If we have regard only to the technical "Urban" and "Rural" Districts, we get the following figures:
ENGLAND AND WALES: POPULATION OF URBAN AND RURAL DISTRICTS RESPECTIVELY
Urban Rural Census of Districts. Districts. 1891 21,745,286 7,257,239 1901 25,058,355 7,469,448
Thus the urban population increased by 15.2 per cent., while the rural population increased by 2.9 per cent.
Many of the so-called "Urban" Districts, however, are quite rural in character, being often small towns dependent as business centres upon the agricultural areas in which they are situated. In 1901 there were 215 Urban Districts with populations below 3,000; 211 with populations between 3,000 and 5,000; and 260 with populations between 5,000 and 10,000.[52]
Having regard to these considerations the following figures are arrived at:
(1) Classing with the Rural Districts all those Urban Districts which had in 1901 populations below 10,000 we get:
Urban Rural Population. Population. 1891 18,964,882 10,037,643 1901 21,959,998 10,567,845
This gives an urban increase of 15.8 per cent. and a rural increase of 5.3 per cent.
(2) Classing with the Rural Districts those Urban Districts which had in 1901 populations below 5,000 we get:
Urban Rural Population. Population. 1891 20,576,448 8,426,077 1901 23,803,714 8,724,129
This gives an urban increase of 15.7 per cent. and a rural increase of 3.5 per cent.
Combining the three tests, we see that the truth broadly stated is that the rural population is almost stationary while the urban population is rapidly increasing. The rural population is thus a diminishing proportion of the whole.
In 23 rural counties in England and Wales actual depopulation occurred between 1891 and 1901, ranging from a decrease of 7.5 per cent. in Montgomeryshire to a decrease of 1.9 per cent. in Cornwall.
The Census Commissioners make an interesting test of depopulation of rural areas by taking the 112 Registration Districts which are entirely rural, and which had in 1901 an aggregate population of 1,330,319. Their population at each census back to 1801 has been approximately as follows:
POPULATION OF 112 RURAL REGISTRATION DISTRICTS, 1801-1901
Increase + or Census Year. Population. Decrease - in preceding decennium.