Bagdad, Tasmania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bagdad Tasmania
Bagdad Community Club
Bagdad Location in Tasmania
Population	1,356 (2016 census)
Postcode(s)	7030
Location	37 km (23 mi) N of Hobart 12 km (7 mi) N of Brighton
LGA(s)	Southern Midlands Council
State electorate(s)	Lyons
Federal Division(s)	Lyons
Website	Bagdad
Localities around Bagdad: Bothwell Dysart Colebrook Dysart, Kempton Bagdad Colebrook Dysart Mangalore Colebrook

Bagdad is a small town in Tasmania, Australia. It's about 37 kilometers (23 miles) north of Hobart. This town is part of the Southern Midlands Council.

Long ago, when people traveled by horse and buggy, Bagdad was a key stop. It was a place where travelers could rest and change horses. This was important for those going up Constitution Hill. Today, Bagdad is known for its orchards and small farms. Many people who live here travel to work in nearby cities.

Discovering Bagdad's Past

The town of Bagdad got its name from an explorer named Hugh Germain. He was a private in the Royal Marines. People say he carried two books with him on his travels. These were the Bible and the famous Arabian Nights stories. He used these books to find inspiration when naming places.

The Bagdad Post Office first opened its doors on December 1, 1878. Later, a railway line connected Bagdad to Hobart. This train service ran from 1891 until 1947.

In April 2003, something funny happened. During the early part of the Iraq war, many people around the world got confused. They thought Bagdad, Tasmania, was the city of Baghdad in Iraq. So, they flooded the town's website with messages trying to reach people in Iraq!

Who Lives in Bagdad?

In 2006, a count of the population showed that 996 people lived in Bagdad. About 51.7% of them were male, and 48.3% were female.

Most of the people living in Bagdad (86.9%) were born in Australia. A smaller group, about 2.6%, came from England. The ages of people in Bagdad are similar to the rest of Australia. About 62.8% of residents were over 25 years old in 2006.

Community Life in Bagdad

Bagdad's Schools

Bagdad Primary School welcomed its first students on January 14, 1867. Back then, it started with 22 students.

Sadly, a fire destroyed three classrooms at the school on January 26, 1954. Because of this, students had to attend classes in the Bagdad Community Hall for a while. The original house where the headmaster lived is still used today. It serves as a classroom for kindergarten students.

Getting Around Bagdad

Bagdad is located right on the Midland Highway. This important road connects two major Tasmanian cities: Hobart and Launceston.