Westown is a suburb of New Plymouth, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located to the southwest of the city centre and west of Frankleigh Park.
Westown | |
|---|---|
 Yarrow Stadium | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 39°4′30″S 174°3′26″E / 39.07500°S 174.05722°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | New Plymouth |
| Local authority | New Plymouth District Council |
| Electoral ward |
|
| Area | |
| • Land | 237 ha (586 acres) |
| Population (June 2024)[2] | |
• Total | 4,790 |
| Hospitals | Taranaki Base Hospital |
| Lynmouth | New Plymouth Central | |
| Marfell |
  Westown  |
Vogeltown |
| Whalers Gate | Hurdon | Frankleigh Park |
Taranaki Base Hospital lies between Westown and Lynmouth. Yarrow Stadium is a rugby union ground in Westown.
Demographics
editWestown covers 2.37 km2 (0.92 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 4,790 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 2,021 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 4,227 | — |
| 2013 | 4,266 | +0.13% |
| 2018 | 4,404 | +0.64% |
| Source: [3] | ||
Westown had a population of 4,404 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 138 people (3.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 177 people (4.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,803 households, comprising 2,157 males and 2,247 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female. The median age was 37.7 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 876 people (19.9%) aged under 15 years, 813 (18.5%) aged 15 to 29, 1,857 (42.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 858 (19.5%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 82.4% European/Pākehā, 19.1% Māori, 2.5% Pacific peoples, 6.8% Asian, and 2.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 16.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 50.3% had no religion, 37.2% were Christian, 0.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% were Hindu, 0.7% were Muslim, 0.7% were Buddhist and 1.7% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 603 (17.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 813 (23.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $26,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. 429 people (12.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,596 (45.2%) people were employed full-time, 510 (14.5%) were part-time, and 135 (3.8%) were unemployed.[3]
Education
editFrancis Douglas Memorial College is a boys' secondary (years 7-13) school with a roll of 730 students as of August 2024.[4][5] It is a state-integrated Catholic school, founded in 1959.[6]
Westown School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a roll of 134 students as of August 2024.[4][7]
Notes
edit- ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Westown (217400). 2018 Census place summary: Westown
- ^ a b "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- ^ Education Counts: Francis Douglas Memorial College
- ^ "About FDMC". Francis Douglas Memorial College.
- ^ Education Counts: Westown School
Further reading
editChurches
editCommunity Church
edit- Richdale, W. L.; et al. (1987). Fifty eventful years: history of the Westown Community Church of Christ, Life & Advent. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: The Church.
Methodist
edit- Wright, Henry R. (1974). Methodism in Westown: the first fifty years. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: St Luke’s Church Anniversary Committee?.
School
edit- Westown School 75th jubilee, Easter 2000. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Westown. 2000.
- Gracia, Denis (comp.) (1975). 50th jubilee of Westown Primary School, 1925-1975. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Westown School Jubilee Committee [1975] ; Taranaki Newspapers.