Leithfield

Leithfield was founded in 1857 by John Leith.{{Cite web|title=Leithfield - Hurunui District Council|url=https://www.hurunui.govt.nz/find/about-the-district/our-towns/leithfield|access-date=2020-10-11|website=hurunui.govt.nz}} He purchased a windmill in 1862 and brought it from Christchurch to Leithfield in order to mill wheat. The mill building was 23 metres tall and each sail was 12 metres long making it the tallest building in Canterbury at the time. Unfortunately the Canterbury nor'westerly winds damaged the mill building making it inoperable.{{Cite web|date=2009-01-31|title=Leith's field of dreams|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/christchurch-life/travel-orig/south-island-travel/487377/Leiths-field-of-dreams|access-date=2020-10-11|website=Stuff|language=en}} In 1880, Leithfield was a town of 700 people. It had three churches, a police station, a court, a school, three hotels and five shops.

Leithfield and Leithfield Beach are both defined by Statistics New Zealand as rural settlements and cover {{Convert|1.29|km2||abbr=on}} and {{Convert|0.29|km2||abbr=on}} respectively.{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787|access-date=27 August 2021|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}}

They had an estimated combined population of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Leithfield|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Leithfield Beach|y}}|R}}|0}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|({{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Leithfield|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Leithfield Beach|y}}|R}})/1.58|0}} people per km². Both are included in Balcairn statistical area.{{NZ census place summary 2018|balcairn|Balcairn}}

{{Historical populations|2006|765|2013|954|2018|981|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Leigthfield and Leithfield Beach|source=}}

The two settlements had a population of 981 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 27 people (2.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 216 people (28.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 396 households, comprising 462 males and 510 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.91 males per female, with 168 people (17.1%) aged under 15 years, 132 (13.5%) aged 15 to 29, 486 (49.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 195 (19.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 94.5% European/Pākehā, 11.0% Māori, 1.8% Pasifika, 0.9% Asian, and 1.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 58.4% had no religion, 30.6% were Christian, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.3% were Buddhist and 1.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 69 (8.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 189 (23.2%) people had no formal qualifications. 120 people (14.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 408 (50.2%) people were employed full-time, 117 (14.4%) were part-time, and 18 (2.2%) were unemployed.{{NZ census 2018|7023886, 7023887, 7023888, 7023889, 7023890, 7023892, 7023893 and 7023894}}

Balcairn, which also includes Amberley Beach and surrounds but does not include Amberley, covers {{Convert|130.51|km2||abbr=on}}. It had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Balcairn|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Balcairn|y}}|R}}/130.51|1}} people per km².

{{Historical populations|2006|1,872|2013|2,190|2018|2,343|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Balcairn|source=}}

Balcairn had a population of 2,343 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 153 people (7.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 471 people (25.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 921 households, comprising 1,161 males and 1,182 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female. The median age was 47.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 417 people (17.8%) aged under 15 years, 315 (13.4%) aged 15 to 29, 1,134 (48.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 477 (20.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 95.5% European/Pākehā, 7.8% Māori, 1.3% Pasifika, 1.3% Asian, and 1.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 15.1, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.2% had no religion, 34.8% were Christian, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.3% were Buddhist and 2.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 267 (13.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 417 (21.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $31,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 294 people (15.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 987 (51.2%) people were employed full-time, 336 (17.4%) were part-time, and 39 (2.0%) were unemployed.{{NZ census 2018|Balcairn (312800)|balcairn|Balcairn}}

Leithfield School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,{{cite web |title=Leithfield School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=3411 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|3411|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|}}.{{cite web |title=Leithfield School Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=3411 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}}

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{{Hurunui District}}

Category:Populated places in the Canterbury Region

Category:Hurunui District