民国时期吴县人口与城市发展

The Development of Population and Cities in Wu County in the Republic China

人口是衡量地区和城市发展的重要指标，一定程度上可以蠡测其社会经济发展状况。民国时期，吴县人口基数较高，与原苏州府内常熟、昆山、吴江三县相比，仍处于优势地位，但与周边相同规模的县相比，人口增速明显落后于武进、无锡，人口发展呈现出相对稳定、增长缓慢的特征。同时，吴县城区人口不断增长，占吴县总人口比重不断上升，出现向城区集中的趋势。吴县人口增长缓慢的特征与江南地区城市体系的变动密切相关。

Population is one of the important indicators that can evaluate the regional development. The change of the population also represents the regional development of the society and economy. In the period of the Republic of China,the population base of Wu County once achieved a high level. In comparison with the Changshu,Kunshan and Wujiang,the population of Wu County was on the top. In comparison with the surrounding counties of the same size,the population of Wu County behind the Wuxi and Wujin and had the relative stability and slow growth. At the same time,Suzhou City’s population was on the rise,which accounted a very big share of Wu county’s population. This revealed thatthe population distribution of Wu County was on the change and had the population concentration into the Suzhou City. The feature of slow population growth of Wu County was associated with the change in the cities system at Jiangnan.