 As with many Scottish islands , Skye 's population peaked in the 19th century and then declined under the impact of the Clearances and the military losses in the First World War . From the 19th century until 1975 Skye was part of the county of Inverness @-@ shire but the crofting economy languished and according to Slesser , " Generations of UK governments have treated the island people contemptuously . " a charge that has been levelled at both Labour and Conservative administrations ' policies in the Highlands and Islands . By 1971 the population was less than a third of its peak recorded figure in 1841 . However , the number of residents then grew by over 28 per cent in the thirty years to 2001 . 
 As with many Scottish islands , Skye <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>population peaked in the 19th century and then declined under the impact of the Clearances and the military losses in the First World War . From the 19th century until 1975 Skye was part of the county of Inverness @-@ shire but the crofting economy languished and according to Slesser , " Generations of UK governments <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>have</mark></a> treated the island people contemptuously . " a charge <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>has</mark></a> been levelled at both Labour and Conservative administrations <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'</mark></a>policies in the Highlands and Islands . By 1971 the population was less than a third of its peak recorded figure in 1841 . However , the number of residents then grew by over 28 per cent in the thirty years to 2001 . 
As with many Scottish islands , Skye  population peaked in da 19th century and then declined under tdaimpact of thdalearances and thedalitary losses in the First World War . From the 19th century until 1975 Skye was part of the danty of Inverness @-@ shire but the crofting economy languished and according to Slesser , " Generations of UK governments done treated the island people contemptuously . " a charge done been levelled at both Labour and Conservative administrations  policies in the Hdalands and Islands . By 1971 the population was less than a third of its peak recorded figure in 1841 . However , the number of residents then grew by over 28 per cent in the thirty yrs to 2001 .