The town grew from the mid-nineteenth century as cotton mills and stone quarries were opened. These have all now closed, although stone quarried in the town was used to construct the M55 motorway in the 1970s.
Longridge railway station closed to passengers in 1930. The Preston and Longridge Railway carried stone from Tootle Height Quarries in Longridge, which was used to build Lancaster Town Hall and Liverpool Docks.
The town is home to 11 pubs, several restaurants, a public library, and a number of primary and high schools.