The first signs of industry as with many towns in Lancashire was mining, evidence of which can be seen by the various abandoned quarries on the outskirts of the town.
One of these is Anglezarke Quarry, between Chorley and Horwich.
Remnants of mining include an old railway bridge from the Duxbury Mine off Wigan Lane.
Eventually the mining industry was replaced by cotton mills.

Manufacture of trucks was inherited from the neighbouring town of Leyland.
A large factory on Pilling Lane produced, including military vehicles and tanks during the Second World War.

After the Second World War, production was reduced, and the final part of the site was closed in 2008 by BAE Systems.
A large part of the site has been redeveloped for residential and industrial use as Buckshaw Village.

Through the twentieth century, especially the latter half, Chorley suffered the loss of much of its manufacturing capacity with great losses in or the completely disappearance of its coal, textiles, motor vehicles and armaments industries.

Leyland Trucks and BAE Systems are the Central Lancashire area's largest employers at their sites in Leyland and Samlesbury respectively.

Companies with a presence in the borough are:
BAE Systems
Telent
FedEx, North West depot located in the town
DXC Technology, two locations, one in Euxton and the other in Clayton-le-Woods, north of Chorley
Multipart Solutions Limited, successor to the parts arm of the Leyland DAF
Porter Lancastrian is a manufacturer of beer pumps, under the Porta brand
In 2011, Chorley Council launched an initiative, "Choose Chorley", to encourage SME's and large businesses to relocate to Chorley.
The initiative offers red carpet introductions to key people in the town, financial incentives and tailored support for business growth.

The town is the home of the Chorley cake.
In October "Chorley Cake Street Fair", restarted in 1995, promotes the cakes, with a competition for local bakers to produce the largest ever Chorley cake.
The first signs of industry as with many towns in Lancashire was mining, evidence of which can be seen by the various abandoned quarries on the outskirts of the town. One of these is Anglezarke Quarry, between Chorley and Horwich. Remnants of mining include an old railway bridge from the Duxbury Mine off Wigan Lane. Eventually the mining industry was replaced by cotton mills.
Manufacture of trucks was inherited from the neighbouring town of Leyland. A large factory on Pilling Lane produced, including military vehicles and tanks during the Second World War.
After the Second World War, production was reduced, and the final part of the site was closed in 2008 by BAE Systems. A large part of the site has been redeveloped for residential and industrial use as Buckshaw Village.
Through the twentieth century, especially the latter half, Chorley suffered the loss of much of its manufacturing capacity with great losses in or the completely disappearance of its coal, textiles, motor vehicles and armaments industries.
Leyland Trucks and BAE Systems are the Central Lancashire area's largest employers at their sites in Leyland and Samlesbury respectively.
Companies with a presence in the borough are:
BAE Systems
Telent
FedEx, North West depot located in the town
DXC Technology, two locations, one in Euxton and the other in Clayton-le-Woods, north of Chorley
Multipart Solutions Limited, successor to the parts arm of the Leyland DAF
Porter Lancastrian is a manufacturer of beer pumps, under the Porta brand
In 2011, Chorley Council launched an initiative, "Choose Chorley", to encourage SME's and large businesses to relocate to Chorley. The initiative offers red carpet introductions to key people in the town, financial incentives and tailored support for business growth.
The town is the home of the Chorley cake. In October "Chorley Cake Street Fair", restarted in 1995, promotes the cakes, with a competition for local bakers to produce the largest ever Chorley cake.
Chorley