Census Records Change in Wolverhampton & Wednesfield North!

The 2011 Census results for Wednesfield North are now available and they make fascinating reading.

We all know that City’s change and have to continue to change to survive. That has been evident ever since Wolverhampton was established some 1,000 plus years ago.

I am reminded that in the first Census in 1851, recorded significant Welsh migration to the town and around 6,000 Irish families were recorded as living in what is now our City.

Wolverhampton has always had to manage demographic change. In the 1800’s Jewish settlers came, Italians in 1841, in 1949 the town’s buses had 50 Poles, 14 Dutch working for the transport department of the Council!

Wolverhampton has always been a melting pot of change and rebirth. Right from the start of its recorded glorious 1,000 years of history. First there were the British, followed by the Anglo –Saxons, and the Danes!

Our history is important as it is a pointer to where we belong. That is why the Census is as important as we see it.

I think we are all a little guilty of taking ‘guesses’ when trying to get to grips with demographic change. This latest Census is important because the statistics it provides helps planners and other with responsibility to plan for City services into the future. Making sure we have the right number of schools, health facilities, homes, houses etc.

Wolverhampton is still a rich diverse settlement, equally as rich and as multicultural as the town was back in 1841. The population make-up of the City has continued to change since the last census was taken in 2001, but here in Wednesfield North it doesn’t appear to have been as dramatic a change.

Certainly a little more gentle in demographic terms than some areas of the City.

Take ethnicity- Here in Wednesfield North our Ward contained 91% description of White British residents in 2011 against a 93% statisticfor White British Residents in 2001.

3% of residents are of an Asian background and are recorded as living in the Ward - the same statistic as in 2001.

There are 2% recorded as being described as “ Other White” reducing this category of person resident in Wednesfield North by -1%.

Black residents have increased by + 1% from 2001 to + 2% in 2011.

Religion is also changing -Back in 2001 the Wednesfield North Ward was recorded as having 81% of the Ward being of the Christian faith.

Now in 2011 the faith has crashed down to a statistic of 71.5%. A loss for the Christian Churches of over -10%, yet when you look at where the Christian faith is in Wolverhampton - the statistics inform you that the Wednesfield North position shows a much steeper plunge in Christianity support to a figure of -16%!.

Now here in our Ward of Wednesfield North a whopping great 18.4% of residents say they have no religion at all now!

That is a growth in non-believers of +10%.