Historically part of Cheshire, Sale gained the status of civil parish in 1866. In 1894, as part of the Local Government Act 1894, the parish formed the Sale Urban District. It was expanded in 1930 by adding the former Ashton upon Mersey Urban District. In 1935 the expanded district gained the status of municipal borough. Under the Local Government Act 1972, the municipal borough was abolished and its former area was transferred to Greater Manchester to form part of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford. As Greater Manchester was not adopted as postal county, the Royal Mail included Cheshire as part of Sale addresses until 1996, when postal counties were withdrawn.

Sale has good transport links including numerous bus services, close proximity to the M60, M56, M62 and M6 motorways, and a Metrolink tram/light rail service. Sale has a population of around 60,000. Along with the rest of Trafford, it maintains a selective education system assessed by the Eleven Plus exam.

The rugby union side Manchester Sale F.C. has been based in Sale since 1861 (and at their present Heywood Road ground since 1905). It remains one of the oldest rugby clubs in existence, and its 1865 "Minute Book" contains a version of the laws of the game, believed to be the earliest known.

The Sale Sharks, recently separated from Sale FC, plays in the Guinness Premiership, but its home matches take place in Stockport.

'Eyebrow Cottage', a brick building on the A56, is reputedly Sale's oldest building. Sale Water Park is a major attraction. At Sale is also the recently built Waterside Arts Centre, next to Sale Town Hall, which is used regularly for concerts, exhibitions and other community events. Notable performers include Midge Ure, Fairport Convention and The Zombies. Many local bands perform there.

[edit] Democracy

Sale is controlled by Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council. The population of Sale is distributed amongst several electoral wards:

Ward	2001 Population
Ashton-Upon-Mersey	9,519
Broadheath	600
Brooklands	9,773
Bucklow-St.Martins	350
Priory	9,437
St.Marys	11,160
Sale Moor	9,901
Timperley	60
Village	170
Total	53,439

Totals for Broadheath, Bucklow-St.Martins, Timperley, and Village are estimates as these electoral wards only contain part of the Sale population.

Two Parliamentary constituencies cover Sale, Altrincham and Sale West and Wythenshawe and Sale East, represented by Graham Brady MP and Paul Goggins MP, respectively.

[edit] Neighbouring Towns

[edit] Famous Residents

James Joule was a notable resident of Sale. His house stood on Wardle Road but has since been demolished.
Singer-songwriter David Gray grew up in Sale until he moved to Wales at the age of 9.
BBC DJ and presenter Mark Chapman was a more recent resident of Sale.
Robert Bolt, playwright, of 'A Man for All Seasons' fame.
Peter Tinniswood, radio and TV comedy scriptwriter, grew up above a dry cleaners on Eastway, Sale.
Claire Davenport, actress, born in Sale.
Various football players and athletes live in Sale, including Darren Campbell and Diane Modahl.
Peter Shepherd and Martin Gilbody, motorcycle racers, both have competed in the Isle of Man Races.