The 1901 Census
Population changes since the nineteenth century
A Census of population has been taken every ten years since 1801 (except for 1941). From the published results, during the nineteenth century Burley's population quadrupled. In the twentieth century it almost doubled *. As in 1901, most of the population are White, but we have no detailed information yet about birth places to compare the pattern of migration into Burley of 2001 with 1901.
The composition of Burley's population however has changed considerably, especially in terms of age groups. In 1901 almost half the population were under 25, whereas in 2001 it was only just over a quarter. A similar proportion were in the middle age group (25-44), but in 1901 only just over a fifth were approaching old age, whereas in 2001 over two fifths were. This change reflects those that have taken place in the country as a whole. We have an ageing population now and smaller families. This can be seen on the accompanying chart.
In 1901 there were only 700 households with an average of nearly 5 persons in them, whereas in 2001 there were 2616 with an average of just over 2 persons in them. Most households had their own separate dwelling in 1901 just as is the case today, but the majority of houses in 1901 were small cottages or terraced properties, whereas now the majority live in detached or semi-detached properties. This reflects a change in wealth and lifestyle and explains why Burley has spread from Main Street, Back Lane and Station Road, to cover the large area it does today.
*The official census figures are always subject to error, and it is possible that the error in 2001 is greater than it was in 1901. Independent estimates of the present population of Burley suggest that over 7000 people live here rather than the 6397 given by the 2001 Census enumeration.
| Age Group | Number | 1901 Census | 2001 Census |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 4 | |||
| 5 to 15 | |||
| 16 to24 | |||
| 25 to 44 | |||
| 45 to 64 | |||
| 65 to74 | |||
| 75 and over | |||
| TOTAL |