 7 May 2016}}</ref>
! [[Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council elections#By-election results|2017]]<ref>{{cite web | title = Labour win the Bucklow St Martins by-election | url = http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/news/whereyoulive/15538103.Labour_win_the_Bucklow_St_Martins_by_election/?ref=mr&lp=5 | website = messengernewspapers.co.uk | publisher = Sale and Altrincham Messenger | date = 15 September 2017 | access-date = 16 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="MEN_160617">{{cite news | last = Britton | first = Paul | title = Former Tory councillor charged with making and distributing indecent images of children | url = http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/tory-councillor-charged-making-distributing-13194771 | work = [[Manchester Evening News]] | publisher = [[Trinity Mirror]] | date = 16 June 2017 | access-date = 6 October 2017}}</ref>
! [[2018 Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council election|2018]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Local Election May 2018 results |url=http://www.trafford.gov.uk/about-your-council/elections/Local-Election-2018-Results.aspx |website=[[Trafford Council]]}}</ref>
! [[2019 Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council election|2019]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Local Election May 2019 results |url=https://www.trafford.gov.uk/about-your-council/elections/Local-Election-2019-Results.aspx |website=[[Trafford Council]]}}</ref>
! [[2021 Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council election|2021]]<ref>{{cite web|title=2021 Local election results |url=https://www.trafford.gov.uk/about-your-council/elections/2021/local-election-results.aspx |website=[[Trafford Council]]}}</ref>
! [[2022 Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council election|2022]]<ref>{{cite web|title=2022 Local election results |url=https://www.trafford.gov.uk/about-your-council/elections/2022/local-election-results.aspx |website=[[Trafford Council]]}}</ref>
! [[2023 Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council election|2023]]<ref>{{cite web|title=2023 Local election results |url=https://www.trafford.gov.uk/about-your-council/elections/results/2020-2029/2023-Local-election-results.aspx |website=[[Trafford Council]]}}</ref>
! [[2024 Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council election|2024]]<ref>{{cite web|title=2024 Local election results |url=https://www.trafford.gov.uk/about-your-council/elections/results/2020-2029/2024-Local-election-results.aspx |website=[[Trafford Council]]}}</ref>
|-
| style="background:#DC241F" | &nbsp;
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| style="text-align: right" | 26
| style="text-align: right" | 25
| style="text-align: right" | 26
| style="text-align: right" | 30
| style="text-align: right" | 36
| style="text-align: right" | 40
| style="text-align: right" | 41
| style="text-align: right" | 41
| style="text-align: right" | 43
|-
| style="background:#0087DC" | &nbsp;
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| style="text-align: right" | 34
| style="text-align: right" | 35
| style="text-align: right" | 33
| style="text-align: right" | 29
| style="text-align: right" | 20
| style="text-align: right" | 17
| style="text-align: right" | 13
| style="text-align: right" | 10
| style="text-align: right" | 8
|-
| style="background:#FDBB30" | &nbsp;
| [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]]
| style="text-align: right" | 3
| style="text-align: right" | 3
| style="text-align: right" | 3
| style="text-align: right" | 2
| style="text-align: right" | 4
| style="text-align: right" | 3
| style="text-align: right" | 5
| style="text-align: right" | 6
| style="text-align: right" | 6
|-
| style="background:#6AB023" | &nbsp;
| [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green]]
| style="text-align: right" | 0
| style="text-align: right" | 0
| style="text-align: right" | 0
| style="text-align: right" | 2
| style="text-align: right" | 3
| style="text-align: right" | 3
| style="text-align: right" | 4
| style="text-align: right" | 6
| style="text-align: right" | 6
|}

==== Electoral wards ====
There are 21 electoral wards in Trafford, each with 3 councillors, giving a total of 63 councillors with one-third elected three years out of four.<ref name="Constitution"/> In the following table, which lists the wards before the boundary changes of 2023, the populations for each ward are based on 2013 population estimates from the [[Office for National Statistics]].

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="f border:0; text-align:left; line-height:150%;"
|-
!  Ward name
! class="unsortable" |Localities covered (approximate)
!   Population
! class="unsortable"  | Ref.
|-
| [[Altrincham (ward)|Altrincham]]
| Altrincham, Broadheath, and Oldfield Brow || 11,873
| <ref name="Lab_ONS">{{cite web | title = Area profiles: demographics | url = http://www.infotrafford.org.uk/lab/portfolio/area-profiles-demographics?ward=E05000819 | website = infotrafford.org.uk | publisher = Trafford Innovation and Intelligence Lab | date = 2013 | access-date = 7 May 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160602185727/http://www.infotrafford.org.uk/lab/portfolio/area-profiles-demographics?ward=E05000819 | archive-date = 2 June 2016 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
|-
| [[Ashton upon Mersey (ward)|Ashton upon Mersey]]
| Ashton upon Mersey and Sale || 9,726
| <ref name="Lab_ONS"/>
|-
| [[Bowdon (ward)|Bowdon]]
| Altrincham, Bowdon, [[Dunham Massey]], and [[Warburton, Greater Manchester|Warburton]] || 9,284
| <ref name="Lab_ONS"/>
|-
| [[Broadheath (Trafford ward)|Broadheath]]
| Altrincham, Broadheath, Sale, Timperley, and West Timperley || 13,069
| <ref name="Lab_ONS"/>
|-
| [[Brooklands (Trafford ward)|Brooklands]]
| Brooklands and Sale || 10,572
| <ref name="Lab_ONS"/>
|-
| [[Bucklow-St. Martins]]
| Ashton upon Mersey, [[Carrington, Greater Manchester|Carrington]], and [[Partington]] || 10,540
| <ref name="Lab_ONS"/>
|-
| [[Clifford (ward)|Clifford]]
| [[Old Trafford (area)|Old Trafford]] || 12,003
| <ref name="Lab_ONS"/>
|-
| [[Davyhulme East]]
| [[Davyhulme]], The Trafford Centre and Urmston || 9,680
| <ref name="Lab_ONS"/>
|-
| [[Davyhulme West]]
| Davyhulme and Flixton || 10,006
| <ref name="Lab_ONS"/>
|-
| [[Flixton (ward)|Flixton]]
| Flixton || 10,828
| <ref name="Lab_ONS"/>
|-
| [[Gorse Hill (ward)|Gorse Hill]]
| Gorse Hill, Stretford and Trafford Park || 12,171
| <ref name="Lab_ONS"/>
|-
| [[Hale Barns (ward)|Hale Barns]]
| [[Hale, Greater Manchester|Hale]], Hale Barns and Timperley || 9,812
| <ref name="Lab_ONS"/>
|-
| [[Hale Central]]
| Altrincham and Hale || 10,543
| <ref name="Lab_ONS"/>
|-
| [[Longford, Greater Manchester|Longford]]
| [[Firswood]], Old Trafford, and Stretford || 12,163
| <ref name="Lab_ONS"/>
|-
| [[Priory (Trafford ward)|Priory]]
| Sale || 10,917
| <ref name="Lab_ONS"/>
|-
| [[Sale Moor (ward)|Sale Moor]]
| Sale and Sale Moor || 10,508
| <ref name="Lab_ONS"/>
|-
| [[St Mary's (Trafford ward)|St. Mary's]]
| Ashton upon Mersey and Sale || 11,795
| <ref name="Lab_ONS"/>
|-
| [[Stretford (ward)|Stretford]]
| Stretford || 11,318
| <ref name="Lab_ONS"/>
|-
| [[Timperley (ward)|Timperley]]
| Brooklands and Timperley || 11,201
| <ref name="Lab_ONS"/>
|-
| [[Urmston (ward)|Urmston]]
| Flixton and Urmston || 11,271
| <ref name="Lab_ONS"/>
|-
| [[Village (Trafford ward)|Village]]
| Brooklands and Timperley || 10,899
| <ref name="Lab_ONS"/>
|}

{{See also|Healthcare in Greater Manchester}}

==== Coat of arms ====
[[File:Coat of arms of Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council.png|thumb|right|The coat of arms of Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council]]
The coat of arms of Trafford Council depicts a [[griffin]] on a shield flanked by two [[unicorn]]s. The line bisecting the shield horizontally symbolises the [[River Mersey]] running through Trafford from east to west and the canals in the borough.<ref name="Coat of arms">{{cite web|title=Trafford coat of arms |url=http://www.trafford.gov.uk/about-your-council/about-us/mayor-of-trafford/trafford-coat-of-arms.aspx |author=Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council|publisher=Trafford.gov.uk}} Retrieved on 2 March 2014.</ref> The white legs of a lion on a red background represent the parts of Trafford previously controlled by the De Massey family, while the red body and head of an eagle on a white background represents the areas of Trafford previously controlled by the De Traffords. Both elements were taken from the coats of arms of the respective families.<ref name="Coat of arms"/> The fist holding bolts of lightning represents Stretford and the electrical industry; the cog on the arm represents Altrincham's engineering industry.<ref name="Coat of arms"/> The unicorns stand for Sale and Altrincham.<ref name="Coat of arms"/> The oak branches represent Urmston and the rural areas of Trafford.<ref name="Coat of arms"/>

== Demography ==
{{See also|Demographics of Greater Manchester}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Ethnic groups in Trafford
! rowspan="3" |Ethnic Group
! colspan="2" |Year
|-
!colspan="2"|2021<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS021/editions/2021/versions/1|title=Ethnicity - Ethnicity by local authorities, ONS}}</ref>
|-
!Number
!%
|-
|
|
|-
![[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]: Total
!182,761
!77.8
|-
|White: [[White British|British]]
|169,550
|72.1
|-
|White: [[White Irish|Irish]]
|4,884
|2.1
|-
|White: [[Romani people in the United Kingdom|Roma]]
|134
|0.1
|-
|White: [[White Gypsy or Irish Traveller|Gypsy or Irish Traveller]]
|46
|<0.1
|-
|White: [[Other White|Other]]
|8,147
|3.5
|-
![[British Asian|Asian or Asian British]]: Total
!29,588
!12.5
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Indians|Indian]]
|10,208
|4.3
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Pakistanis|Pakistani]]
|11,479
|4.9
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Bangladeshis|Bangladeshi]]
|634
|0.3
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Chinese|Chinese]]
|4,813
|2.0
|-
|Asian or Asian British: Other Asian
|2,454
|1.0
|-
!Black or Black British: Total
!8,086
!3.4
|-
|Black or Black British: African
|3,636
|1.5
|-
|Black or Black British: [[British African-Caribbean people|Caribbean]]
|3,442
|1.5
|-
|Black or Black British: |Other Black
|1,008
|0.4
|-
!Mixed or British Mixed: Total
!8,834
!3.7
|-
|Mixed: White and Black Caribbean
|3,091
|1.3
|-
|Mixed: White and Black African
|1,068
|0.5
|-
|Mixed: White and Asian
|2,443
|1.0
|-
|Mixed: Other Mixed
|2,232
|0.9
|-
!Other: Total
!5,784
!2.4
|-
|Other: [[British Arab|Arab]]
|2,457
|1.0
|-
|Other: Any other ethnic group
|3,327
|1.4
|-
!Total
!235,052
!100%
|}

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
|+Religion affiliation in Trafford
|-
!rowspan="2"|Religion
!colspan="2"|2021<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS030/editions/2021/versions/1|title=Religion - Religion by local authorities, ONS}}</ref>
|-
!Number
!%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Christianity|Christian]] || 113,712 || 48.4
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Islam|Muslim]] || 20,549 || 8.7
|-
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Judaism|Jewish]] || 2,408|| 1.0
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Hinduism|Hindu]] || 4,656 || 2.0
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Sikhism|Sikh]] || 1,984 || 0.8
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Buddhist|Buddhism]] || 955 || 0.4
|-
|style="text-align:left" | Other religion || 920 || 0.4
|-
|style="text-align:left" | [[Irreligion|No religion]] || 77,864 || 33.1
|-
|style="text-align:left" | Religion not stated || 12,007 || 5.1
|- style="font-weight:bold;"
|style="text-align:left" | Total || 235,052 || 100.0 
|}

At the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 UK census]], the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford had a total population of 210,145.<ref name="Trafford neighbourhood stats">{{cite web | title =Trafford Metropolitan Borough key statistics | publisher =Statistics.gov.uk | url =http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=276784&c=Trafford&d=13&e=16&g=356269&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1197508310453&enc=1 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20071226051925/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=276784&c=Trafford&d=13&e=16&g=356269&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1197508310453&enc=1 | archive-date =2007-12-26 }} Retrieved on 13&nbsp;December 2007.</ref>
Of the 89,313 households in the borough, 36.5% were married couples living together, 31.6% were one-person households, 7.8% were [[cohabitation|co-habiting]] couples and 9.7% were lone parents, following a similar trend to the rest of England.<ref>{{cite web | title=Trafford Metropolitan Borough household data | publisher=Statistics.gov.uk | url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276784&c=Trafford&d=13&e=16&g=356269&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1197508310468&enc=1&dsFamilyId=165 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226051949/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276784&c=Trafford&d=13&e=16&g=356269&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1197508310468&enc=1&dsFamilyId=165 | archive-date=2007-12-26 }} Retrieved on 13&nbsp;December 2007.</ref>

The population density was {{convert|1982|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on}}<ref name="Population density">{{cite web |title=Trafford Metropolitan Borough population density |publisher=Statistics.gov.uk |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276784&c=Trafford&d=13&e=16&g=356269&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1197508310484&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226051958/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276784&c=Trafford&d=13&e=16&g=356269&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1197508310484&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |archive-date=2007-12-26 }} Retrieved on 13&nbsp;December 2007.</ref> and for every 100 females, there were 94.6 males. Of those aged 16–74 in Trafford, 24.7% had no [[Education in England#Specialist qualifications|academic qualifications]], significantly lower than the 28.9% in all of England.<ref name="Trafford neighbourhood stats"/> 8.2% of Trafford's residents were born outside the United Kingdom, lower than the English average of 9.2%.<ref>{{cite web | title=Trafford Metropolitan Borough country of birth data | publisher=Statistics.gov.uk | url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276784&c=Trafford&d=13&e=16&g=356269&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1197510414343&enc=1&dsFamilyId=85 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226052007/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276784&c=Trafford&d=13&e=16&g=356269&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1197510414343&enc=1&dsFamilyId=85 | archive-date=2007-12-26 }} Retrieved on 13&nbsp;December 2007.</ref> The largest minority group was Asian, at 4.0% of the population.<ref>{{cite web | title =Trafford Metropolitan Borough ethnic group data | publisher =Statistics.gov.uk | url =http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276784&c=Trafford&d=13&e=16&g=356269&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1197510414359&enc=1&dsFamilyId=87 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20071226052016/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276784&c=Trafford&d=13&e=16&g=356269&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1197510414359&enc=1&dsFamilyId=87 | archive-date =2007-12-26 }} Retrieved on 13&nbsp;December 2007.</ref>

In 1841, 12% of Trafford's population was [[middle class]] compared to 14% in England and Wales; this increased to 21% in 1931 (15% nationally) and 55% in 2001 (48% nationally). From 1841 to 1951, the [[working class]] population of Trafford and across the country was in decline, falling steadily from 43% to 18% (36% to 29% nationally). It has since increased to 27% (26% nationwide). The rest of the population was made up of clerical workers and skilled manual workers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_chart_page.jsp?data_theme=T_SOC&data_cube=N_SOC_redist&u_id=10168569&c_id=10001043&add=Y |title=Trafford social class |publisher=Vision of Britain|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071226003310/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_chart_page.jsp?data_theme=T_SOC&data_cube=N_SOC_redist&u_id=10168569&c_id=10001043&add=Y |archive-date = 26 December 2007|url-status=dead}} Retrieved on 21&nbsp;December 2007.</ref> In the 2008–2009 financial year, the crime rates in Trafford for violence against a person and sexual offences were below the national averages. However, the rate of robberies and burglaries were above the national average.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upmystreet.com/local/crime-in-m33.html |title=Crime Figures for 2008/09 in M33 |publisher=UpMyStreet.co.uk |year=2010 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902031848/http://www.upmystreet.com/local/crime-in-m33.html |archive-date=2 September 2010 }} Retrieved on 2 March 2014.</ref>

=== Population change ===
The table below details the population change since 1801. Although Trafford was formed as a Metropolitan Borough in 1974, figures have been generated by combining data from the towns, villages, and [[Civil parishes in England|civil parish]]es that would later be constituent parts of Trafford. The greatest percentage change in the population occurred between 1851 and 1871, and was a result of the construction of the [[Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway]] in 1849.<ref name="90-91"/> The decrease in Trafford's population between 1971 and 2001 mirrors the trend for [[Demographics of Greater Manchester|Greater Manchester]], although on a smaller scale; this has been accounted for by the decline of Greater Manchester's industries, particularly those in [[Manchester]] and [[City of Salford|Salford]] but including those in Trafford, and residents leaving to seek new jobs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trafford Metropolitan Borough key statistics |publisher=audit-commission.gov.uk |url=http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/Products/BVIR/9AC95DA0-C6A1-4b9b-9A0D-D305DE72FFC8/ManchesterSalford.pdf |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20080810124216/http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/Products/BVIR/9AC95DA0-C6A1-4b9b-9A0D-D305DE72FFC8/ManchesterSalford.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-08-10 }} Retrieved on 2 March 2014.</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="border:0; text-align:center; line-height:120%;"
|+'''Population in Trafford since 1801'''
|- 
!  Year
! 1801
! 1811
! 1821
! 1831
! 1841
! 1851
! 1861
! 1881
! 1891
! 1911
! 1921
! 1931
! 1951
! 1961
! 1971
! 1981
! 1991
! 2001
! 2011
|- 
!  Population
| 10,337
| 11,798
| 13,409
| 14,562
| 16,629
| 19,286
| 23,506
| 64,363
| 77,535
| 116,538
| 125,891
| 153,731
| 201,784
| 224,938
| 225,939
| 222,124
| 214,618
| 210,134
| 226,578
|-
| colspan="22" style="text-align:center;"|'''Source: '''[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10168569/cube/TOT_POP A Vision of Britain through Time]
|}

== Economy ==
[[File:TraffordCentresat.png|thumb|right|Aerial view of the [[Trafford Centre]]]]
Historically, the economy of the Trafford was dominated by agriculture. This continued during the [[Industrial Revolution]] because the textile industry in Trafford did not develop as much as it did in the rest of [[Greater Manchester]].<ref name="Nevell pg88-91">Nevell (1997), pp.&nbsp;88–91</ref> There are only two known 18th-century mill sites in Trafford, compared with 69 known in [[Tameside]] and 51 in [[Manchester]].<ref name="Nevell pg88-91"/> After reaching a high of 43% in 1812, employment in the textile industry in Trafford declined to 12% according to the 1851 census.<ref name="Nevell pg88-91"/> The textile industry in Trafford could not compete with that in places such as [[Manchester]], [[Oldham]], and [[Ashton-under-Lyne]], partly because of a reluctance to invest in industry on the part of the two main land owners in the area: the [[Earl of Stamford|Stamfords]] and the [[De Trafford baronets|de Traffords]].<ref name="Nevell pg88-91"/>

[[Trafford Park]] was founded in 1897, and at its peak in 1945 employed 75,000&nbsp;people.<ref>Nevell (1997), pp.&nbsp;130–131</ref> As well as being the world's first planned [[industrial estate]],<ref name="Nichols pg xiii">Nicholls (1996), p.&nbsp;xiii.</ref> it is Europe's largest business park. More than 1,400&nbsp;companies are within the park, employing between 40,000 and 50,000&nbsp;people.<ref name="Trafford Park1"/><ref name="Trafford Park2"/><ref name="Nichols pg xiii"/> The [[Trafford Centre]], which opened on 10 September 1998,<ref>{{cite web |title=History of the Trafford Centre |publisher=TraffordCentre.co.uk |url=http://www.traffordcentre.co.uk/information/pack/history |access-date=12 December 2007 |archive-date=10 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210153141/http://www.traffordcentre.co.uk/information/pack/history |url-status=dead }} Retrieved on 12&nbsp;December 2007.</ref> is [[North West England]]'s largest indoor shopping complex. The centre has over 30&nbsp;million visitors annually,<ref>{{cite web|title=The Trafford Centre |publisher=[[Peel Group|Peel Holdings]] |url=http://www.peel.co.uk/peelholdings/traffordcentre/trafford.html |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509071050/http://www.peel.co.uk/peelholdings/traffordcentre/trafford.html |archive-date=9 May 2008 }} Retrieved on 2 March 2014.</ref> and contains 235 stores, 55 restaurants, and the largest [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon]] cinema in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |title=All About us&nbsp;— The Trafford Centre |publisher=TraffordCentre.co.uk |url=http://www.traffordcentre.co.uk/news/view/?ID=3761 |date=29 November 2007 |access-date=12 December 2007 |archive-date=17 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317023419/http://www.traffordcentre.co.uk/news/view/?ID=3761 |url-status=dead }} Retrieved on 12&nbsp;December 2007.</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em; width: 40%;" cellspacing="5"
|+'''Trafford compared'''
|-
!'''[[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 UK Census]]'''||'''Trafford'''<ref name="economic activity">{{cite web |title=Trafford Local Authority economic activity |publisher=Statistics.gov.uk |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276784&c=Trafford&d=13&e=16&g=356269&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1196696953015&enc=1&dsFamilyId=107 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226051944/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276784&c=Trafford&d=13&e=16&g=356269&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1196696953015&enc=1&dsFamilyId=107 |archive-date=2007-12-26 }} Retrieved on 3&nbsp;November 2007.</ref>||'''Greater Manchester'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Greater Manchester Health Authority economic activity |publisher=Statistics.gov.uk |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=789833&c=Greater+Manchester&d=81&e=16&g=352906&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1246022144310&enc=1&dsFamilyId=107 |access-date=2009-06-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604052945/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=789833&c=Greater+Manchester&d=81&e=16&g=352906&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1246022144310&enc=1&dsFamilyId=107 |archive-date=2011-06-04 }}</ref>||'''England'''
|-
|Population of working age||151,445||1,805,315||35,532,091
|-
|Full-time employment||43.4%||40.3%||40.8%
|-
|Part-time employment||11.9%||11.3%||11.8%
|-
|Self-employed||8.0%||6.7%||8.3%
|-
|Unemployed||2.7%||3.5%||3.3%
|-
|Retired||13.9%||13.0%||13.5%
|}
Trafford is a prosperous area, with an average weekly income of £394, and apart from Manchester it is the only borough in [[Greater Manchester]] to be above the national average for weekly income and is on average the highest in the county. Media, advertising and public relations have been identified as growth industries in Greater Manchester and are concentrated in [[Manchester]] and Trafford.<ref>{{cite web |title=Promoting a Dynamic Economy |publisher=Greater Manchester e-Government Partnership |url=http://www.gmep.org.uk/ccm/content/agma/promoting-a-dynamic-economy.en;jsessionid=64C7688F205BEE012F17A5E3001818D5|archive-url = https://archive.today/20080112085728/http://www.gmep.org.uk/ccm/content/agma/promoting-a-dynamic-economy.en;jsessionid=64C7688F205BEE012F17A5E3001818D5 |archive-date = 12 January 2008|url-status=dead}} Retrieved on 12&nbsp;December 2007.</ref> Average house prices in Trafford are the highest out of all the metropolitan boroughs in Greater Manchester, 45% higher than the average for the county.<ref>{{cite news |title=House prices for Greater Manchester Local Authorities |work=BBC News Online |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/uk_house_prices/counties/html/county38.stm | date=16 March 2010 | access-date=26 March 2010}}</ref>

At the 2001 UK census, Trafford had 151,445 residents aged 16 to 74. 2.5% of these people were students with jobs, 5.7% looking after home or family, 5.4% permanently sick or disabled and 2.8% economically inactive for other reasons. Trafford has a low rate of unemployment (2.7%) compared with Greater Manchester (3.6%) and England as a whole (3.3%).<ref name="economic activity"/> Trafford has the lowest number of unemployment benefit claimants compared to all the other boroughs in Greater Manchester (3.7%).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/more-unemployed-and-for-longer-885575 |title=More unemployed and for longer |website=Manchester Evening News |date=17 March 2010 |access-date=2 March 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113210104/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/business/s/1200745_more_unemployed_and_for_longer |archive-date=13 November 2012 }}</ref>

In 2001, of 99,146 residents of Trafford in employment, the industry of employment was 17.1% property and business services, 16.5% retail and wholesale, 12.3% manufacturing, 11.9% health and social work, 8.2% education, 8.0% transport and communications, 5.9% construction, 5.5% finance, 4.5% public administration and defence, 4.0% hotels and restaurants, 0.8% energy and water supply, 0.6% agriculture, and 4.6% other. This was roughly in line with national figures, except for the proportion of jobs in agriculture which is less than half the national average, reflecting Trafford's suburban nature and its proximity to the centre of Manchester.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trafford Local Authority industry of employment |publisher=Statistics.gov.uk |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276784&c=Trafford&d=13&e=16&g=356269&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1196694202699&enc=1&dsFamilyId=119 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226051935/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276784&c=Trafford&d=13&e=16&g=356269&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1196694202699&enc=1&dsFamilyId=119 |archive-date=2007-12-26 }} Retrieved on 3&nbsp;November 2007.</ref>

A study commissioned by [[Experian]] rated Trafford as the strongest and most resilient borough in [[North West England]] to dealing with sudden changes in the economy. Trafford's low reliance on vulnerable businesses in the current recession and its high proportion of multinational companies were two factors which give the borough its high ranking.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-11204571 |title=Trafford best-placed to resist economic woes |author=BBC |date=9 September 2010 |work=BBC News|access-date=13 September 2010}}</ref>

== Culture ==

=== Landmarks ===
{{See also|List of Scheduled Monuments in Greater Manchester|Grade I listed buildings in Greater Manchester|Grade II* listed buildings in Greater Manchester|List of public art in Greater Manchester}}

[[File:All saints church urmston.jpg|upright|right|thumb|The [[All Saints' Church, Urmston|Church of All Saints]], [[Urmston]], is a Grade I listed building.]]
As of March 2007, Trafford has 6 Grade I, 11 Grade II*, and 228 Grade II listed buildings. Trafford has the equal second highest number of Grade I listed buildings out of the districts of [[Greater Manchester]] behind [[Manchester]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/StatisticsPage/default.aspx?StatsCounty=GREATER%20MANCHESTER |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226014224/http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/StatisticsPage/default.aspx?StatsCounty=GREATER%20MANCHESTER |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-12-26 |title=Images of England Statistics by County |year=2001}} Retrieved on 22&nbsp;December 2007.</ref><ref name="Listed buildings">{{cite web|title=Planning and building control: listed buildings |publisher=Trafford MBC |url=http://www.trafford.gov.uk/cme/live/dynamic/Download.asp?c=docman2&f=pdf&id=5AD074D0-A2CF-4964-8188-E2333AA27652 |format=PDF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716143548/http://www.trafford.gov.uk/cme/live/dynamic/Download.asp?c=docman2&f=pdf&id=5AD074D0-A2CF-4964-8188-E2333AA27652 |archive-date=2011-07-16 }} Retrieved on 14&nbsp;December 2007.</ref> Most of Trafford's Grade I listed buildings are in the south of the borough: the old [[St Werburgh's Church, Warburton|Church of St. Werburgh]] in Warburton; [[Dunham Massey|Dunham Massey Hall]] itself, and the stables and carriage house belonging to the hall; [[Royd House]] in Hale; and the [[All Saints' Church, Urmston|Church of All Saints]] in Urmston in the north of the borough.<ref name="Listed buildings"/> Trafford has three of Greater Manchester's 21 [[List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Greater Manchester|Sites of Special Scientific Interest]]. [[Brookheys Covert]] is a semi-natural wood consisting mainly of ash, birch, and rowan, with a wetland habitat covering {{convert|5.8|acre|ha|1}} in [[Dunham Massey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002793.pdf |title=Brookheys Covert |publisher=EnglishNature.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614014352/http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002793.pdf |archive-date=2012-06-14 }} Retrieved on 14&nbsp;September 2007.</ref> [[Cotteril Clough]] is an area of woodland that is among the most diverse in Greater Manchester.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cotteril Clough citation sheet |work=Natural England |url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002851.pdf}} Retrieved on 2&nbsp;July 2007.</ref> [[Dunham Park]] is an area of  "pasture-woodland or park-woodland" and has been since the Middle Ages, including many oak trees that date back to the 17th century, and covers {{convert|192.7|acre|ha|1}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/science/natural/NA_HAbDetails.asp?Name=Urban+Mersey+Basin&N=26&H=37 |title=Dunham Park |publisher=EnglishNature.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018232521/http://www.english-nature.org.uk/science/natural/NA_HAbDetails.asp?Name=Urban%2BMersey%2BBasin&N=26&H=37 |archive-date=18 October 2007 }} Retrieved on 2 March 2014.</ref> Also in Trafford are many parks and open spaces; there are {{convert|21.2|sqmi|km2}} of [[Green belt|greenspace]], 51.8% of the total area covered by the borough.<ref name="land usage"/> Tourist attractions in Trafford include [[Old Trafford|Old Trafford football ground]] and [[Old Trafford Cricket Ground]].

[[Chill Factore|Chill Factor<sup>e</sup>]] is an [[indoor ski slope]] in Trafford Park. It features the UK's longest and widest real snow indoor slope, {{nowrap|{{convert|100|m|yd}}}} wide and {{nowrap|{{convert|180|m|yd}}}} long.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.traffordcentre.co.uk/news/view/?ID=2285 |title=Chill Factore's coming&nbsp;– The story so far |publisher=TraffordCentre.co.uk |date=9 May 2007 |access-date=17 December 2007 |archive-date=26 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226005730/http://www.traffordcentre.co.uk/news/view/?ID=2285 |url-status=dead }} Retrieved on 17&nbsp;December 2007.</ref>

[[File:Imperial War Museum 2008cropped.jpg|left|thumb|The [[Imperial War Museum North]] in [[Trafford Park]]]]
[[Dunham Massey|Dunham Massey Hall and Park]] is an 18th-century hall<ref>{{cite web |title=Dunham Massey&nbsp;– Lodge  |work=historicengland.org.uk |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1067909}} Retrieved on 2&nbsp;February 2007.</ref> with a {{convert|250|acre|km2|1|adj=on}} deer park, both now owned by the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]] and previously owned by the [[Earl of Stamford|Earls of Stamford]]. The hall is early [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] in style. The hall and grounds are open to the public and are a popular tourist attraction, with nearly 200,000&nbsp;visitors in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dunham Massey |work=[[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]] |url=http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-dunhammassey |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702184714/http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-dunhammassey/ |archive-date=2007-07-02 }} Retrieved on 20&nbsp;September 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alva.org.uk/details.cfm?p=423 |title=Visits Made in 2010 to Visitor Attractions in Membership with ALVA |publisher=ALVA&nbsp;– Association of Leading Visitor Attractions |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413023806/http://www.alva.org.uk/details.cfm?p=423 |archive-date=2015-04-13 }} Retrieved on 29&nbsp;February 2012.</ref>

[[Imperial War Museum North]] is a war museum in Trafford Park and was opened in 2002. The museum won the 2003 [[British Construction Industry Awards|British Construction Industry Building Award]], and the title of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year at the 2006 Manchester Tourism Awards.<ref>{{cite web|title=Greater Manchester's Tourism Industry Celebrate in Style |publisher=Marketing Manchester |url=http://www.marketingmanchester.com/news/newsdetails.xsql?id=109 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113130552/http://www.marketingmanchester.com/news/newsdetails.xsql?id=109 |archive-date=13 January 2008 }} Retrieved on 2 March 2014.</ref>

[[Sale Water Park]] is a {{convert|152|acre|ha|0|adj=on}} area of countryside and parkland including a {{convert|52|acre|ha|0|adj=on}} artificial lake created when the [[M60 motorway]] was built.<ref>{{cite web |title=Appendix J River Mersey Case Study Report |publisher=The Countryside Agency |url=http://www.countryside.gov.uk/Images/Appendix%20J%20final_tcm2-19113.doc |format=[[DOC (computing)|DOC]]|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203329/http://www.countryside.gov.uk/Images/Appendix%20J%20final_tcm2-19113.doc |archive-date = 27 September 2007|url-status=dead}} Retrieved on 27&nbsp;April 2007.</ref> The water park is the site of the [[Sale Water Park#Broad Ees Dole|Broad Ees Dole]] wildlife refuge, a [[Local Nature Reserve]] that provides a home for migratory birds.<ref name="Broad Ees Dole">{{cite web|title=Broad Ees Dole |publisher=Mersey Valley Countryside Warden Service |url=http://www.merseyvalley.org.uk/site/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=50&Itemid=72 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070222221820/http://www.merseyvalley.org.uk/site/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=50&Itemid=72 |archive-date=2007-02-22 }} Retrieved on 27&nbsp;April 2007.</ref>

[[Timperley Hall|Timperley Old Hall]] is a medieval moated site in Timperley near Altrincham Municipal Golf Course. Excavation on the site over a period of 18 years has shown Timperley to be inhabited since the [[Bronze Age]]. A grant from the [[National Lottery (UK)|Heritage Lottery Fund]] has been made to develop the site into a community project.<ref name="Timperley Old Hall"/>

Trafford has two medieval castles. [[Dunham Castle]] is an early medieval castle in Dunham Massey. It belonged to Hamon de Massey, and was probably still standing in the early 14th century. The [[motte-and-bailey|bailey]] was landscaped into the grounds of Dunham Massey Hall and its moat turned into an ornamental pond.<ref>Nevell (1997), p.&nbsp;33.</ref> [[Watch Hill Castle]] is an early medieval [[motte-and-bailey]] castle on the border of Dunham Massey and Bowdon. It is listed as a [[Scheduled Ancient Monument]]. The motte and surrounding ditch still survives, although it had fallen out of use by the 13th century.<ref>Nevell (1997), pp.&nbsp;34–35.</ref>

=== Sport ===
[[File:Old trafford february 2010.jpg|thumb|The East Stand of [[Old Trafford|Old Trafford football ground]]]]
Trafford is the home of several major sports teams, including [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United Football Club]] and [[Lancashire County Cricket Club]] (LCCC). Manchester United began as Newton Heath L&YR F.C. in 1878.<ref>Shurry (2005), pp.&nbsp;6–8.</ref> The team plays at [[Old Trafford]] football ground, which is sometimes used as a stadium for major football matches like the [[2003 UEFA Champions League final]]. Manchester United have won the [[FA Cup]] 13 times and been the [[Premier League]] champions 13 times (since the league was formed 31 seasons ago) and were [[Football League]] champions seven times in the years prior to that. The club last won the Premier League in [[2012-13 Premier League|2013]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.homeofsport.com/football/clubs/details.aspx?id=14 |title=Manchester United honours |publisher=Homeofsport.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025030811/http://www.homeofsport.com/football/clubs/details.aspx?id=14 |archive-date=2007-10-25 }} Retrieved on 13&nbsp;December 2007.</ref> LCCC started as the [[Manchester Cricket Club]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lccc.co.uk/index.php?p=news&id=27 |title=Lancashire County Cricket Club origins |publisher=LCCC.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014043700/http://lccc.co.uk/index.php?p=news&id=27 |archive-date=2007-10-14 }} Retrieved on 13&nbsp;December 2007.</ref> and represents the [[Historic counties of England|historic county]] of [[Lancashire]]. The club contested the original 1890 [[County Championship]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/NATIONAL/ENG/CHAMPIONSHIP/ |title=History of the County Championship |publisher=[[Cricinfo]]}} Retrieved on 13&nbsp;December 2007.</ref> [[Old Trafford Cricket Ground]]&nbsp;– Lancashire's home ground&nbsp;– stages international matches, including [[Test cricket|Test matches]] and [[One Day Internationals]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/ground/57160.html |title=Old Trafford Cricket Ground |publisher=Cricinfo.com}} Retrieved on 13&nbsp;December 2007.</ref> The team has won the county championship eight times outright (with one shared) and were the county champions [[2011 County Championship|in 2011]] – the county's first outright triumph since 1934, but were then relegated to the second division [[2012 County Championship|in 2012]].

From 2006 until 2015, the borough was home to the  [[Manchester Phoenix]], who played their home games at the [[Altrincham Ice Dome]], and were active in both the [[Elite Ice Hockey League]] and the  [[English Premier Ice Hockey League]]. The club was formed in 2003 as the successor to [[Manchester Storm (1995–2002)|Manchester Storm]], and folded in early 2017 after playing home fixtures during 2015–2016 in Deeside <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.manchesterphoenix.co.uk/news/2640/phoenix-play-deeside-2015-16 |title=Phoenix to play in Deeside 2015–2016 |publisher=Official Phoenix website |date=1 July 2015}}</ref> and Blackpool.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.manchesterphoenix.co.uk/news/2783/new-rollercoaster-ride-hits-blackpool |title=A new rollercoaster hits Blackpool |publisher=Official Phoenix website |date=5 August 2016}}</ref> They were one of the founder members of the [[Elite Ice Hockey League]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/sport/icehockey/manchesterphoenix/4251802.Controversy_as_Phoenix_face_league__snub_/ |title=Controversy as Phoenix face league 'snub' |publisher=ThisisLancashire.co.uk |date=1 April 2009}} Retrieved on 29 July 2009.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/ice_hockey/s/1105637_phoenix_player_ratings |title=Phoenix player ratings |newspaper=[[Manchester Evening News]] |author=Chris Brierley |date=31 March 2009}} Retrieved on 29 July 2009.</ref> In [[2008–09 EIHL season|2008–09]] they finished sixth in the [[Elite Ice Hockey League]]. The [[Trafford Metros]] were the Phoenix's junior side and are also based at the Altrincham Ice Dome.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/sport/4544258.Ice_hockey_youth_side_change_name_to_Trafford_Metros/ |title=Ice hockey youth side change name to Trafford Metros |publisher=Messengerpapers.co.uk |date=13 August 2009}} Retrieved on 15 September 2009.</ref> The Phoenix were replaced by a new team bearing the [[Manchester Storm (2015–)|Manchester Storm]] name, who took a spot in the [[Elite Ice Hockey League]] for the 2015–2016 season<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/other-sport/ice-hockey/manchester-storm-back-ice-hockey-9526089 |title=Manchester Storm are back |newspaper=[[Manchester Evening News]] |author=Sheldan Keay |date=25 June 2015}}.</ref>

[[Rugby Union]] side [[Sale Sharks]] were formerly based in Trafford. They now play at the [[Salford Community Stadium]] in [[City of Salford|Salford]], although their former home ground at [[Heywood Road]] in Sale is still used for training.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.salefc.com |title=Sale F.C. |publisher=Sale F.C.}} Retrieved on 7&nbsp;May 2007.</ref> Sale Sharks won the [[Guinness Premiership]] in 2006; in [[2008–09 Guinness Premiership|2008–09]] they finished fifth.

As well as being home to several clubs in the top echelon of their sports, Trafford plays host to smaller clubs, including [[Altrincham F.C.]], [[Flixton F.C.]], and [[Trafford F.C.]] Both Flixton F.C. and Trafford F.C. play in the [[North West Counties Football League Division One]]. Flixton F.C. was formed in 1960 and earned promotion to NWCFL Division One at the end of the 2006–07 season. Trafford F.C. was formed in 1990 and finished fifth in the 2006–07 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.details.traffordfc.co.uk/page2.html |title=Trafford F.C. club history |publisher=Trafford F.C. |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226031602/http://www.details.traffordfc.co.uk/page2.html |archive-date=26 December 2007 }} Retrieved on 2 March 2014.</ref> Altrincham F.C. was founded in 1903 and plays in the [[Football Conference]].

Within Trafford their two clubs that enter teams in both the [[Men's England Hockey League|Men's]] and [[Women's England Hockey League]]s – [[Brooklands Hockey Club|Brooklands]], based in [[Sale, Greater Manchester|Sale]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklandshockey.co.uk/ |publisher=Brooklands Manchester University Hockey Club |title=Brooklands Hockey |access-date=2011-09-20}}</ref> and [[Bowdon Hockey Club|Bowdon]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bowdonclub.com/cms/hockey-section |title=Bowdon Club; Hockey Section |publisher=Bowdon Club |access-date=2011-09-20 |archive-date=27 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827215612/http://www.bowdonclub.com/cms/hockey-section |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 
In 2017, [[Trafford Pétanque]] became Trafford's first ever officially registered [[Pétanque]] club. Trafford Pétanque currently plays within the Northern Region of [https://www.petanque-england.uk/ Pétanque England].

== Education ==
{{See also|List of schools in Trafford}}
There are 73 primary schools in Trafford, 17 secondary and [[grammar school]]s, and 6 special schools.<ref>{{cite web |title=Schools and colleges in Trafford |publisher=Trafford MBC |url=http://www.trafford.gov.uk/content/admissions/allschools.asp#primary |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120145951/http://www.trafford.gov.uk/content/admissions/allschools.asp#primary |archive-date=2008-11-20 }} Retrieved on 19&nbsp;April 2009.</ref> Trafford maintains a selective education system, with grammar schools, assessed by the [[11-plus]] exam. [[Trafford College]], a £29M "super college" in Stretford, is the only college of further education in Trafford. It was officially opened in 2008, following a merger between South Trafford College and North Trafford College.<ref>{{cite web |title='Super college' opens its doors |publisher=Messengernewspapers.co.uk |url=http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/news/2243857.super_college_opens_its_doors/ |date=3 May 2008 |author=Robert Downes}} Retrieved on 4&nbsp;May 2009.</ref> Overall, Trafford was ranked 2nd out of all of the [[local education authority|local education authorities]] in [[National Curriculum assessment]] performance in 2014. Indeed, in 2014 Trafford was the first in the United Kingdom for Key Stage 2 results, with 87% of Year 6 pupils achieving the expected standard of Level 4 or above in Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. Also in 2014 2nd for both GCSE and A-Level results, with 72.2% of Year 11 pupils achieving the expected standard or above of 5 GCSEs including English and Maths. For A-Level results 25% of students gained 3  A-Levels at grades A*-A, which is twice the national average, whilst 33% gained 3 A-levels at grades A*-B.

Trafford has 7 Grammar schools and all 7 are in the top 10 best performing state schools in Greater Manchester.

== Religion ==
{{See also|List of churches in Greater Manchester}}
{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; width: 40%; " cellspacing="5"
|+'''Religion in Trafford'''
|-
!'''[[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 UK Census]]'''<ref name="Trafford neighbourhood stats"/>||'''Trafford'''||'''[[North West England]]'''||'''England'''
|-
|Population||210,145||6,729,764||49,138,831
|-
|Christian||75.8%||78.0%||71.7%
|-
|Muslim||3.3%||3.0%||3.1%
|-
|Jewish||1.1%||0.4%||0.5%
|-
|No religion||12.0%||10.5%||14.6%
|}
At the 2001 UK census, 75.8% of Trafford's residents reported themselves as being Christian, 3.3% Muslim, 1.1% Jewish, 0.6% Hindu, 0.2% Buddhist and 0.5% Sikh. The census recorded 12.0% as having no religion, 0.2% had an alternative religion and 6.4% did not state their religion.<ref name="Trafford neighbourhood stats"/> Trafford is covered by the Catholic Dioceses of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury|Shrewsbury]] and [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford|Salford]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury |url=http://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org |publisher=Dioceseofshrewsbury.org}} Retrieved on 7&nbsp;May 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Parishes of the Diocese |publisher= Salforddiocese.org.uk |url=http://www.salforddiocese.org.uk/parishes/masstimes.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070502121806/http://www.salforddiocese.org.uk/parishes/masstimes.html |archive-date = 2 May 2007|url-status=dead}} Retrieved on 7&nbsp;May 2007.</ref> and the Church of England Dioceses of [[Anglican Diocese of Manchester|Manchester]] and [[Diocese of Chester|Chester]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Church of England Diocese of Manchester |url=http://www.manchester.anglican.org/default.asp |publisher=Manchester.anglican.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227051946/http://www.manchester.anglican.org/default.asp |archive-date=2007-12-27 }} Retrieved on 7&nbsp;May 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Churches in the Diocese of Chester |url=http://www.chester.anglican.org/churches.asp |publisher=Chester.anglican.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415215649/http://www.chester.anglican.org/churches.asp |archive-date=2009-04-15 }} Retrieved on 22&nbsp;April 2009</ref>

There are two Grade I [[listed building|listed]] churches in Trafford: [[St Werburgh's Church, Warburton|St. Werburgh's Church]], in Warburton, is a [[timber frame]]d church and dates back to at least the 14th century;<ref>Nevell and Hradil (2005), pp.&nbsp;87–8.</ref> [[All Saints' Church, Urmston|All Saints' Church]], in Urmston, was constructed in 1868 by [[E. W. Pugin]], and is considered to be one of his best works.<ref>{{cite web |title=All Saints' Church |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1067879 |publisher=historicengland.org.uk}} Retrieved on 22&nbsp;December 2007.</ref> Of the 11 Grade II* listed buildings in Trafford, seven are churches: Hale Chapel in Hale; the Church of St John the Divine in Sale; [[Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bowdon|Church of St Mary the Virgin]] in Bowdon; St. Martin's Church in Sale; St. Michael's Church in Flixton; St. Margaret's Church in Altrincham; St. George's Church in Carrington.<ref name="Listed buildings"/>

In 2007, the [[Church of Scientology]] bought the Old Trafford Essence Distillery on Chester Road for a reported £3.6M. The Church stated that it had plans to turn the {{convert|51000|sqft|adj=on}} [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] building into a place of worship and religious instruction. The original plans were rejected by Trafford Council, but the Church stated its intention to revise the proposals and resubmit.<ref name=Scientology>{{cite news |title=Scientology Centre Planned |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=28 October 2007 |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1021846_scientology_centre_planned |access-date=8 February 2009}}</ref>

== Transport ==
[[File:Sale Metrolink station.jpg|thumb|right|[[Sale tram stop]]]]
[[Manchester Metrolink]] runs north–south through Trafford, with its southern terminus in Altrincham. Trams run on two routes: Altrincham to Piccadilly and Altrincham to Bury.  It serves [[Cornbrook tram stop|Cornbrook]], [[Trafford Bar tram stop|Trafford Bar]], [[Old Trafford tram stop|Old Trafford]], [[Stretford tram stop|Stretford]], [[Dane Road tram stop|Dane Road]], [[Sale tram stop|Sale]], [[Brooklands tram stop|Brooklands]], [[Timperley tram stop|Timperley]], [[Navigation Road station|Navigation Road]] and [[Altrincham Interchange|Altrincham]]. The line opened in 1992 and replaced the [[Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lrta.org/Manchester/Altm_Line.html |title=Manchester to Altrincham: the southern part of Metrolink Phase I |publisher=Light Rail Transit Association |date=14 September 2007 |access-date=2 March 2014 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226071700/http://www.lrta.org/Manchester/Altm_Line.html |archive-date=26 December 2007 }}</ref>

The other railway in Trafford is the Liverpool – Manchester via Warrington Central line, built by the [[Cheshire Lines Committee]]. The {{nowrap|{{convert|20|acre|ha|0|adj=on}}}} Trafford Park Euroterminal rail freight terminal was opened in 1993. It cost £11&nbsp;million and has the capacity to deal with 100,000 containers a year.<ref>Nicholls (1996), p.&nbsp;161.</ref>

The council is responsible for the maintenance of Trafford's public roads and pavements.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trafford.gov.uk/transportandstreets/roadshighwaysandpavements/dangerouspavements/ |author=Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council |title=Dangerous Pavements |publisher=Trafford.gov.uk |access-date=18 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105223403/http://www.trafford.gov.uk/transportandstreets/roadshighwaysandpavements/dangerouspavements/ |archive-date=5 January 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trafford.gov.uk/transportandstreets/roadshighwaysandpavements/potholes/ |author=Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council |title=Potholes |publisher=Trafford.gov.uk |access-date=18 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015002130/http://www.trafford.gov.uk/transportandstreets/roadshighwaysandpavements/potholes/ |archive-date=15 October 2012 }}</ref>  Part of the [[M60 motorway|M60]] orbital motorway passes through Trafford, from junctions 6–10 inclusive.

A range of bus services provide connections between various towns in the borough and links to the city centre, and other urban areas of Greater Manchester and Cheshire. Operators include [[Stagecoach Manchester]], [[Arriva North West]], [[First Greater Manchester]] and some smaller operators, who generally run services under contract to [[Transport for Greater Manchester]]. Trafford Cycle Forum was established to promote cycling in Trafford;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trafford.gov.uk/news/press/details.asp?ID=210 |author=Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council |title=Get on yer bikes! |publisher=Trafford.gov.uk |date=11 June 2002 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213213829/http://www.trafford.gov.uk/news/press/details.asp?ID=210 |archive-date=13 February 2012 }} Retrieved on 13&nbsp;February 2008.</ref> the group actively campaigns to raise money for cycling in the borough.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trafford.gov.uk/news/press/details.asp?ID=210 |author=Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council |title=Cyclists backing Bridgewater Way |publisher=Trafford.gov.uk |date=8 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213213829/http://www.trafford.gov.uk/news/press/details.asp?ID=210 |archive-date=13 February 2012 }} Retrieved on 13&nbsp;February 2008.</ref>

==Freedom of the Borough==
[[Alex Ferguson|Sir Alex Ferguson]] and [[207 (Manchester) Field Hospital]], [[2nd Medical Brigade (United Kingdom)|2nd Medical Brigade]], [[Royal Army Medical Corps]] ([[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Army Reserve]]) received the [[Freedom of the City|Freedom of the Borough]] of Trafford on 14 October 2013<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-24030048|title=Sir Alex Ferguson to get freedom of Trafford and road name honour|work=BBC News|date=10 September 2013}}</ref> and 21 June 2011,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/TPAction/status/1217711605997363200/photo/1 |title=Tweet |website=twitter.com |access-date=2020-12-12}}</ref> respectively.<ref>{{cite web |title=Army medics to be granted Freedom of the City |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/army-medics-to-be-granted-freedom-of-the-city-873578 |website=The Manchester Evening News |date=18 October 2011 |access-date=14 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |first=Don |last=Bayliss |year=1996 |title=Historical Atlas of Trafford |publisher=Don Bayliss|isbn=0-9529300-0-5}}
* {{Cite book |title=Greater Manchester Votes: A Guide to the New Metropolitan Authorities|first=David M.|last=Clark|year=1973|publisher=Redrose|isbn=0950293202}}
* {{cite book |first=Pat |last=Faulkner |year=2004 |title=Tymperleie: The History and Archaeology of Timperley Old Hall |publisher=[[South Trafford Archaeological Group]] }}
* {{cite book |first=Mike |last=Nevell |year=1997 |title=The Archaeology of Trafford |publisher=Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council with the [[Manchester University|University of Manchester Archaeological Unit]] |isbn=1-870695-25-9}}
* {{cite book |author1=Nevell, Mike  |author2=Hradil, Ivan  |name-list-style=amp |year=2005 |title=St Lawrence's Church and the archaeology of the Medieval Timber-framed Churches of England and Wales |publisher=Tameside Metropolitan Borough and [[Manchester University|University of Manchester Archaeological Unit]] |isbn=1-871324-30-0}}
* {{cite book |first=Robert |last=Nicholls |title=Trafford Park: The First Hundred Years |publisher=Phillimore & Co Ltd |year=1996 |isbn=1-86077-013-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Shury |first=Alan |author2=Landamore, Brian  |title=The Definitive Newton Heath F.C. |publisher=SoccerData |year=2005 |isbn=1-899468-16-1}}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Metropolitan Borough of Trafford}}
{{Wikivoyage|Manchester|Trafford}}
{{Spoken Wikipedia|Trafford.ogg|date=2008-08-25}}

{{Greater Manchester}}
{{NW England}}
{{Metropolitan districts of England}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Trafford| ]]
[[Category:Local government in Trafford| ]]
[[Category:Districts of England established in 1974]]
[[Category:Metropolitan boroughs of Greater Manchester]]