It was originally a small seaside resort and residential area for wealthy Liverpool merchants. However when the docks were extended northwards into Bootle the town grew fast and became dominated by the docks and ancilliary industries. It became a county borough in the 19th century on attaining a population of 75,000.
The docks made Bootle a target for German bombers in World War II and approx. 90% of the houses in the town were damaged.
When the docks declined in importance in the 1960s and 1970s Bootle suffered high unemployment and a declining population. The establishment of large office blocks housing government departments and the National Girobank provided employment, but largely for middle class people from outside the town.
The old civic centre of the town contains impressive Victorian buildings such as the Town Hall and Municipal Baths. East of this is the main area of large office blocks: west is the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
To the north is the New Strand Shopping Centre. This was the scene of an abduction of a small child by two boys who later murdered the child - the notorious Bulger case.
The rest of the town is mainly residential, with housing built mainly in the 1930s onwards. There are Victorian terraces formerly occupied by dock workers and some remaining large villas which housed well-to-do commuters to Liverpool.
There are two railway stations served by frequent electric services from Liverpool to Southport. These are Oriel Road, near the Victorian civic centre, and New Strand, serving the Shopping Centre.
The Bus Station is underneath the New Strand Shopping Centre. The town has a sports centre, pubs and a couple of restaurants.