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In England, during the Middle Ages, hundred was a unit of local government. Some hundreds covered small areas of only two or three square miles, while others covered areas of two or three hundred square miles. The hundred was larger than a village, but smaller than a shire, or county. Each hundred had its own government officers and conducted its own court, which was called a hundred court.
In 1270, government employees were sent throughout the hundreds to take the nations first census. This was done to ensure that taxes could be levied on all the people. The government workers visited every city, town, village and hamlet to compile the Hundred Rolls. The census was completed by 1273.