DDS Entity Definition: R_POP_DENS_H

Name:
Population Density (Persons per Hectare)
Identifier:
R_POP_DENS_H
Type:
Rate (R)
Definition:
TOT_POP:now * 1.0 / AREA_HECTARES:total
Display as:
Continuous time series
Text:
The population of Britain in 2001 is more than six times the population in 1801, so the country's overall population density is also six times higher. This is obvious in the time series for districts, but it makes comparing maps over time hard. One problem is that the density bands used in the maps have to change over time, and the bottom four bands in 1801 all fit into the bottom 2001 band. Although the mountains of Scotland and Wales still contain few people, rural England has become much more crowded.

Another problem is that, especially during the 19th century, much of the population was crowded into quite small urban areas that hardly show up on the maps. In 1801, the City of London contained over 400 people per hectare, while in 2001 only two local authorities contained over 100 per hectare. In towns where the main way of getting about was walking, extreme crowding was inevitable. London's area expanded with the development of cheap trains for 'working men' in the late 19th century. Both the bicycle and the bus helped towns spread out, but it was of course the car which made it possible for large numbers to live in rural areas, but with urban jobs and lifestyles. Note that our figures for the area of units as measured in hectares have always been calculated by us from our boundary maps, while all areas measured in acres are figures that were listed in census reports.

Rate "R_POP_DENS_H" is contained within:


Themes:

Entity IDEntity Name
T_POP Population


Rate "R_POP_DENS_H" contains no lower-level entities.