Rurality in England and Wales 1981: A replication of the 1971 index

Abstract

Cloke P. and Edwards G. (1986) Rurality in England and Wales 1981: a replication of the 1971 index, Reg. Studies 20, 289–306. In a previous issue of Regional Studies a methodology for an index of rurality was developed using principal components analysis on selected variables reflecting rural or non-rural characteristics in 1971. The results of this indexation procedure represented a rudimentary classification of different levels of rurality, but have been widely used by various rural researchers. This paper replicates the 1971 index using 1981 data. Problems concerning changing administrative boundaries and units, changing census format, and indeed the changing nature of rurality itself are fully discussed. However, these limitations are overcome sufficiently to permit the construction of a 1981 index at the post-1974 district level. The 1981 results are compared with the 1971 distribution of rurality at the district scale, and spatial changes in rurality classification illustrated.