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B. DISTRIBUTION BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS Another important feature in the location of population is the examination of the relative urbanization of the population. The following table shows the distribution of the population as between counties (including town districts) and boroughs (including cities). Although at the present time no new borough can be created unless the population is at least 1,000, there are in existence several boroughs where the population is under 1,000. The table, however, gives some idea of the relative urbanization of the community :
Table No. 57.—Table showing the Distribution of the Population as between Counties (including Town Districts) and Boroughs (including Cities) at various Censuses from 1881 to 1945
Urbanization has proceeded somewhat further in the North Island than in the South Island, as is shown in the following table :
Table No. 58.—Table showing (a) Total Population in Counties and Boroughs, and (b) Percentage Distribution in Counties and Boroughs, in North and South Islands as at Censuses of 1936 and 1945
The outstanding feature of the above table is the fall between 1936 and 1945 of 23,722 in the population of counties in the South Island. This subject is discussed in detail a little later in this section. The table also shows that urbanization has proceeded further in the North than in the South Island. In the North Island in 1945, 63-91 per cent, of the population lived in urban areas, an increase of 3 per cent, over the 1936 figure. County areas have shown an equal relative fall. Although this trend has been in operation for many years past, part of the large change in the period between 1936 and 1945 is due to the large numbers coming to the cities for war work.
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(Excluding Maoris)Census. Counties (including Town Districts). Boroughs (including Cities). Percentage. Counties. Boroughs. Shipboard, &e. 1881 1886 1891 .. 1896 1901 1906 1911 1916 1921 1926 1936. ' 1945 291,238 327,328 352,097 391,735 417,596 458,797 496,779 501,259 530,852 551,457 601,343 590,195 194,981 245,612 270,343 307,294 350,202 424,614 505,598 585,306 681,988 785,040 884,282 1,008,534 59-44 56-58 56-18 55-69 54-04 51-63 49-26 45-59 43-55 41-02 40-32 36-81 39-80 42-46 43-14 43-69 45-32 47-79 50-14 53-24 55-95 58-39 59-29 ■ 62-89 0-76 0-96 0-68 0-62 0-64 0-58 0-60 117 0-50 0-59 0-39 0-30
Counties. Boroughs. Shipboard, &c. 1936. 1945. 1936. 1945. 1936. 1945. Numbers — North Island 362,554 375,128 572,190 671,670 4,195 4,186 South Island 238,789 215,067 312,092 336,864 1,664 639 Total 601,343 590,195 884,282 1,008,534 5,859 4,825 Percentages— North Island 38-61 35-70 60-94 63-91 0-45 0-39 South Island 43-22 38-92 56-48 60-96 0-30 0-12 Total 40-32 36-81 59-29 62-89 0-39 0-30