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one year. This figure was about 1,000 in 1934 and rose to nearly 2,000
by 1939. From this it can be assumed that for a number of years, quite
apart from any continued building development, the population would
have increased. The erection of new houses here reached the peak
figure in 1935, when 4,715 were built. The figures for the next two years
were only slightly less, but fell to 2,890 in 1938 and to 1,375 in 1939, at
the end of which year there were 56,500 inhabited houses in the district.
The population figures for the year 1935 onwards were 144,280,
160,300, 174,800, 183,500 and 190,200 for 1939. During the war years
the building of houses ceased, so that that reason for any increase in
population was removed. The natural increase in population fell sharply
from a figure of 1,913 in 1939 to 1,276 in 1940, and to 946 in 1941. This
fall was partly attributable to a sharp rise in the annual number of deaths,
but more to the decline in the number of births. By 1942 the births
had increased, with a resulting rise in the natural increase to a figure of
1,450 in 1942, and to figures of 1,751 and 1,741 in the next two years.
Despite this natural increase though, the population of the district fell
to 188,710 in 1940. In point of fact, fluctuation in the population
occurred on a far greater scale than the differences in these population
figures indicate, because large movements of population out of the
district were almost balanced by inward movements of similar numbers.
The figure rose to 195,480 in 1941 and remained at much the same level,
namely 195,100 in 1942. This slight decline was unexpected in that it
had been thought from the extent to which houses were being occupied
by, more than one family that the population had probably increased.
A decline to 191,660 took place by 1943. Movements of population
were by then less marked and presumably the fall which took place
and which was repeated the next year to yield a mid-year population of
185,090 was due to the fact that the calls to the Services more than
outweighed the importation of those occupying parts of houses previously
occupied only by one family. By mid-year 1945, the figure had increased
to 191,710. Of this the 0 to 4 population was estimated at 15,010 and
the 5 to 14 at 29,320. The contribution of the natural increase would be
part of the 1,741 of 1944 and 1,336 of 1945. By the end of September
the figure had risen to 195,340, and by the end of the year to 201,070,
the increases presumably being due to the return of Service personnel.
The decline in the building development before the war was an
indication that the district was becoming built up. Apart from such
proposals as the London County Council's Headstone Estate and the
Council's own sites for housing purposes, there is now comparatively
little land available for the erection of houses. Assuming development
of this at the density of the growth during pre-war years, the ultimate
population figure for the area may be about 240,000.
The distribution of the population throughout the district is indicated
by the following figures of the number of electors in the twelve wards at
October, 1945:—Stanmore North, 12,534; Stanmore South, 18,287;
Kenton, 14,447; Harrow Weald, 10,948; Wealdstone North, 12,863;
Wealdstone South, 9,620; Harrow-on-the-Hill, 8,466; Headstone, 8,042;
Pinner North, 10,222; Pinner South, 18,729; Roxeth, 15,381; West
Harrow, 10,584; Total, 150,123.