Wigan is a toun in Greater Manchester, Ingland. It staunds on the River Douglas, 7.9 mile (13 km) sooth-wast o Bolton, 10 mile (16 km) north o Warrington an 16 mile (25.7 km) wast-northwast o Manchester. Wigan is the lairgest dounset in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan an is its admeenistrative centre. The toun o Wigan haed a total population o 81,203 in 2001, whilst the wider burgh haes a population o 305,600. Historically in the coonty o Lancashire, Wigan durin clessical antiquity wis in the territory o the Brigantes, a auncient Celtic tribe that ruled hintle o northren Ingland. The Brigantes wur subjugatit in the Roman conquest o Breetain durin the 1st century, an it is assertit that the Roman dounset o Coccium wis established whaur Wigan lees. Wigan is believit tae hae been incorporatit as a burgh in 1246 follaein the issue o a chairter bi Keeng Henry III o Ingland. At the end o the Middle Ages it wis ane o fower burghs in Lancashire possessin Ryal chairters; the ithers wur Lancaster, Liverpool, an Preston.