Originally an ancient village (mentioned in the Domesday Book), as London expanded, Acton became absorbed into the city. Acton was a borough in Middlesex from 1921 to 1965, when it was absorbed into the London Borough of Ealing.
Acton is now principally residential, though it maintains some light industry: particularly in the North East in the Park Royal area, and the south near the border with Chiswick.
Since WW2, Acton has had a small but notable population of Polish immigrants. In recent years a number of Antipodean immigrants have settled there: there are several Australian / South African pubs concentrated in a small area.
The name Acton derives from the Anglo-Saxon for "Oak Town"
Acton is now principally residential, though it maintains some light industry: particularly in the North East in the Park Royal area, and the south near the border with Chiswick.