THIS WEEK IN 1971: Population plunges in Hampshire's cities

According to the first provisional figures of the 1971 census, the number of people in the city fell in 10 years to 196,973 from 215,077. 

Like most big cities, Portsmouth was losing population as more people went to the suburbs and new towns, with nearby boroughs and towns seeing a marked increase in population. 

The greatest increase was that of Havant and Waterlooville with an increase from 74,552 in 1961 to 108,999. Outside of the '˜Big Three', which were Southampton, Portsmouth and Bournemouth, it was the largest urban area in Hampshire. 

Fareham increased from 58,308 to 80,296 and exceeded Gosport, which in 1971, stood at 75,947 compared to 62,457 from the census 10 years previously.