High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! St Helens is a large town in Merseyside, England. It is the largest settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens with a population of just over 100,000 of an urban area with a total population of 176,843 at the time of the 2001 Census. Historically a part of Lancashire, the area grew during the 18th and 19th century as a significant centre for coal mining, and glassmaking. Both prior and during this time it was also home to a cotton and linen industry (notably sail making) that lasted until the mid 19th century as well as salt, lime and alkali pits, copper smelting, and brewing.