List of settlements in Devon by population

1. Plymouth 256,384 (6%)2. Exeter 117,773 (6%)3. Torquay 65,245 (2%)4. Paignton 49,021 (2%)5. Exmouth 34,432 (4%)6. Barnstaple 24,033 (14%)7. Newton Abbot 24,029 (2%)8. Tiverton 21,335 (13%)9. Brixham 16,693 (-5%)10. Bideford 16,610 (13%)11. Teignmouth 14,749 (2%)12. Sidmouth 13,737 (4%)13. Dawlish 13,161 (0%)14. Tavistock 12,280 (6%)15. Northam 12,062 (9%)16. Ivybridge 11,851 (-2%)17. Ilfracombe 11,509 (6%)18. Honiton 11,156 (3%)19. Kingsteignton 10,451 (-2%)20. Cullompton 8,499 (11%)21. Crediton 7,600 (10%)22. Totnes 7,456 (0%)23. Bovey Tracey 7,168 (3%)24. Okehampton 7,104 (18%)25. Seaton 7,096 (4%)26. Axminster 6,557 (14%)27. Kingsbridge 5,887 (6%)28. Great Torrington 5,714 (8%)29. Dartmouth 5,605 (2%)30. Budleigh Salterton 5,185 (7%)31. Ottery St. Mary 4,898 (11%)32. South Molton 4,875 (16%)33. Chudleigh 4,378 (12%)34. Ashburton 4,087 (4%)35. Buckfastleigh 3,631 (-1%)36. Exminster 3,616 (9%)37. Colyton 3,165 (6%)38. Holsworthy 2,641 (15%)39. Bradninch 2,206 (13%)40. Salcombe 1,909 (1%)41. North Tawton 1,859 (16%)42. Hatherleigh 1,729 (25%)43. Hartland 1,724 (3%)44. Moretonhampstead 1,703 (10%)45. Chagford 1,449 (-1%)46. Chulmleigh 1,323 (1%)47. Beer 1,317 (-5%)
Interactive map showing the location of the towns and cities within Devon. The size of the circle corresponds to the size of its 2011 population and the shade of blue or red to its population growth or decline respectively.

This list is of towns and cities in Devon in order of their population, according to the 2011 census data from the Office for National Statistics. It comprises the Key Statistics for local authorities, civil parishes and wards that attempt to show their populations. The largest settlement in Devon is the city and unitary authority of Plymouth with a population of 256,720, whereas the smallest settlement was the town and civil parish of Beer with a population of 1,317. The city of Exeter, which is home to Exeter Cathedral, is the county town and headquarters of Devon County Council. The ceremonial county of Devon includes unitary authority areas of Plymouth and Torbay, but the non-metropolitan county of Devon excludes such unitary authority areas. It is governed by Devon County Council, whereas Plymouth and Torbay can govern themselves on matters such as transport and education.

Traditionally a town is any settlement which has received a charter of incorporation, more commonly known as a town charter, approved by the monarch. However, since 1974, any civil parish has the right to declare itself as a town. Prior to 1888, city status was given to settlements home to a cathedral of the Church of England such as Exeter. After 1888 it was no longer a necessary condition, leading to Plymouth gaining city-status in 1928. Historical towns such as Plympton, Stonehouse and Devonport, which were merged into the city of Plymouth, have not been included, as well as Topsham, which became a part of Exeter's urban district, and St Marychurch, which was annexed by Torquay. However, the unitary authority area of Torbay recognises the three towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. The ward for Ottery St Mary is also included, as it is titled Ottery St Mary Town.

Changes to population structures have, however, led to explosions in non-traditional settlements that do not fall into traditional, bureaucratic definitions of 'towns'. Several villages, which are not included in this list, have grown steadily and are more populous than many towns. For example, the ward of Fremington, with a population of 4,310.[1] would be ranked 34 whilst its neighbour Braunton civil parish, with a population of 8,128,[2] would be ranked 21.

2011 rank Town/city Population Increase
since 2001 		Notes Image
2011[3] 2001[4]
1 Plymouth 256,384 240,720 6.1% City and unitary authority, which includes the suburbs of Plympton and Plymstock. Plympton used to be a separate town and Plymstock is a parish.
2 Exeter 117,773 111,076 5.7% City, urban district and the county town (capital) of Devon
3 Torquay 65,245[5] 63,998[6] 1.9% Part of the unitary authority of Torbay
4 Paignton 49,021[5] 48,251[6] 1.6% Part of the unitary authority of Torbay
5 Exmouth 34,432 32,972 4.2% Civil parish
6 Barnstaple 24,033 20,724 13.8% Civil parish
7 Newton Abbot 24,029 23,580 1.9% Civil parish
8 Tiverton 21,335 18,621 12.7% Civil parish
9 Brixham 16,693[5] 17,457[6] -4.6% Civil parish; part of the unitary authority of Torbay.[7]
10 Bideford 16,610 14,407 13.3% Civil parish
11 Teignmouth 14,749 14,413 2.3% Civil parish
12 Sidmouth 13,737 13,135 4.4% Civil parish
13 Dawlish 13,161 13,135 0.2% Civil parish
14 Tavistock 12,280 11,604 5.5% Civil parish
15 Northam 12,062 11,018 8.7% Civil parish
16 Ivybridge 11,851 12,056 -1.7% Civil parish
17 Ilfracombe 11,509 10,840 5.8% Civil parish
18 Honiton 11,156 10,857 2.7% Civil parish
19 Kingsteignton 10,451 10,615 -1.6% Civil parish
20 Cullompton 8,499 7,609 10.5% Civil parish
21 Crediton 7,600 6,837 10.0% Civil parish
22 Totnes 7,456 7,444 0.2% Civil parish
23 Bovey Tracey 7,168 6,929 3.3% Civil parish
24 Okehampton 7,104 5,846 17.7% Civil parish
25 Seaton 7,096 6,798 4.2% Civil parish
26 Axminster 6,557 5,626 14.2% Civil parish
27 Kingsbridge 5,887 5,521 6.2% Civil parish
28 Great Torrington 5,714 5,279 7.6% Civil parish
29 Dartmouth 5,605 5,512 1.7% Civil parish
30 Budleigh Salterton 5,185 4,801 7.4% Civil parish
31 Ottery St. Mary 4,898 4,366 10.9% Ward, which refers to Ottery St Mary as a "town".
32 South Molton 4,875 4,093 16.0% Civil parish
33 Chudleigh 4,378 3,846 12.2% Civil parish
34 Ashburton 4,087 3,909 4.4% Civil parish
35 Buckfastleigh 3,631 3,661 -0.8% Civil parish
36 Exminster 3,616 3,310 8.5% Civil parish
37 Colyton 3,165 2,964 6.4% Civil parish including Colyford
38 Holsworthy 2,641 2,256 14.6% Civil parish
39 Bradninch 2,206 1,916 13.1% Civil parish
40 Salcombe 1,909 1,893 0.8% Civil parish
41 North Tawton 1,859 1,570 15.5% Civil parish
42 Hatherleigh 1,729 1,306 24.5% Civil parish
43 Hartland 1,724 1,676 2.8% Civil parish
44 Moretonhampstead 1,703 1,536 9.8% Civil parish
45 Chagford 1,449 1,470 -1.4% Civil parish
46 Chulmleigh 1,323 1,308 1.1% Civil parish
47 Beer 1,317 1,381 -4.9% Civil parish

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ward population 2011". Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  2. ^ "Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics: Braunton". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  3. ^ "2011 Population: All Usual Residents". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. 27 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  4. ^ "Key Figures for 2001 Census: All people". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. 1 April 2001. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  5. ^ a b c "Census 2011 - Torbay Profile". Torbay Council. 3 July 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2017. (Word document)
  6. ^ a b c "Key Statistics for Tobray — May 2005" (PDF). Census 2001. The Consultation and Research Team, Torbay Council. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  7. ^ "Brixham Town Council". Torbay Council. 29 October 2009. Archived from the original on 9 October 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2009.

50°42′N 3°48′W / 50.7°N 3.8°W / 50.7; -3.8

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