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10
CENSUS, 1931.
During the past decennium, the population has declined in twentyone
of the Metropolitan Boroughs (including the City) as compared
with fourteen in the preceding decade; the losses tend to be individually
smaller on this occasion, but are more widely spread. In the City, with
a population of only one quarter per cent. of that of the whole county,
the greatest decrease is shown, viz., 19.8 per cent. as compared with
30.3 per cent. in the preceding period, this being followed by the
decrements of the inner Boroughs of Holborn (—10.0 per cent.),
Stepney (—9.8 per cent.), Westminster (—8.5 per cent.) and Finsbury
(—8.0 per cent.), all of which returned higher rates of loss in the
earlier decade. Present declines succeed immediately preceding
increases in Camberwell, Deptford, Fulham, Islington, Lambeth, Poplar
and Stoke Newington, though in all of these save Camberwell and
Fulham a decline was registered in the 1901-11 decade.
In Lewisham an outstanding increase of 26.3 per cent. is due to
the development of the London County Council housing estate at
Downham; and this is followed in order by the much smaller increments
in Wandsworth (7.5 per cent.), Woolwich (4.6 per cent.),
Hammersmith (4.0 per cent.) and Hampstead (3,2 per cent.).
DENSITY.
For the county as a whole the density is 58.7 persons per acre,
as compared with 60 in 1921. Taking the Metropolitan Boroughs
as separate units for this purpose it will be seen that the densities
vary widely from the average, being at a maximum in the Central
Boroughs of Southwark, Shoreditch, Bethnal Green and Stepney, where
averages of 151.7, 147.5, 142.4 and 127.5 are reached. The densities
diminish with progression outwards until, in the outermost areas,
particularly in the South West and South East, they become as low as
17.7, 26.2, 31.4 and 38.8 in Woolwich, Greenwich, Lewisham and
Wandsworth respectively. In the City itself, with its rapidly diminishing
night population, the density is only 16.2 per acre.
In individual Wards the variations are even greater; densities
exceeding 200 per acre are reached in seven of the Borough Wards, the
position of highest distinction in this respect being achieved by the
St. George's in the East (North West) Ward of Stepney (237.8) with
St. John's Ward of Southwark second at 230.9 and the Golborne Ward
of Kensington third at 209.6 persons per acre.
It must be noted that, in the calculation of densities, the acreage
used is that of all land and non-tidal water together. The presence
of parks, commons, docks, etc., sometimes covering extensive areas,
will tend to an under-statement of the population pressures in areas
comprising them, particularly if they bulk largely in proportion to the
occupied balance of the total area.