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8
REPORT
STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE
AREA
Area (in acres) 2,932 acres
Population, Census 1921 35,119
„ 1931 56,856
„ 1951 67,269
„ 1961 63,653
Registrar-General's estimate of population mid-year,
1962 63,660
Density of Population, 1961 21.4 persons per acre
Number of inhabited houses, 1921 7,150
„ 1931 13,187
„ 1962 20,339
Rateable Value, 1962 £ 1,136,289
Sum represented by a Id. rate £4,600
The Borough of Mitcham is an irregular oval in shape, situated
in North-East Surrey adjoining the south-west border of the London
metropolitan area. It is fairly flat and low lying, with some 600 acres
of open space including the 440 acres of Mitcham Common.
The River Wandle, which forms the south-west and western
boundary, separates Mitcham from Beddington and Wallington in
the south and Carshalton in the west, as it runs a northwards course
towards the Thames.
The soil of Mitcham consists of up to four feet of top-soil with
about ten feet of gravel sub-soil, except for one or two parts where
London clay comes to the surface. Below the gravel London clay
extends downwards for 200 to 300 feet.
Mitcham, with over 300 factories, has a great variety of
industries, of which the chief ones are paint and varnish, chemical,
engineering, margarine, dairy products, and confectionery.
In 1962 employment was high till the latter half, when there was
a slackening demand due to a slower economic tempo.