melton mowbray had only 1766 inhabitants in 1801, but in 1831 that had increased to 3327, in 1841 to 3740, in 1851 to 4434, and in 1861 to 4436. the melton mowbray official web site's about page lists the current (2009) population of the town as 25,276, and that of melton borough as 46,861.