List of Towns and Cities in Devon By Population

List Of Towns And Cities In Devon By Population

This list is of towns and cities in Devon in order of their population, according to the 2001 census data from the Office for National Statistics. It comprises the Key Statistics for local authorities, civil parishes and wards that attempt to show their populations. The largest settlement in Devon is the city and unitary authority of Plymouth with a population of 240,720, whereas the smallest settlement was the town and civil parish of Hatherleigh with a population of 1,306. The city of Exeter, which is home to Exeter Cathedral, is the county town and headquarters of Devon County Council. The ceremonial county of Devon includes unitary authority areas such as Plymouth and Torbay, but the non-metropolitan county of Devon excludes such unitary authority areas. It is governed by Devon County Council, whereas Plymouth and Torbay can govern themselves on matters such as transport and education.

Traditionally a town is any settlement which has received a charter of incorporation, more commonly known as a town charter, approved by the monarch. However, since 1974, any civil parish has the right to declare itself as a town. Prior to 1888, city status was given to settlements home to a cathedral of the Church of England such as Exeter. After 1888 it was no longer a necessary condition, leading to Plymouth gaining city-status in 1928. Historical towns such as Plympton, Stonehouse and Devonport, which were merged into the city of Plymouth, have not been included, as well as Topsham, which became a part of Exeter's urban district, and St Marychurch, which was annexed by Torquay. However, the unitary authority area of Torbay recognises the three towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. The ward for Ottery St Mary is also included, as it is titled Ottery St Mary Town.

Changes to population structures have, however, led to explosions in non-traditional settlements that do not fall into traditional, bureaucratic definitions of 'towns'. Several villages, which are not included in this list, have grown steadily and are more populous than many towns. For example, Fremington with a population of 9 744 would be in the top 20 whilst its neighbour Braunton, population of 7 510, is just below it.

Rank Population Town/city Notes Image
1 240,720 Plymouth City and unitary authority, which includes the suburbs of Plympton and Plymstock. Plympton used to be a separate town and Plymstock is a parish.
2 111,076 Exeter City, urban district and the county town (capital) of Devon
3 63,998 Torquay Part of the unitary authority of Torbay
4 48,251 Paignton Part of the unitary authority of Torbay
5 32,972 Exmouth Civil Parish
6 23,580 Newton Abbot Civil Parish
7 20,724 Barnstaple Civil Parish
8 18,621 Tiverton Civil Parish
9 17,457 Brixham Civil Parish; part of the unitary authority of Torbay.
10 14,413 Teignmouth Civil Parish
11 14,407 Bideford Civil Parish
12 14,407 Sidmouth Civil Parish
13 13,135 Dawlish Civil Parish
14 12,056 Ivybridge Civil Parish
15 11,604 Northam Civil Parish
16 11,018 Tavistock Civil Parish
17 10,857 Honiton Civil Parish
18 10,840 Ilfracombe Civil Parish
19 10,615 Kingsteignton Civil Parish
20 7,609 Cullompton Civil Parish
21 7,444 Totnes Civil Parish
22 6,929 Bovey Tracey Civil Parish
23 6,837 Crediton Civil Parish
24 6,798 Seaton Civil Parish
25 5,846 Okehampton Civil Parish
26 5,626 Axminster Civil Parish
27 5,521 Kingsbridge Civil Parish
28 5,512 Dartmouth Civil Parish
29 5,279 Great Torrington Civil Parish
30 4,801 Budleigh Salterton Civil Parish
31 4,366 Ottery St Mary Ward, which refers to Ottery St Mary as a "town".
32 4,093 South Molton Civil Parish
33 3,909 Ashburton Civil Parish
34 3,846 Salcombe Civil Parish
35 3,661 Buckfastleigh Civil Parish
36 3,310 Exminster Civil Parish
37 2,964 Colyton Civil Parish including Colyford
38 2,256 Holsworthy Civil Parish
39 1,916 Bradninch Civil Parish
40 1,893 Chudleigh Civil Parish 200px
41 1,676 Hartland Civil Parish
42 1,570 North Tawton Civil Parish
43 1,536 Moretonhampstead Civil Parish
44 1,470 Chagford Civil Parish
45 1,381 Beer Civil Parish
46 1,308 Chulmleigh Civil Parish
47 1,306 Hatherleigh Civil Parish

Read more about List Of Towns And Cities In Devon By Population:  See Also

Famous quotes containing the words list of, list, towns, cities and/or population:

    Shea—they call him Scholar Jack—
    Went down the list of the dead.
    Officers, seamen, gunners, marines,
    The crews of the gig and yawl,
    The bearded man and the lad in his teens,
    Carpenters, coal-passers—all.
    Joseph I. C. Clarke (1846–1925)

    A man’s interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete but dry list of the fauna and flora of a town.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    Even in our democratic New England towns the accidental possession of wealth, and its manifestation in dress and equipage alone, obtain for the possessor almost universal respect.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    We are in danger ... of making our cities places where business goes on but where life, in its real sense, is lost.
    Hubert H. Humphrey (1911–1978)

    The paid wealth which hundreds in the community acquire in trade, or by the incessant expansions of our population and arts, enchants the eyes of all the rest; the luck of one is the hope of thousands, and the bribe acts like the neighborhood of a gold mine to impoverish the farm, the school, the church, the house, and the very body and feature of man.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)