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104
been taking place during the last thirty years. The following Table
gives the figures obtained at each census since 1861 —
Population,
Houses
(inhabited).
1861
15,539
2,481
1871
23,350
3,469
1881
42,900
5.833
1891
91,639
12,896
From these it is seen that there has been a very rapid increase in
the population, and especially since the year 1871, for whereas between
1861.71 there was an increase of 50 per cent., between 1871.81 the
increase was equal to about 83 per cent, of the population, and during
the intcr.censal period of 1881.91 the population more than doubled
itself. This increase is no doubt largely due to the extensive building
of houses in the district, and the immigration of persons from the more
central parts of the metropolis.
At the date of the ordnance survey of London some thirty years ago
the district of Fulham consisted of four villages, namely, Fulham, North
End, Parsons Green, and Walham, separated by land used chiefly for
agricultural purposes; at the present time the greater part of this area,
with the exception of some 500 acres, for the most part situated along
the bank of the river, has been built over, and building operations are
still being carried on. During the period which has elapsed since the
census was taken in 1891, considerable increase in the number of houses
and of residents has continued to take place, though there is reason to
believe that the rate of increase has not been quite so great as during
the period 1881.91.
The density ot the population in rulham, as measured by the average
number of inhabitants per acre and per inhabited house in the census
year 1891 and previous censuses, was as follows :—
•
Per acre.
Per inhabited
house.
1861
9
6.2
1871
14
6.7
1881
25
7.3
1891
54
7.1
In the registration County of London in 1891 there was an average
of 56 persons to each acre, and 7.7 persons per inhabited house.