Population Through Time

The population of the Cranshaws, Ellemford & Longformacus Community Council area is just below 300 people. Below are the figures for the same area which showed that it has halved since it's peak around the turn of the 19th century.

Longformacus - the parish's population through time:
• 1755 - 399
• 1791 - 452
• 1801 - 406
• 1811 - 444
• 1821 - 402
• 1831 - 425
• 1861 – 448
• 1871 - 452
• 1881 - 385
Cranshaws
• 1755 - 214
• 1791 - 164
• 1801 - 166
• 1811 - 186
• 1821 - 156
• 1831 - 136
• 1861 – 134
• 1871 - 142
• 1881 - 106
There was a noticable drop in population between Dr Webster's survey of 1755 and the survey undertaken by the parish minister circa 1791 as part of Sir John Sinclair's Statistical Account of Scotland. The Minister, Rev. George Drummond, explained the drop in population as follows:
"The only reason that can be assigned for this diminution is the monopoly of farms. About 50 or 60 years ago there were above 16 farmers in the parish; the whole is now in the possession of 3 only." From the Statistical Account of Scotland compiled by Sir John Sinclair