Billingham - Demography

Demography

The population of Billingham, according to the census of 1801, was 962. This number increased slowly until the beginnings of World War One, in which the need for nitrates, to use in explosives, brought about a significant burst of growth for the town. In 1917, Billingham was chosen as the site for the production of Synthetic Ammonia due to its good transport links and access to the resources needed and the population of the town nearly doubled in just a few short years from 4500 to 8000. After the war, the site was bought by Brunner Mond and converted for use in the production of agricultural fertiliser, who soon merged with a number of other companies to form Imperial Chemical Industries. This continued the population expansion of Billingham, reaching nearly 18,000 by 1931. With the onset of World War Two, synthetic ammonia for explosives was once again in demand, further continuing the town's development. During the latter half of the 20th century, the population of Billingham slowed significantly due to the industrial decline of the area.

Population data for 1801–1971 is available at Britain Through Time.