Population of the Burghs of Scotland

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Population of the Burghs of Scotland.

The population of many of the burghs has been referred to already when describing the changes of population in the counties, but some additional general remarks may not be out of place.

The burgh populations, with their decennial changes, are to be found in Tables VII. and VIII. In Table VII. the burghs are arranged geographically and grouped in their appropriate counties; in Table VIII. the burghs are arranged in order of magnitude.

BURGHS HAVING A POPULATION OF OVER 30,000.

There are eighteen such burghs in Scotland. Pour of them, the cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, and Aberdeen, have populations of over 150,000; five have populations of between 50,000 and 100,000; and nine have populations of between 30,000 and 40,000. At the time of the previous Census there were fifteen burghs with a population of over 30,000. By this Census these are increased by three—Clydebank, Falkirk, and Ayr. Each of these large burghs is found by this Census to have an increased population. The largest relative increases are in Clydebank, where the increase amounts to 79.7 per cent.; in Motherwell, 29.6 per cent.; in Partick, 23.1 per cent.; in Hamilton, 17.9 per cent.; and in Coatbridge, 17.0 per cent. The smallest decennial rates of increase are found in Edinburgh, 0.9 per cent.; Glasgow, 1.1 per cent.; Dundee, 1.2 per cent.; Kilmarnock, 17 per cent.; Leith, 3.9 per cent.; and Perth, 5.5 per cent.

BURGHS HAVING A POPULATION OF BETWEEN 10,000 AND 30,000.

There are twenty-eight such burghs now in Scotland. Of them, eight have a population of between 20,000 and 30,000, and twenty a population of between 10,000 and 20,000. Of the twenty-eight, twenty-three are found to have increased during the decade, while five are found to have decreased. The largest rates of increase are found in Buckhaven, 75.7 per cent.; Cowdenbeath, 68.4 per cent.; Renfrew, 35.2 per cent.; Musselburgh, 34.3 percent.; and Rutherglen, 31.3 per cent. The decreases are found in Montrose, 11.7 per cent.; Arbroath, 7.8 per cent.; Forfar, 4.8 per cent.; Inverness, 3.7 per cent.; and Ha wick, 2.5 per cent. It may be noted that three out of the five burghs in this group showing a decrease are situated in Forfarshire.

BURGHS HAVING A POPULATION OF BETWEEN 5000 AND 10,000.

There are twenty-nine burghs of this size in Scotland. Of these, twenty-three are found to have increased their population, while six are found to have decreased it. The largest increases are in Lochgelly, 65.9 per cent.; Gourock, 41.9 per cent.; Troon, 39.1 per cent.; and Bathgate, 21.2 per cent. The decreases are in Campbeltown, 8.0 per cent.; Brechin, 5.6 per cent.; Ardrossan, 5.2 per cent.; Denny and Dunipace, 2.3 per cent.; Rothesay, 0.8 per cent.; and Helensburgh, 0.3 per cent.

BURGHS HAVING A POPULATION OF BETWEEN 3000 AND 5000.

There are forty-five burghs of this size in Scotland. Of these, twenty-four show an increase of population, and twenty-one a decrease. The largest increases among these burghs are found in Inverkeithing, 67.5 per cent.; Tranent, 58.0 per cont.; Prestwick, 51.9 per cent.; Monifieth, 45.2 per cent.; and Inverurie, 29.5 per cent. The largest decreases are found in Maybole, 17.0 per cent.; Thurso, 10.4 per cent.; Kirriemuir, 7.8 per cent.; Tillicoultry, 7.0 per cent.; Stonehaven, 6.8 per cent.; Dunbar, 6.6 per cent.; and Linlithgow, 6.5 per cent.

BURGHS HAVING A POPULATION OF UNDER 3000.

There are eighty-five of these burghs, twenty-four having a population of over 2000, forty-three a population of between 1000 and 2000, and eighteen a population of under 1000. Of these burghs, forty-four show a decrease of population, while forty-one show an increase. The largest increases are found in Cromarty, 55.2 per cent.; Queensferry, 52.0 per cent.; Cockenzie and Port Seton, 42.3 per cent.; Culross, 31.0 per cent.; and Whitburn, 30.0 per cent. As previously pointed out, the apparent increase of population in the burgh of Cromarty is accidental, being due to the presence of part of the Home Fleet in the harbour. The largest rates of decrease are found in Stromness, 32.4 per cent.; Lochgilphead, 29.9 per cent.; Inveraray, 2.4 per cent.; Rothes, 16.7 per cent.; and Tobermory, 15.1 per cent.

The following Table has been drawn up to show how burghs of various sizes have increased in number in Scotland since the date of the first Census. It will be seen that in 1801 there were only two burghs of more than 50,000 of a population, while now there are nine burghs of that size. In 1801 there was only one burgh of Scotland with a population of between 20,000 and 50,000; there are now 17. In 1801 there were four burghs with a population of between 10,000 and 20,000; now there are 20. In 1801 there were 18 burghs with a population of between 5000 and 10,000; there are now 29. These figures give a rough indication of the large increase in the burghal population of Scotland during the period.

TABLE Showing Number of Burghs at each Census since 1801.

YEAR. POPULATION.
Over
50,000.
30,001
to
50,000.
20,001
to
30,000.
10,001
to
20,000.
5001
to
10,000.
5000
and
under.
1801 2 1 4 18 62
1811 2 2 5 14 60
1821 2 2 1 6 18 59
1831 3 2 1 5 19 62
1841 4 2 2 9 16 43
1851 4 3 2 9 20 45
1861 4 3 2 10 19 44
1871 5 2 2 14 24 101
1881 7 1 6 18 25 108
1891 8 2 7 20 30 125
1901 9 6 7 18 34 129
1911 9 9 8 20 29 130

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