Sale is a town in Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, historically in Cheshire. It is on the south bank of the River Mersey, 1.9 miles (3.1 km) south of Stretford, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) northeast of Altrincham, and 5.2 miles (8.4 km) southwest of Manchester. In 2001, it had a population of 55,000.