Page "Berguedà" Paragraph 6

Berguedà has always been sparsely populated.

In 1860 there were 31, 544 inhabitants, but by 1887 the population had fallen to a low of 23, 257.

The 1900 census showed a slight rebound to 27, 217 inhabitants.

For the next 60 years, growing opportunities in mining, textiles, forestry, cattle ranching, and agriculture led to a slow but steady increase, with 39, 600 inhabitants in 1930, 41, 938 in 1950 and 47, 953 in 1960.

Then, with a decline in the local economy ( especially a fall-off in mining ) coinciding with greater opportunity elsewhere, another decline of the economy and population set in, with the population falling to 44, 446 in 1970, 42, 152 in 1981, and a mere 37, 995 today.