CHAPTER XXII 



DEPOPULATION OF RURAL ENGLAND 



The cry of " Rural Depopulation " is on every one's 

 lips, but few know the extent to which it has been 

 going on, fewer still realize fully what it means. The 

 admirable manner in which the Census Reports are 

 compiled is worthy of all praise, but of necessity 

 the work is so full, elaborate, and complicated, that 

 much study is required in order to draw from it such 

 condensed information as will be of use to the general 

 public — especially to busy persons. The headings 

 and areas vary almost in every Census, and it is there- 

 fore very difficult to secure strict accuracy in com- 

 paring particulars under separate headings in the 

 Report of 1901 with the particulars under similar 

 headings in previous Censuses. But no pains have 

 been spared to make the analysis of the returns, as it 

 appears in the following pages, as correct as possible. 



The term " Urban population " means the in- 

 habitants of London, County boroughs, Municipal 

 boroughs, and Urban districts. The term " Rural 

 population" comprises the inhabitants of the remaining 

 parts of the country except a very small population 

 which is neither Rural nor Urban. 



The total area of England and Wales is 37,327,479 

 statute acres, and the population in 1901 was 

 32,527,843. Of these totals the Urban districts have 

 an area of 3,848,987 acres, containing a population in 

 1901 of 25,058,355, while the Rural districts, with an 



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