Walton, New Zealand Explained

Walton
Pushpin Label Position:left
Coordinates:-37.731°N 175.699°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:New Zealand
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Waikato Region
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Matamata-Piako District
Subdivision Type3:Ward
Subdivision Name3:Matamata Ward
Leader Title:Territorial Authority
Leader Name:Matamata-Piako District Council
Leader Title1:Regional council
Leader Name1:Waikato Regional Council
Seat Type:Electorates
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Total Km2:15.86
Population Total:192
Population As Of:2018 Census
Population Density Km2:auto

Walton is a settlement in New Zealand. It is sited at the junction of Walton Road and Morrinsville Walton Road, in the Central Waikato Region.

The Walton Golf Club is 2 kilometres from the centre of the village.

Industry

The area is predominantly dairying with some maize growing and meat chicken farming. A large thoroughbred horse stud also has its base there.

Industry is small consisting mainly of small service industries but there is a large grain drying plant sited next to the railway line.

Railway

Walton had a flag station on the East Coast Main Trunk,[1] opened from Morrinsville to Tīrau (then called Oxford) on Monday 8 March 1886[2] by the Thames Valley & Rotorua Railway Co. New Zealand Railways Department took over the line on 1 April 1886.[3] There was a 14feet by 8feet shelter shed, a 40feet by 30feet shed, cattle yards and a cottage. By 1896 a platform, cart approach, loading bank, sheep yards and a passing loop for 21 wagons had been added. The loop had been extended to 38 by 1911 and 65 by 1964.

Walton station closed to passengers on 2 February 1981 and to goods on 29 March 1981, except private siding traffic and was closed completely on Monday 3 November 1986. There is now only a single track through the station site.[4] There are passing loops at Kereone,[5] 5.73km (03.56miles) to the north and at Hemopo[6] 13.26km (08.24miles) to the east.[7]

Geography

To the east of Walton is the community of Wardville.

Demographics

Walton is in an SA1 statistical area, which also includes Richmond Downs and covers 15.86km2.[8] The SA1 area is part of the larger Richmond Downs-Wardville statistical area.

The SA1 area had a population of 192 at the 2018 New Zealand census, unchanged since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 21 people (−9.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 75 households, comprising 105 males and 84 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.25 males per female. The median age was 35.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 42 people (21.9%) aged under 15 years, 36 (18.8%) aged 15 to 29, 93 (48.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 18 (9.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 90.6% European/Pākehā, 9.4% Māori, and 6.2% Asian. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 59.4% had no religion, 35.9% were Christian and 1.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 24 (16.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 30 (20.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $48,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 39 people (26.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 96 (64.0%) people were employed full-time, 21 (14.0%) were part-time, and 6 (4.0%) were unemployed.

In 1916, Walton had a population of 320[9]

In 2013, the population was 129, and this is expected to be stable through to 2045.[10]

Richmond Downs-Wardville statistical area

Richmond Downs-Wardville statistical area covers 206.73km2[8] and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.

Richmond Downs-Wardville had a population of 1,278 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 57 people (4.7%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 33 people (−2.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 468 households, comprising 663 males and 615 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female. The median age was 34.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 273 people (21.4%) aged under 15 years, 273 (21.4%) aged 15 to 29, 585 (45.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 147 (11.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 83.8% European/Pākehā, 15.7% Māori, 1.2% Pacific peoples, 4.5% Asian, and 0.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 13.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 49.3% had no religion, 39.7% were Christian, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.2% were Buddhist and 0.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 156 (15.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 207 (20.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $40,200, compared with $31,800 nationally. 204 people (20.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 558 (55.5%) people were employed full-time, 201 (20.0%) were part-time, and 39 (3.9%) were unemployed.

Education

Walton School is a co-educational state primary school for students Year 1 to 6, with a roll of as of .[11]

The school has existed since 1896.[12]

Notable people

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Walton. 2021-04-22. nzetc.victoria.ac.nz.
  2. Web site: Scoble. Juliet. 2010. Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations. Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
  3. Web site: Stations. 2020-08-10. NZR Rolling Stock Lists. en.
  4. Web site: Walton Rd. 2021-04-22. Google Maps. en.
  5. Web site: Kiwitahi Railway Road. 2021-04-22. Google maps. en.
  6. Web site: Old Te Aroha Rd. 2021-04-23. Google Maps. en.
  7. Book: New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas. Quail Map Co.. 1965. First. 3 & 4.
  8. Web site: ArcGIS Web Application. 31 December 2023. statsnz.maps.arcgis.com.
  9. Web site: Report on the results of a census of the population of the Dominion of New Zealand taken for the night of the 15th October, 1916 . www3.stats.govt.nz.
  10. Web site: Matamata-Piako District Detailed Population and Dwelling Projections to 2045. Matamata-Piako District Council. https://web.archive.org/web/20190126222646/https://www.mpdc.govt.nz/districtplan/ProposedChanges/PPC47/PopulationandDwellingProjections2045.PDF. 26 January 2019. February 2015. 4.
  11. Web site: Education Review Office Report . ero.govt.nz . Education Review Office.
  12. Web site: History of the Walton School and district (archive record). January 1971. National Library. 13 October 2020.