Population showed a steady increase during the first 50 years of the 19th century.  The peak population was attained in 1851, but the next 50 years saw it decline almost by half.  The present century has only seen a small further decline with some upturn in more recent times as Glen dwellings are used increasingly as dormitories for people working in Inverness and other centres within commuting distance.  The first census to record the number of Gaelic speakers was in 1881 when 2,116 (87%) spoke Gaelic.