In what year did Cardiff overtake Merthyr as the biggest town?

Study for the WJEC GCSE History of Medicine Test. Engage with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question providing hints and explanations. Prepare for your exam effectively!

Multiple Choice

In what year did Cardiff overtake Merthyr as the biggest town?

Explanation:
Industrial growth through coal and the expansion of Cardiff’s docks transformed Cardiff into the dominant town in south Wales. Merthyr Tydfil had been the biggest town earlier because of the iron industry, but as iron production faced downturns, its population stopped growing as fast. Cardiff, by contrast, became a major hub for coal exports, with dock capacity increasing and rail links to the coalfields bringing in workers from across the region. These factors pushed Cardiff's population past Merthyr, and by the 1871 census Cardiff had overtaken Merthyr as the biggest town.

Industrial growth through coal and the expansion of Cardiff’s docks transformed Cardiff into the dominant town in south Wales. Merthyr Tydfil had been the biggest town earlier because of the iron industry, but as iron production faced downturns, its population stopped growing as fast. Cardiff, by contrast, became a major hub for coal exports, with dock capacity increasing and rail links to the coalfields bringing in workers from across the region. These factors pushed Cardiff's population past Merthyr, and by the 1871 census Cardiff had overtaken Merthyr as the biggest town.

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