Palmerston North
| Palmerston North | ||
|---|---|---|
| Urban Area | Population | 72,600 |
| Extent | north to
| |
| Territorial Authority |
Name | Palmerston North City |
| Population | 77,600 | |
| Extent | north to Cloverlea,
to Linton, Tararua Ranges |
|
| See also | Manawatu District | |
| Regional Council | Name | Manawatu-Wanganui |
Palmerston North is a city in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand.
The city was originally named "Palmerston" in honour of Viscount Palmerston, a former Prime Minister of Great Britain. The suffix "North” was added in 1871 to distinguish the settlement from Palmerston in the South Island. Locals frequently refer to the city simply as "Palmy".
The city is referred to as 'knowledge city', 'rose city', and 'conference city'.
Geography
The city is situated about 140 km north of the capital, Wellington, in the centre of the Manawatu Plains, and close to the northern bank of the Manawatu River. It is 35 km from the river's mouth and 12 km from the end of the Manawatu Gorge. 40°21′18″S 175°36′34″E / 40.35491°S 175.60951°E
The city is a significant road and rail junction. State Highways 56 and 57 meet State Highway 3 close to the city, with these highways providing the main streets of the city. However, State Highway 1, the North Island's main highway, does not pass through Palmerston North.
At Palmerston North the North Island Main Trunk railway is joined by the Palmerston North-Gisborne Line, which runs through the Manawatu Gorge to Woodville and Hawke's Bay, with a connection to the Wairarapa Line at Woodville. The railway was originally routed through the central Square of the town, but was diverted to the north in 1964-66.
Climate
Palmerston North's average mean daily maximum temperatures range from 12°C in winter to 22°C in summer. Average annual rainfall is 960 mm. There is a lot of wind, especially in spring. It currently has the largest electricity-generating wind farm in the southern hemisphere, with 158 turbines on the nearby Tararua and Ruahine ranges providing power for approximately 30,000 homes.
The city
The city's main streets are arranged in a grid around The Square, a small park at the centre of the city. This park contains the city's war memorial, a clock tower, and some of the unusual public statues for which the city is known.
State Highway 3 enters the city from the northwest as Rangitikei Street before turning to the north-east to become Main Street East. On the opposite sides of The Square to these two roads are Main Street West (in the south-west) and Fitzherbert Avenue (to the south-east). These two roads connect with State Highways 56 and 57 respectively. Many of the city's main public buildings are located close to the square and to Main Street West, including UCOL - Universal College of Learning.
Fitzherbert Avenue extends south, crossing Fitzherbert Bridge - the only bridge over the Manawatu River close to the city - to reach Massey University as well as some of the up and coming residential areas. The university campus is almost a separate urban area in its own right, containing student accomodation, and many mature trees in addition to the university buildings.
The large numbers of students bring a youth culture to the city, helping to support the many cafes and bars. The Fitz (on Fitzherbert Avenue) has long been the city's infamous student watering hole. George Street, one street back from the Square, is where many of the cafes and lifestyle shops are located.
The city's suburbs extend away from the square. These include (clockwise from the north) Papaioea, Milson, Kelvin Grove, Brightwater, Hokowhitu, Te Awe Awe, West End, Riverdale, Awapuni, Highbury, Takaro and Cloverlea. Palmerston North International Airport is north of the city centre, in Milson.
There are a number of parklands in the city. The foremost is the Queen Victoria Esplanade which includes gardens, children's play areas, an aviary, a train ride, walking tracks, and sports fields.
Hinterland
The official limits of the city also take in rural areas to the south and northeast of the main urban area, extending to the Tararua Ranges and including the town of Ashhurst at the mouth of the Manawatu Gorge. This is a rich and fertile agricultural area. The city as a whole covers some 350 km2.
History
The original subdivision of Palmerston North was made in 1866, in a natural clearing in the Papaioea Forest. As the settlement grew, the forest diminished to make way for farms, and today virtually no remnant of it survives.
The first settlers were largely Scandinavian, and by 1877 the town had a population of around 1200. The arrival of the railway in 1886 saw an increase in the speed of growth, and by 1900 the population was 6000. By this time the town was at the centre of a lucrative agricultural district.
In 1930 the population reached the 20,000 threshold and Palmerston North was officially proclaimed a city. Development was slow at this period in the city’s history, however, due to the great depression and World War II. An airport was established at Milson in 1936. After the war growth was rapid, with the population rising to over 50,000 by the mid 1970s.
In 1989 New Zealand local government authorities were reorganised, and Palmerston North city boundaries were extended to include Ashhurst, Linton and their surrounding areas.