Dumfries (Burgh) through time

Dumfries Burgh

Densities and rates of growth. Age structure: concentrations of young people, and of the old.

How people made their living: identifying farming communities, pit villages, mill towns and so on.

Social class and socio-economic groups. Concentrations of professionals, and of unskilled labourers.

How many people were at school. The distribution of graduates, and of the unqualified.

Numbers of babies born. Deaths, especially infant deaths. Causes of death by age and gender.

Unemployment rates and poor relief. What proportions of men and of women did paid work?

Numbers of houses. Overcrowding: persons per room. Amenities: central heating, baths and WCs.

Numbers going to church, and the kinds of churches they went to. The different religions of modern Britain.

Alternative names

The following alternate names for this unit exist:

Name	Status	Language	Start	End	Authority
DUMFRIES	Preferred	English	1186	1975	1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.
S731613	CASWEB identifiers for 1971 Local Govt Districts	English

Lower level units

This unit contained the following units:

Name	Type	Start	End	Authority
DUMFRIES	Scottish Parish		1928	1851 Census of Great Britain, Table [1], 'Population Abstract'.
TERREGLES	Scottish Parish	1928	1975	The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer
TROQUEER	Scottish Parish	1928	1975	The Scottish Archive Network, Scottish Archives Network Gazetteer

Other related units

This unit was associated with the following other units:

Nature of association	Other unit involved	Type of unit	Authority
was succeeded by	DUMFRIES	Built-up Area	National Records of Scotland, National Records of Scotland web site (2022 Census Settlement boundaries)

Higher level units

This unit was part of the following units:

Name	Type	Start	End	Authority
DUMFRIES SHIRE	Scottish County		1975	1951 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs'.

Boundaries and changes

This unit was affected by the following changes:

Date	Type of change	Other unit involved	Area transferred	Authority
1929	was enlarged by the abolition of	MAXWELLTOWN Burgh		1931 Census of Scotland, Table 1, 'Population of Burghs, Districts of Counties, and Civil Parishes'.
27 Apr 1938	was enlarged by gaining part of	KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE CLandward
16 May 1948	was enlarged by gaining part of	DUMFRIES SHIRE CLandward
16 May 1948	was enlarged by gaining part of	KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE CLandward
16 May 1963	was enlarged by gaining part of	DUMFRIES DoC	Part of Dumfries East, Caerlaverock and Dumfries South C.C.E.D. Area: 87 hectares.	1971 Census of Scotland, Table 4, 'Intercensal changes of boundary (between 23rd April, 1961 and 25th April, 1971)', for 'County, local authority areas, civil parishes'.; United Kingdom Statutory Instrument (Sheriff's Deliverance dated 1st February, 1963)

Base layer:

Show boundary:

If the boundaries of the Scottish Burgh/District changed over time, this map will show all the different boundaries.

Maps Census reports

How to reference this page:

GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, Dumfries (Burgh) through time, A Vision of Britain through Time.

URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10359090

Date accessed: 14th December 2025