Prince Rock residents were unable to return home from work
They were in the 100m (328ft) radius of a building site in Prince Rock, Plymouth where workers uncovered the bomb at 1800 BST on Tuesday.
They returned to their homes at 0100 BST the following day.
Bomb disposal teams took the device out to sea where they carried out a controlled explosion on Wednesday.
'Everybody helpful'
There were scenes of confusion in Prince Rock on Tuesday night as residents returning home from work found they could not go anywhere near their homes.
Some of the evacuees took refuge in the Friary Vaults members bar, where proprietor Sue Aston said: "We are right on the edge of the evacuation area, and a lot of the people are our members anyway.
"But tonight we are letting in people whether they are members or not."
One elderly woman said: "I went through the Blitz and this reminds me of the war.
"Everybody has been very helpful and friendly."
Plymouth was targeted by German raids because of its importance as a major naval port.
The dockyard area around Devonport, as well as the city centre, were badly hit by bombing.
Location of Plymouth within England
The discovery of an old World War II bomb in a construction site has caused at least 1000 residents in Plymouth located in South-West England, to be evacuated.

"Evacuations are being carried out of properties within 100m 328ft of the scene. Properties within the 100m-300m 328-984ft zone are being advised to open windows and draw curtains," said a spokesman for the police department in Plymouth.

Workers on the site discovered the bomb at about 10:30 a.m. local time in Plymouth, England on Brentor Road.

Reports say that the bomb is sticking out of the ground by about 6 inches, and weighed an estimated 113 kilograms, or 250 pounds, but could have weighed as much as 500 pounds.

"The item was protruding about six inches from the ground and was described as being up to 10-inches in diameter," said a spokesman for the Devon and Cornwall Police.

The Army bomb disposal team from Wales is currently trying to figure out what to do with the bomb and it could take several hours before authorities can dispose of it. Reports say that the bomb will be taken to the ocean to be detonated.

"The precise nature of this operation and any potential route are yet to be confirmed," added the spokesman.