Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kelvin Grove
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Suburb
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Level crossing of the Palmerston North–Gisborne Line at James Line
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 Kelvin Grove
Location in New Zealand
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Local authority | Palmerston North |
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| Area | |
| • Land | 470 ha (1,160 acre) |
| Population
(June 2023)
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| • Total | 7,770 |
  Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North  |
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Kelvin Grove is a busy suburb in Palmerston North, located on New Zealand's North Island. It's bordered by railway lines, other suburbs like Milson and Roslyn, and the Manawatū River.
In 2016, Kelvin Grove was noted as one of New Zealand's fastest-growing suburbs. This means more and more people are choosing to live here.
Contents
What is Kelvin Grove Like?
Kelvin Grove is home to several important businesses. Big companies like Foodstuffs, Coca-Cola Amatil, and Woolworths New Zealand have their main distribution centers for the lower North Island here. Toyota New Zealand also has its national customer center in Kelvin Grove.
Many streets in Kelvin Grove are named after beautiful places in New Zealand. You'll find names like Kaimanawa, Anakiwa, Karamea, Mahia, and Wairau. The suburb also has many local parks where you can relax and play. These include Kaimanawa Park, Celaeno Park, and Kelvin Grove Park, among others.
A Look Back: History of Kelvin Grove
Early Days and European Settlers
The land where Kelvin Grove now stands was originally home to the local Rangitāne Māori people. They were the first inhabitants of this area.
In 1871, the first European settlers arrived. These were Scandinavian immigrants who came to live around what is now Roberts Line-James Line and Napier Road. This area, along with Whakarongo, became known as the Stoney Creek Scandinavian Block. Back then, the land was covered in thick forest. The settlers worked hard to clear the trees by the mid-1870s to create space for their homes and farms.
In 1893, Kelvin Grove School opened its doors. This marked the official start of Kelvin Grove as its own community. The suburb was named after a local sawmill that had opened in 1879. A community hall was built in 1901, but it sadly burned down in 1921. A new hall was built in 1935. The Kelvin Grove School closed in 1939 as families chose other schools nearby.
How Kelvin Grove Grew
In 1950, parts of Kelvin Grove became officially part of Palmerston North City. However, it wasn't until 1966 that many houses started to appear, especially in areas like Karamea Crescent. Since then, this mostly rural area has slowly grown into the suburb it is today.
Over the years, the way Kelvin Grove is represented in government has changed. It used to be part of the Manawatu voting area. Later, it became part of the Rangitikei area. Since 2007, Kelvin Grove has been included in the Palmerston North voting area.
Many new homes were built in Kelvin Grove during the 2010s. Even after the 2020 coronavirus lockdown, new housing projects in Kelvin Grove were among the first to start up again.
People and Community
Kelvin Grove covers about 4.70 square kilometers. As of June 2023, it has an estimated population of 7770 people. This means there are about 1653 people living in each square kilometer.
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2006 | 4,800 | — |
| 2013 | 6,768 | +5.03% |
| 2018 | 7,203 | +1.25% |
In 2018, there were 7,203 people living in Kelvin Grove. This was a good increase from previous years, showing the suburb is growing. About 1,704 people were under 15 years old, making it a young community.
Kelvin Grove is a diverse place. Most people are of European descent (76.9%). There are also significant numbers of Māori (15.6%), Asian (13.9%), and Pacific peoples (4.1%). About 19.8% of people were born overseas, adding to the rich mix of cultures.
When it comes to beliefs, many people (46.4%) said they had no religion. About 39.4% were Christian. Other religions like Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist are also present.
Many adults in Kelvin Grove are employed. About 55.5% work full-time, and 14.4% work part-time.
Kelvin Grove Cemetery
Kelvin Grove Cemetery is the main cemetery for Palmerston North. It was opened in 1927. A crematorium and chapel were added in 1954. This is where many people are buried or cremated each year.
The cemetery is known for allowing flower garden tributes, which is different from some other cemeteries in the area.
In 2019, the Palmerston North branch of the Returned Services' Association worked with the Palmerston North City Council. They agreed to clean the headstones of 1000 veterans buried at the cemetery. Soldiers from the Linton Military Camp also helped with this important project.
Education in Kelvin Grove
Kelvin Grove has good educational options for children and young people:
- Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Manawatu is a primary school where students learn in the Māori language. It is a co-educational school, meaning both boys and girls attend.
- Cornerstone Christian School is a Christian school for students from Year 1 to Year 13 (ages 5 to 18). It is also co-educational.
- There is also a kindergarten in the suburb for younger children.
