3.1.1 Population Change

Dúnta22 Nol, 2020, 9:00am - 12 Már, 2021, 5:00pm
3.1.1 Population Change

 

3.1.1.1 Urban Areas

The major focus for expansion in population has been in Kilkenny City and the Ferrybank area (Environs of Waterford City within County Kilkenny).  In Kilkenny City, an increase of 2,089 persons was recorded in the intercensal period 2011 to 2016, which compares well with the 2,244 persons recorded in the period 2006 to 2011. The Ferrybank area (Waterford City Environs within County Kilkenny) also recorded an increase of 435 persons between 2011 and 2016.  Those two areas alone account for 66% of the total population increase within the County.  The population of Ferrybank, the second largest urban area within the County after Kilkenny City, has increased by 145% since 2002.

Table 3.3 Population of the District towns and Ferrybank

 

2006

2011

2016

2011- 2016 % difference

Kilkenny City

22,179

24,423

26,512

+8.5%

Callan

1,771

2,330

2,475

+6.2%

Castlecomer

1,531

1,456

1,502

+3.1%

Graiguenamanagh[1]

1,097

1,476

1,389

-5.8%

Thomastown

1,837

2,273

2,445

+7.5%

Ferrybank Area

3,465

4,811

5,246

+9.04%

Table 3.3 shows that all of the District Towns have performed well in terms of population increase since 2011.  Castlecomer was the only town that has shown a population decrease between 2006 and 2011, but the population has slightly recovered according to the 2016 census.

The table also shows the dominance of Kilkenny City as the most significant urban area within the County. The population of the County within aggregate town areas as defined by the census has increased from 35.3% in 2006 to 37% in 2011 and to 40% in 2016. This shows that the proportion of the population living in urban areas[2] is increasing. However, it also shows that Kilkenny is still a predominantly rural county in terms of population.

3.1.1.2 Rural Areas

Figure 3.1 shows the population change across all Electoral Divisions (EDs) in the county between 2002 and 2016.  There are 113 Electoral Districts and of these, 100 showed an increase in population, one remained constant and only 12 experienced a decrease in population. The EDs that experienced the most significant growth are Paulstown (105%), Tiscoffin (87.69%), Jerpoint West (120.49%) and Kilculliheen (Part) (144.57%).

The most significant decreases were in the Tullaroan and Baunmore EDs, which respectively experienced decreases of 10.5% and 13.55%.

Over that time period it can be seen that on average, in the electoral districts close to Kilkenny City, there have been significant increases in population with high double digit increases.

 

[1] These figures do not include the Tinnahinch area in Graiguenamanagh, located within Co. Carlow. If Tinnahinch is included within Graiguenamanagh, then the population of the town would be 1,475 for 2016 (1,543 for 2011).

[2] Urban areas as defined by CSO i.e. towns with populations of 1,500 or more.

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