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14
POPULATION.
The Registrar General's estimate of the total population of the
Urban District, mid-year 1955, was 68,450, which is an increase of
2,070 over the figure for the previous year. This population gives a
density of 3.3 persons to the acre.
The natural increase of population, measured by excess of births
over deaths was 459.
This means that the greater part of the increase in population
that occurred during the year, was due to the movement of new residents
into the district.
Some idea of this upward trend can be obtained from the following
figures of the population during the past five years:—
1951 62,850
1952 63,670
1953 64.480
1954 66,380
1955 68,450
BIRTHS.
One thousand and eighty-three live births were registered during
the year, giving a birth-rate of 15.8 per 1,000 total population. Of the
births registered, 543 were males, and 540 females.
The adjusted rate for comparison with other areas is 16.3
The birth rate remained unchanged, a figure of 15.8 being also
recorded during the preceding year. This is slightly greater than the
rate for England and Wales as a whole.
If the illegitimate births are considered separately, an illegitimate
birth rate of 22.7 per 1,000 live and still births is obtained. Altogether
there were 24 illegitimate births registered during the year, and of these
14 were males and 10 females.
There were 19 stillbirths registered during the year, of which 11
were males and 8 females. This gives a stillbirth rate for the district
of 17.24 per 1,000 live and still births, and 0.28 per 1,000 total
population.
DEATHS.
There were 624 deaths appertaining to the Urban District and
registered during 1955, giving a Death Rate of 9.1 per 1,000 total
population. The adjusted rate for comparison purposes is also 9.1.
The rate for 1955 is higher than that for the previous year, but
is still below that of 11.7 for England and Wales.
Of the deaths registered, 323 were males and 301 females.