Clyde, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clyde
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Town
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Clyde, Central Otago, New Zealand
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Otago |
| Territorial authority | Central Otago District |
| Ward | Vincent Ward |
| Community | Vincent Community |
| Electorates |
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| Area | |
| • Urban area | 2.08 km2 (0.80 sq mi) |
| Population
(June 2023)
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| • Urban area | 1,260 |
| • Density | 606/km2 (1,569/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Local iwi | Ngāi Tahu |
Clyde, once known as Dunstan, is a small town in Central Otago, New Zealand. It sits right by the Clutha River, nestled between the towns of Cromwell and Alexandra. About 1,260 people call Clyde home.
Contents
History of Clyde
Clyde grew quickly during the Otago gold rush in the 1860s. It was first called Dunstan. At the peak of the gold rush, Clyde was one of the biggest towns in New Zealand.
How Clyde Got Its Name
The town's post office, and then the town itself, changed its name from Dunstan to Clyde on May 22, 1865. It was named after a famous Scottish soldier, Lord Clyde.
Historic Buildings in Clyde
St Dunstan's Church is a beautiful old building in Clyde. It was designed by architect Francis William Petre in 1903. The church is built in an early English Gothic revival style.
Geography of Clyde
Clyde is famous for the Clyde Dam. This huge hydroelectric dam is at the north end of town. Behind the dam is Lake Dunstan.
The Clutha River
The Clutha River flows through Clyde. It is the fastest-flowing river in the Southern Hemisphere. After Clyde, the river flows to the Roxburgh Dam. Finally, it reaches the sea at Balclutha.
Clyde's Climate and Weather
Clyde has a unique climate. It can get very warm and dry in the summer. This is because the Southern Alps create a "rain shadow" effect. This means the mountains block most of the rain from reaching Clyde.
| Climate data for Clyde (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1978–present) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 37.6 (99.7) |
36.0 (96.8) |
32.8 (91.0) |
28.7 (83.7) |
25.3 (77.5) |
19.7 (67.5) |
19.0 (66.2) |
22.0 (71.6) |
25.9 (78.6) |
28.6 (83.5) |
32.5 (90.5) |
34.2 (93.6) |
37.6 (99.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 24.9 (76.8) |
24.6 (76.3) |
21.9 (71.4) |
17.7 (63.9) |
13.2 (55.8) |
8.8 (47.8) |
9.2 (48.6) |
12.3 (54.1) |
15.8 (60.4) |
18.2 (64.8) |
20.5 (68.9) |
23.4 (74.1) |
17.5 (63.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 17.5 (63.5) |
17.0 (62.6) |
14.3 (57.7) |
10.6 (51.1) |
7.0 (44.6) |
3.5 (38.3) |
3.3 (37.9) |
5.6 (42.1) |
8.7 (47.7) |
11.1 (52.0) |
13.4 (56.1) |
16.2 (61.2) |
10.7 (51.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 10.0 (50.0) |
9.4 (48.9) |
6.8 (44.2) |
3.5 (38.3) |
0.8 (33.4) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
1.7 (35.1) |
4.0 (39.2) |
6.4 (43.5) |
8.9 (48.0) |
3.8 (38.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 0.1 (32.2) |
0.4 (32.7) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
−8.3 (17.1) |
−9.9 (14.2) |
−9.8 (14.4) |
−8.0 (17.6) |
−7.0 (19.4) |
−3.4 (25.9) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
0.4 (32.7) |
−9.9 (14.2) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 47.4 (1.87) |
41.6 (1.64) |
30.9 (1.22) |
32.3 (1.27) |
34.7 (1.37) |
33.4 (1.31) |
22.9 (0.90) |
24.4 (0.96) |
25.7 (1.01) |
34.7 (1.37) |
39.5 (1.56) |
42.8 (1.69) |
410.3 (16.17) |
| Source: NIWA | |||||||||||||
Economy and Fun in Clyde
Clyde is a popular place for holidays. It is the start of the Otago Central Rail Trail. This trail is a path where people can bike or walk. It used to be a railway line.
Local Services and Tourism
Clyde has Dunstan Hospital, which helps people from Clyde and nearby towns like Alexandra and Cromwell. The hospital was rebuilt in 2006.
The town is becoming a great place for tourists. Many visitors come to see the vineyards and fruit orchards in the area.
Clyde's Blossom Festival
Every year, in the last week of September, Clyde and Alexandra host a Blossom Festival. This festival celebrates the start of spring. It marks when the fruit trees in the orchards begin to bloom. The festival has a parade with floats, fun park rides, and live bands.
Clyde's Population and People
Statistics New Zealand describes Clyde as a small urban area. It covers about 2.08 square kilometers. As of June 2023, Clyde has an estimated population of 1,260 people.
Population Growth
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2006 | 906 | — |
| 2013 | 999 | +1.41% |
| 2018 | 1,161 | +3.05% |
In the 2018 New Zealand census, Clyde had 1,161 residents. This was an increase of 162 people since the 2013 census. It was also an increase of 255 people since the 2006 census.
Who Lives in Clyde?
Most people in Clyde are of European/Pākehā background (93.8%). There are also people of Māori, Pasifika, and Asian backgrounds. About 11.6% of people in Clyde were born outside New Zealand.
Education in Clyde
Clyde School is a public primary school for students in Year 1 to 8. It opened in 1863. As of February 2024, the school has a roll of 161 students.
The closest high school is Dunstan High School. It is about 10 kilometers away in Alexandra. The nearest university is Otago University, located about 200 kilometers away in Dunedin.
Notable People from Clyde
- Steffan Browning, a former Member of Parliament for the Green Party
- Jason Hewett, a former player for the All Blacks rugby team
- Roy Scott, a cricketer
Images for kids
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Sunderland Street in Clyde
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The former Clyde Post Office
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St Dunstan's Church in Clyde
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