Linton, New Zealand facts for kids

Linton is a suburb of Palmerston North, situated 11km south-west of the city.

The Linton Military Camp, the largest army camp in New Zealand, was built in 1945 3.5 kilometres to the south-east of Palmerston North. It became the country’s second largest base in 1985 when the permanent force at Singapore was relocated there. More units have transferred from Auckland and Waioru. It features a community library, which is available to the local community.

Manawatu Prison is also located in Linton.

Facilities

It is home to the Linton Military Camp, which is the largest army camp in New Zealand. It was built in 1945 3.5 kilometres to the south-east of Palmerston North. It became the country’s second largest base in 1985 when the permanent force at Singapore was relocated there. More units have transferred from Auckland and Waioru

Manawatu Prison is in Linton.

Linton is home to:

• Linton Camp School, a full primary school (catering to years 0-8). Linton Camp school has a roll of approximately 190 students.
• Linton Country School, a primary school (catering to years 0-6) The school was established in 1889 making it the oldest school in the area.
• Linton Community Library caters to NZ Defence Force personnel and civilian staff, the local community and school.

Population

The population count in 2001 was 1,512. In the 2013 census Linton has shed 24.7 per cent of its population, or 441 people. [1]

History

Linton is named for James Linton, an early settler in the area and also twice Mayor of Palmerston North. Scotsman James Linton was one of the first European settlers in Palmerston. He and his wife Sarah arrived on horseback from Wairarapa early in 1871. Linton served as mayor of Palmerston North 1879-82 and 1884-5, and was a director and ardent promoter of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company. Today Linton is best known for the army camp. But the site first planned as Linton township is several kilometres away from there. Only the school and a few houses now provide clues to where the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company decided that the next stop on their Wellington ‒ Longburn railway line would be. Along with several other directors of this private company, James Linton was honoured by having a railway station settlement on the line named after him. The line, opened in 1886, was a successful venture, but the Linton township did not develop. The site of the Linton Military Camp was bought by the New Zealand Government in October 1941. Tents for the 2 Field Regiment formed the first accommodation on this site in February 1942, but within six months the first prefabricated huts were being built. The first housing blocks for officers were constructed in 1955. It was in 1985 that Linton Military Camp became New Zealand’s largest, when the permanent force then stationed in Singapore was withdrawn and accommodated at Linton. It has grown even bigger since then with the transfer of frontline units from Auckland and Waiouru The site purchased for Linton Military Camp included an area by the Manawatu River which had been a major Rangitane Maori village known as Te Kairanga (the place where much food is gathered) but by the 1940s the name was in common use for the district on the other side of the river. Instead the camp took the name of Linton

Demographics

Linton is part of the Pihauatua statistical unit, which covers 394.74 km² (152.41 sq mi). It had a population of 1,227 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 42 people (3.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 138 people (12.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 414 households. There were 648 males and 582 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.11 males per female. The median age was 39.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 261 people (21.3%) aged under 15 years, 225 (18.3%) aged 15 to 29, 603 (49.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 141 (11.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 88.5% European/Pākehā, 11.5% Māori, 1.7% Pacific peoples, 4.6% Asian, and 3.7% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 18.6%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 55.3% had no religion, 34.2% were Christian, 0.5% were Hindu, 0.5% were Muslim, 0.7% were Buddhist and 1.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 297 (30.7%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 105 (10.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $44,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 561 (58.1%) people were employed full-time, 174 (18.0%) were part-time, and 24 (2.5%) were unemployed.

Education

Linton Camp School is a co-educational full state primary school, with a roll of 140 as of April 2023.

Linton Country School is a co-educational full state primary school, with a roll of .