Thornton, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids ThorntonMaitland, New South Wales |
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| Population | 8,062 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 485.37/km2 (1,257.1/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2322 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 16.61 km2 (6.4 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Maitland | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Hunter | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Maitland | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Paterson | ||||||||||||||
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Thornton is a suburb located in the City of Maitland, New South Wales, Australia. A major road, the New England Highway, runs right through the middle of it.
The postcode area 2322, which includes Thornton, Beresfield, Tarro and Hexham, had about 14,654 people in 2001. By 2021, this number had grown to around 24,373 people.
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History of Thornton
The original people who lived in the Maitland area, and who are still the traditional owners, are the Wonnarua people.
The suburb of Thornton gets its name from the local railway station. The station was first called Woodford. However, its name was changed to Thornton in 1887. The station was also moved to a new spot in 1913.
Getting Around Thornton
The Thornton railway station first opened in 1871. Today, trains from the NSW TrainLink network's Hunter Line serve Thornton. These trains take passengers east to Newcastle and west to Maitland. You can also catch less frequent trains further west into the Hunter Valley, as far as Scone, and north to Dungog.
Thornton is also where a special train line branches off. This line goes to the Bloomfield Coal Loop, which is a 4.2-kilometre track used by coal trains.
Because new factories and homes were built, a big road intersection called Weakleys Drive needed to be improved. This upgrade was finished in December 2008.
Schools in Thornton
Thornton has a public primary school called Thornton Primary. It is also home to Aspect Hunter School. This school helps students with autism from kindergarten to year 12 in the Hunter Valley.
Jobs and Businesses in Thornton
Thornton has more people working as Technicians and Trades Workers than the rest of New South Wales or Australia. These are people who often work with their hands, like mechanics, electricians, or builders. This might be because there are many industrial areas nearby in Beresfield and Newcastle.
Also, a higher number of people in Thornton work for the defence force. This means many residents have jobs that involve practical skills or serving in the military. Overall, many people in Thornton have what are called "blue-collar" jobs, which are often hands-on.
Thornton Community Snapshot
The 2021 Census helps us understand what Thornton, New South Wales, is like. It shows that Thornton has a population of 10,690 people. There are slightly more females (50.7%) than males (49.3%).
The community is quite young, with the average age being 32 years old. Families in Thornton usually have about 2.8 members. The average household income is $2,051 each week. For housing, people pay about $1,800 per month for mortgages or $400 per week for rent. Most homes have about 2.2 cars.
When it comes to education, about 14.6% of residents have a university degree or higher. Another 9.3% have completed an advanced diploma or diploma. The people living in Thornton come from many different backgrounds. The most common ancestries are Australian, English, Scottish, and Irish. Also, 7.1% of the population identifies as Indigenous.
Most people aged 15 and over are married (46.7%) or have never married (38.8%). About 71.1% of people aged 15 and over are working or looking for work. Most people (59.7%) drive their car to work. About 16.9% of residents work from home. Thornton is a lively and diverse community with a mix of people, education levels, and cultures.
