Ross, New Zealand

Infobox Settlement
name = Ross
population_total = 291
population_as_of = 2006
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = New Zealand
subdivision_type1= Region
subdivision_name1= West Coast
subdivision_type2= District
subdivision_name2= Westland District
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = right
latd = 42
latm = 53
lats = 45
latNS = S
longd = 170
longm = 48
longs = 51
longEW = E

Ross is a small town located on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island.

It lies 27 kilometres south-west of Hokitika and 46 kilometres north-east of Harihari. State Highway 6 passes through Ross on its route from Ruatapu south to Pukekura, Harihari, and further south, the Franz Josef Glacier. [cite book|title=Reed New Zealand Atlas|year=2004|id=ISBN 0-7900-0952-8|author=Peter Dowling (editor)|publisher=Reed Books|pages=map 68] [cite book|title=The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand|year=2005|id=ISBN 1-877333-20-4|author=Roger Smith, GeographX|publisher=Robbie Burton|pages=map 165]

The population was 291 in the 2006 Census, a decrease of 24 from 2001. [cite web|url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/census/2006-census-data/final-counts/west-coast-region.htm|title=Final counts – census night and census usually resident populations, and occupied dwellings - Westland District|publisher=Statistics New Zealand] .

The town's chief industries are farming and forestry. Ross was an important centre during the West Coast goldrush of the 1860s. Since 1988 a large open cast mine has operated adjacent to the town. [cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/MineralResources/GoldAndGoldMining/11/ENZ-Resources/Standard/3/en|title=Ross, West Coast|encyclopedia=Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand]

A branch line railway known as the Ross Branch was opened to Ross on 1 April 1909, and this was the southern terminus of the line owned by the New Zealand Railways Department. However, a lengthy privately owned bush tramway ran south from the railway station to serve logging interests near Lake Ianthe [Geoffrey B. Churchman and Tony Hurst, "Railways of New Zealand: A Journey Through History" (Auckland: HarperCollins, 1991), 193.] and a railway extension from Ross through the Haast Pass to connect with the Otago Central Railway was proposed in the early 20th century. [ [http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=OW19060124.2.120&e=-------en--11----2%22waipaoa+bridge++%22-all "The Dense Forests and Snow-Fed Streams of the West: Ross to Wanaka via the Haast Pass"] , "Otago Witness" (24 January 1906), 57.] From the 1940s until 9 October 1962, a Vulcan railcar service operated directly from Christchurch to Ross twice a day. A lack of traffic and expensive maintenance costs meant the line was closed beyond Hokitika on 24 November 1980. Much of the old track bed between Ruatapu and Hokitika can be driven as it serves as an access road for local farmers, and a disused truss bridge still stands north of Ross. [David Leitch and Brian Scott, Exploring New Zealand's Ghost Railways, revised edition (Wellington: Grantham House, 1998 [1995] ), 60-1.]

Education

Ross School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a decile rating of 6 and a roll of 24. [cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=3489|title=Te Kete Ipurangi - Ross School, New Zealand|Ross School|publisher=Ministry of Education]

References