 The Somerton parish had a population of 4 @,@ 706 as of 2002 . In the 1801 census the population of the town was 1 @,@ 145 and the first half of the 19th century saw strong growth ( reflecting that seen elsewhere in England during this period ) , with the population rising to 2 @,@ 140 in 1851 . It however then began to drop , starting with a significant drop to 1 @,@ 917 by the 1861 census . The population steadily fell until 1921 , before steadily rising thereafter . It was not until 1961 that the population of Somerton had risen above its former population of 1851 . The population has since continued to steadily increase . 
