The 1861 Census: Following the Families of Victorian Swansea
The 1861 Census: Following the Families of Victorian Swansea Swansea Family History Revised and expanded: November 2026 Introduction: Swansea Enters Another Decade On the night of Sunday, 7 April 1861, the people of Swansea were counted as part of Britain's seventh national census. Twenty years had passed since the 1841 Census, and ten years since the more detailed returns of 1851. During those decades, Swansea continued to develop as one of the most important industrial and maritime centres in Wales. Copper smelting, coal mining, shipping and commerce shaped the lives of thousands of families, while the surrounding communities of Gower retained their agricultural, fishing and maritime traditions. The official census figures reveal the extraordinary scale of population growth in Glamorganshire. In 1801, the county contained just 70,879 inhabitants. By 1861, its population had reached 317,752 . For family historians, the 1861 Census provides another opportunity to follow individuals...
