County Meath in 1839
INTRODUCTION
MEATH, formerly distinguished as EAST MEATH, an Irish county in the province of Leinster; bounded on the north by Monaghan, on the north-east by Louth, on the east by the Irish sea, on the south-east by the county of Dublin, on the south by Kildare, on the south-west by King's County, on the west by West Meath, and on the north-west by Cavan.
Its form is very irregular. It greatest length is from the coast of the Irish Sea near Gormanstown on the east, to the bank of Lough Sheelin, or Shillin, on the west, 47 statute miles; its greatest breadth, at right angles to the length, is from the border of the county of Monaghan on the north, to the junction of the three counties, Kildare, King's County, and Meath, on the south 39 or 40 miles.
The area of the county of Meath is estimated at 488,758 statute acres, or nearly 764 square miles.
The population by the census of 1831 was 176,826, giving 231 inhabitants to a square mile.
In size it may be compared with the English county of Westmoreland; in amount of population, with Northampton; and in density of population, with Durham.
Trim, the assize town, is about 25 miles north-west of Dublin.
Meath is divided into eighteen baronies, which, with their relative position, and population in 1831, are as follows:-
Deece, Lower ; central ; 3,931
Deece, Upper ; S. ; 5,294
Demifore or Half Foure ; W. ; 13,717
Duleek, Lower ; E. ; 10,020
Duleek, Upper ; E. ; 8,941
Dunboyne ; S.E. ; 2,698
Kells, Lower ; N.W. ; 13,666
Kells, Upper ; N.W. ; 20,462
Lune ; W. ; 12,212
Morgallion ; N. & Central ; 11,990
Moyfenragh, Lower ; S. ; 11,893
Moyfenragh, Upper ; S.W. ; 8,631
Navan, Lower ; Central ; 16,234
Navan, Upper ; Central ; 4,857
Ratoath ; S.E. ; 6,685
Skreen or Skryne ; Central ; 8,683
Slane, Lower ; N. ; 9,647
Slane, Upper ; N.E. ; 7,265
TOTAL : 176,826
Population Table:-
Date |
Houses |
Families |
Families chiefly employed in: |
Persons |
|
|
|
Agriculture |
Trade, Manufacture, Handicraft |
Other |
Males |
Females |
Total |
1792 |
22,468 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
112,400 |
1813 |
25,921 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
142,479 |
1821 |
27,942 |
30,125 |
- |
- |
- |
79,778 |
79,405 |
159,183 |
1831 |
29,796 |
31,632 |
22,396 |
4,575 |
4,661 |
88,993 |
87,883 |
176,826 |
|