South Yorkshire Times  April 7, 1951

Towns’ Census Watch

Mexborough and District Population Trends

The five Urban Councils of Mexborough, Conisbrough, Dearne, Swinton and Wath will be watching the results of Sunday’s census with particular interest to discover whether the population figure revealed thereby give any indication that the trend suggested by County estimates of the growth of populations in this district will be borne out in fact.

The County Council’s Draft Development Plan for 1951 suggests that the population of this area-84,590 in 1948—will have risen to 88,000 by 1971.

Town by Town

Individual estimates contained in the Plan are

In the County Survey issued by the County Planning Officer’s Department these figures are “broken  down” further. The Survey show the estimated natural increase in the population and estimated migration of people from the district.

Here are the figures:—

Mexborough Urban Council are indignant about the figures. They are protesting to the County Authority that they do not see why their population should be considered likely to drop during the next 20 years while those of neighbouring areas increase.

Several factors cause Mexborough to anticipate a substantial increase. – For example, the Medical Officer forecasts, from a survey births and deaths, that there will be a rise of 3,600 by 1971.

Migration

The Urban Council claim that the County Authority describe Mexborough as a ”one-industry coal-mining) town.” and the migratory factor would operate against them since young men born in the town would leave to seek jobs in other areas.

Mexborough, however, is not a one-industry town, and the Council point out that the immediate district possesses a number of industries, among them the railway plant, the General Electric Company’s works and the employment of men in the printing industry and several other new light industries

Dearne Urban Council, too, are I not happy about the County forecasts. With the introduction of a number of Iarge light industries to their district, they say Dearne will not show a minus migratory tendency, but will retain the natural increase In the population in their own area

Footnote.—”The Marketing Surrey of the United kingdom” published by Business Publications Ltd. also has some interest-statistical data about this district. For instance. Mexborough has 200 shops. Swinton 150 and Wath 181 . . and Wombwell more than Mexborough! For the year 1948-49. Conisbrough, Swinton and Wath had the unenviable distinction of being the highest rated towns in the West Riding with populations of over 10,000.