PARISH OF ALVA

PRESBYTERY OF STIRLING, SYNOD OF PERTH AND STIRLING.

THE REV. ANDREW BROWN, MINISTER.

III-POPULATION.

The following tables will show the gradual growth of the population

Population in 1791, . 611
1801, .787
1811, .921
1821, .1197
183l, .1300
1836, .1470
in 1821, under 15 years of age, males 237females 208
between 15 and 30, do. 135do. 149
30and 50, do.109 do.121
50 and 70, do.44 do.82
upwards of 70, do. 16 do. 9
in 1821, the parish contained of males, 598, females, 599, -total, 1197
in 1831,of males, 641, females, 659, -total, 1500

In 1831, the number of families resident

was

.288
children in each family averaged, .3¼
In 1831, the number of inhabited houses was 218
houses uninhabited

or building,

8
The average of marriages for the last 3 years is 18
births registered for the last 7 years is 25
deaths registered for the last 7 years is 28¾

It appears from the above tables, that a very rapid increase in the population has taken place of late,-it having been almost doubled in the last thirty years, and an evident cause for this is the great recent improvements in manufactures. In 1801, only one woollen mill was established, and now there are eight mills, besides many lesser places of manufacture. Formerly, the manufacture of the district was confined to serges, plaidings, blanketings, and coarse stuffs for the West India negroes; now, in addition to these, carpets, shawls and trowser cloths, are made for foreign and home consumption.

At present, the village contains 1 surgeon, 2 schoolmasters, 13 retail shopkeepers, 2 bakers, 2 butchers, who kill once a week, 4 blacksmiths, 5 shoemakers, 2 wrights, 2 tailor; 1 1 masons, 5 carters, 1 slate; 1 tinsmith, 1 turner, 1 cooper, 1 engineer, 2 mill-wrights, 18 mechanics, 7 licensed retailers of spirits. About 50 hands are employed in agriculture in the parish, and nearly 600 in the woollen manufactures. The land is divided betwixt 4 farmers and 2 sheep-farmers, and the number of woollen manufacturers, having factories, is 7, and 24 have a business on a smaller scale. A carrier goes to Stirling and Glasgow once a week, and there is a post-office supported by private subscription, for the convenience of the manufacturers.