Swannanoa, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Swannanoa
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Village
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View of Swannanoa Hall across the road from the primary school
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 Swannanoa
Location in New Zealand
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| Country |  New Zealand |
| Island | South Island |
| Region | Canterbury |
| Ward | Oxford-Ohoka Ward |
| Area | |
| • Total | 61.77 km2 (23.85 sq mi) |
| Population
(June 2022)
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| • Total | 1,050 |
| • Density | 17.00/km2 (44.03/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
Swannanoa is a small village in Canterbury, New Zealand. It is located 35 kilometres northwest of the largest city in the South Island, Christchurch. The area has an estimated population of 1,050 with 288 pupils enrolled in the primary school. The population is slowly increasing due to new subdivisions being developed there and in neighbouring Mandeville North.
World land speed record
New Zealand motorcycle speed record holder Russell Wright gained the World Land Speed Record, reaching 184.83 miles per hour on a Vincent HRD motorcycle on 2 July 1955, on Tram Road. A plaque commemorates the achievement. Tram Road, the main road through Swannanoa, is an almost dead straight, ten-mile-long two-lane highway. It is a popular location for speed trial events. This World Record is unusual as most that were officially recognised were achieved in the United States, where presumably more financial incentives and space existed.
Naming
The name Swannanoa originated from American John Evans Brown (Yankee Brown), who named the land he settled after a Native American settlement. The Swannanoa Homestead has for many years been farmed by the Petrie Family.
Demographics
The Swannanoa-Eyreton statistical area, which also includes Eyreton, covers 61.77 km2 (23.85 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 1,050 as of June 2022, with a population density of 17 people per km2.
Swannanoa-Eyreton had a population of 954 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 48 people (5.3%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 255 people (36.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 333 households. There were 468 males and 486 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female. The median age was 42.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 180 people (18.9%) aged under 15 years, 177 (18.6%) aged 15 to 29, 489 (51.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 108 (11.3%) aged 65 or older.
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| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2006 | 699 | — |
| 2013 | 906 | +3.78% |
| 2018 | 954 | +1.04% |
Ethnicities were 94.3% European/Pākehā, 6.0% Māori, 0.9% Pacific peoples, 2.2% Asian, and 2.5% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).
The proportion of people born overseas was 16.7%, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people objected to giving their religion, 55.7% had no religion, 33.3% were Christian and 2.5% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 165 (21.3%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 120 (15.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $39,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 429 (55.4%) people were employed full-time, 159 (20.5%) were part-time, and 15 (1.9%) were unemployed.
Education
Swannanoa School is a state co-educational full primary school, established in 1871, with a decile rating of 10 and a roll of 288 students (as of April 2023).
