 With improvements in communications by rail and via the port , the population of Odense grew dramatically in the early 20th century . The 1901 census recorded 40 @,@ 138 people , growing to 47 @,@ 224 in 1911 , 61 @,@ 969 in 1921 and 87 @,@ 090 in 1935 . During the Second World War , the population passed the 100 @,@ 000 mark , reaching 103 @,@ 107 in 1945 . It continued to grow in the post war years , with 120 @,@ 570 recorded in 1955 and 133 @,@ 384 in 1965 ; the city reached a population of 139 @,@ 490 people in 1970 , a time when it was developing as a university city after Odense University was established in 1966 . 
