By the 1901 census, what was Cardiff's population?

• A. 1,871
• B. 164,333
• C. 164,000
• D. 180,000

Answer: (B)

Using census data lets you see how quickly a town grew during industrial expansion. By 1901 Cardiff had become a major port due to coal exports, and the census recorded 164,333 people living there. This precise figure shows the scale of Cardiff as a city at the turn of the century. The other numbers don’t fit: 1,871 would be far too small for a city, 164,000 is just a rounded estimate, and 180,000 would exceed the census count. So 164,333 is the correct reflection of Cardiff's population in 1901.