 The population of the parish changed little from the start of the 19th century until the 1970s , remaining at around 3 @,@ 000 ( see chart ) . However it increased rapidly in the last part of the 20th century and the start of the 21st . Cullompton 's population growth looks set to continue as Mid Devon 's core strategy foresees 95 new dwellings being built per year in the period to 2026 . In 1660 the population of the town ( only including the urban parts of the parish ) has been estimated at 1 @,@ 800 , which made it the 10th largest town in Devon and Cornwall . The town 's population grew to 2 @,@ 750 by 1750 ( meaning it was the 8th largest town ) but it then fell rapidly so that it was only 2 @,@ 275 by 1805 - only the 23rd largest town in Devon and Cornwall . This fall in population , in a period when many other towns grew rapidly , was probably due to the decline in the importance of the cloth trade in this period . 
