The town of Newtown lay not only in Newtown parish but also across the river in Llanllachaiarn parish where much of the industry was.
The government report which published the 1851 figures said that the increase in population since 1841 was due to "the progress of the flannel manufacture and the opening of the Montgomery canal".
The report of the 1871 census said the population had decreased this time due to "the employment of steam power, in lieu of handlooms, in the manufacture of flannel". The new flannel factories employed fewer men as steam powered machinery did more of the work. This shows us how important the industry was to the town.
Compare this graph with those of other parishes in the area.
Is the overall trend the same?
If the trend differs, in what way does it differ?

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