User:Crouch, Swale/Populations

Places in England can have different population figures for a particular name. There is some debate on which should be used (for the infobox) and if the latest estimate (2019) or census (2011) should be used.

BUAs, built-up land with a minimum area of 20 hectares (200,000 m2), while settlements within 200 metres of each other are linked, a ‘bricks and mortar’ approach. For those smaller than 1,500 the data may be less accurate though its probably still useful to use unless its the same as a differently named parish or at least includes the parish's namesake settlement, for example Drinkstone Green (2011-548, 2019-628[1]) is the same as its parish, Drinkstone[2]. In a few cases the parish has the same name and population as the BUA similar to Drinkstone/Drinkstone Green such as Panfield (2011-841, 2019-866)[3][4] in such case it can be noted both have the same population however the area is different, the BUA is 0.302 km² while the parish is 6.07 km² even though the area is shown on the map as the same. NOMIS shows a different area on the map but the same population for BUA v settlement[5][6]. Since its quite possible that areas have changed since the 2011 census and City Population appears to give data for the area it currently covers its probably better to use the latest estimate though this could cause confusion if the 2011 census is given for administrative units.
- BUASDs, broken down by subdivision for those areas with sub-divisions, can be useful for individual settlements when they are joined into a larger one[7]. Ipswich for example is (2011-178,835, 2019-184,121) for the BUA but (2011-144,957, 2019-148,742)[8].

Civil parishes, low level municipalities that tend to have long-standing boundaries but do often include other settlements and large areas of rural land. They tend to correspond to natural boundaries and generally have stable boundaries, most have had similar boundaries for hundreds of years but for many smaller the 100 the population data isn't readily available such as Ramsholt [9]. Since many parishes aren't also BUAs the parish data is often the only data available. Not all of England falls in civil parishes, see unparished areas. Since they are unlikely to have changed significantly it may be better to give the 2011 census data though as noted this may cause confusion if 2019 estimate data is given for other things.

Unparished areas, generally post 1974 districts that didn't have a successor parish, in some cases like Brierley they are a parish that existed pre 1974 that was abolished after 1974. When major part(s) of an unparished area becomes parished defining the still unparished are(s)'s names may be difficult. Obtaining data for unparished areas can be difficult unless there's only 1 unparished area in a district then City Population gives it as "Current district name unparished area". It may be possible to calculate an unparished area by combining wards, see Civil parishes in West Yorkshire. On Commons unparished areas are generally used as a replacement for parishes in the category tree. In some cases they may correspond to a district, see User:Crouch, Swale/District split#Unparished and so will tend to have a single article about the settlement and district/unparished area using the standard infobox for a district (infobox settlement with the status district). The district/unparished area of Ipswich is (2011-133,384, 2019-136,913). They might be a bit problematic if a parish like Trident is carved out of an unparished area but is clearly part of the settlement though like Southsea these are frequently abolished again and become part of the unparished area again. If Again it may be desirable to give 2011 data since its unlikely they have changed and if they have it would usually be easy to find out.

Districts, higher level than parishes and often have been formed from merges in 1974. Their data is usually used in the infobox if there is only 1 article for the settlement as well as the district such as Leicester, in most cases like Daventry/Daventry District there are 2 articles so the parish is used though the district is also stated. Again giving 2011 data may be desirable since the few district changes tend to be significant and thus would be known (like merges).

Wards, ward boundaries are generally unstable (they may change completely every 8-12 years) and tend to be arbitrary though may be the only data for areas in unparished areas or large urban parishes. The same goes for constituencies. Giving the 2019 estimate is probably a good idea since as noted they tend to change a lot.

See also