At the beginning of the 20th century, the town was described as "the centre of a district of collieries, cotton mills and iron-works, which cover the surface of the country with their inartistic buildings and surroundings, and are linked together by the equally unlovely dwellings of the people".

Evidence has been discovered of a Roman road passing through the area, on the ancient route between Coccium (Wigan) and Mamucium (Manchester).

Following the Anglo-Saxon invasion of England, Atherton, which is built on and around seven brooks, became part of the manor of Warrington until the Norman conquest, when it became a township or vill in the ancient parish of Leigh.

[7] The Chow – recorded as Chew, Cholle and Chowl – family were tenants of the Athertons living at the valley by Chanters Brook.

[10] The Roman road between Manchester and Wigan is shown on the 1849 6" OS map crossing Miller's Lane at 90 degrees about halfway down.

[11] The site of Gadbury Brickworks at Gibfield Colliery has been excavated, and evidence of Roman and possibly earlier settlements found.

[16] The carriage drive from the hall led over Lion's Bridge down an avenue to gates which faced the parish church in Leigh where the Athertons had a chapel.

Lord Lilford could not afford the upkeep of another house and Atherton Hall was put up for sale but, after failing to sell, it was demolished in 1824.

General Charles Wills wrote to Minister Wood of Atherton Chapel asking him to raise a force to be at Cuerden Green the following day, 12 November.

[21] Minister Wood led a force of Chowbent men who were given the job of guarding the bridge over the River Ribble at Walton-le-Dale and a ford at Penwortham, which they defended successfully.

The Highlanders were routed, and for his efforts Parson James Wood was given a £100 annuity (equivalent to £19,800 in 2023)[22] by Parliament and the title "The General" by his congregation.

The nail smithies manufactured ploughs and scythes; their products were taken by pack horse to be sold in Manchester, Denbigh, Clitheroe and Kendal.

[2] Collier Brook Bolt Works on Bag Lane dating from 1856 survives and is a Grade II listed building.

[27] In 1845 the era of deep mining commenced with the sinking of Fletcher's Lover's Lane pit at Howe Bridge.

[35] In 1908, the Lancashire and Cheshire Coal Owners Association opened Howe Bridge Mines Rescue Station.

[46] There has been much protest to the local government arrangements, with a significant proportion of Atherton residents having a stronger affinity to nearby bordering areas of Bolton and Salford, than Wigan itself.

Atherton, which includes Hindsford to the southeast, Howe Bridge in the southwest, and Hag Fold in the north, is generally low lying.

[56] Data on religious beliefs across the town in the 2001 census show that 86.6% declared themselves to be Christian, 7.2% said they held no religion, and 0.3% reported themselves as Hindu.

Most shops front on to Market Street and date from late Victorian times, the majority operated by small independent retailers, although there is a supermarket that brings customers into the town centre.

They include the 17th-century Alder House,[72] Chowbent Chapel,[73] St John the Baptist's Church (1879),[74] and Chanters Farmhouse,[75] all of which are listed buildings.

The name "Chanters" derives from a chantry granted by the Bishop of Lichfield in 1360 to Sir William de Atherton.

[76] A pseudo-Egyptian obelisk near the south-east corner of the parish church, similar to one in Leigh, was probably built for Robert Vernon Atherton in 1781.

This Victorian village on either side of Leigh Road,[78][79] together with St Michael and All Angel's Church,[80] is a conservation area.

Atherton's war memorial is a cenotaph at the intersection of Leigh Road and Hamilton Street was designed by architect Arthur John Hope and constructed of Darley Dale stone.

There are public transport links by rail from Atherton and Hag Fold stations to Wigan and Manchester operated by Northern.

[2] Roman Catholics celebrated mass in a loft behind the Star and Garter public house on Tyldesley Square until Sacred Heart Church opened in Hindsford in 1869.

The site was given by Lord Lilford and building materials were donated by John Holland, manager of Yew Tree Colliery in Tyldesley.

[110] Formby Hall, demolished in 2018, used to host the Bent 'n' Bongs Beer Festival over the last weekend of every January.

There were several ministers of note of Chowbent Chapel including James Wood, the "General" (1672–1759), who distinguished himself at the Battle of Preston in 1715.

Eric Laithwaite (1921–1997) was an engineer, principally known for his development of the linear induction motor and Maglev rail system.