Merton and Morden Urban District facts for kids
| Merton (1907–1913) Merton and Morden (1913–1965) |
|
| Motto: In Libertate Vis (Our strength is our freedom) | |
| Geography | |
| Status | Urban district |
| 1911 area | 1,762 acres |
| 1931 area | 3,237 acres |
| 1961 area | 3,233 acres |
| HQ | Morden Hall (after World War II) |
| History | |
| Origin | Merton (parish) |
| Created | 1907 |
| Abolished | 1965 |
| Succeeded by | London Borough of Merton |
Quick facts for kids Demography |
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|---|---|
| 1911 population - 1911 density |
12,938 7.3/acre |
| 1931 population - 1931 density |
41,227 12.7/acre |
| 1961 population - 1961 density |
68,011 21.0/acre |
| Politics | |
| Governance | Merton Urban District Council (1907–1913) Merton and Morden Urban District Council (1913–1965) |
 Coat of arms granted in 1943 |
|
| Subdivisions | |
| Type | Civil parishes |
| Units | Merton (1907–1965) Morden (1913–1965) |
The Merton Urban District (from 1907 to 1913) and later the Merton and Morden Urban District (from 1913 to 1965) was a special area in Surrey, England. It had its own local government. This district was created in 1907 from the area known as Merton. Later, in 1913, it grew to include Morden. The district stopped existing in 1965. Its former area is now part of the London Borough of Merton in Greater London.
Contents
How the District Started
This special local government area began in 1907. It was set up to manage the old area of Merton. Before this, since 1894, Merton had been part of the Croydon Rural District. A local group called a parish council helped run things there.
London's southern suburbs were growing quickly. As more people moved into the area, the way local government worked needed to change. This led to the creation of the Merton Urban District.
Changes and When It Ended
Merton was the first area to leave the larger rural district in 1907. A new urban district was then formed, covering the same area as the Merton parish. In 1913, the area of Morden also left the rural district. It joined the Merton Urban District. Because of this, the district's name changed to Merton and Morden.
The borders of the district were slightly changed in 1933. The Merton and Morden Urban District stopped existing in 1965. This happened because of a special law called the London Government Act 1963. Its area joined with the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon and the Municipal Borough of Mitcham. Together, they formed the new London Borough of Merton in Greater London.
How Many People Lived There?
The number of people living in the Merton and Morden Urban District changed over time. The population was counted separately for Merton and Morden until 1951. The highest number of people lived there in 1951.
| Year | 1911 | 1921 | 1931 | 1941 | 1951 | 1961 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merton parish | 12,938 | 16,177 | 16,177 | war | 39,313 | |
| Morden parish | n/a | 1,202 | 12,618 | war | 35,417 | |
| Urban district total | 12,938 | 17,532 | 41,227 | war | 74,730 | 68,011 |
What Did Their Coat of Arms Mean?
In 1943, the local council was given a special symbol called a coat of arms. This symbol had lions from the Garth Family's old coat of arms. It also included a "fret" pattern from the symbols of Merton Abbey. The motto on the coat of arms was "In Libertate Vis". This Latin phrase means "Our Strength is our Freedom."
