# New Plymouth

> city of New Zealand in Taranaki Region

**Wikidata**: [Q212984](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q212984)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Plymouth)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/new-plymouth

## Summary
New Plymouth is a city in New Zealand that serves as the capital of the Taranaki Region. Located within the New Plymouth District, this large human settlement has an estimated population of 57,600 as of 2020. The city, also known by its native label Ngāmotu, was established on March 31, 1841.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** New Plymouth is a large human settlement and a city.
- **Location:** It is the capital of the Taranaki Region and is located within the New Plymouth District in New Zealand.
- **Coordinates:** The city is situated at latitude -39.057777777778 and longitude 174.07416666667.
- **Area:** It covers a total area of 2,324.26 square kilometers.
- **Elevation:** The elevation above sea level is 0 meters.
- **Inception:** New Plymouth was founded on March 31, 1841.
- **Population:**
  - Estimated population (June 30, 2020): 57,600.
  - Estimated population (June 30, 2018): 55,300.
  - Census population (March 6, 2018): 53,988.
- **Native Label:** The city is also known as Ngāmotu.
- **Governance:** The official website is managed by the New Plymouth District Council (https://www.npdc.govt.nz/).
- **Dialing Code:** The local telephone area code is 06.
- **UN/LOCODE:** The United Nations location code is NZNPL.
- **External Identifiers:**
  - GeoNames ID: 2186239
  - GND ID: 4117855-5
  - VIAF ID: 131321590
  - MusicBrainz Area ID: a20712eb-0baf-444a-839d-cb8a8a005516
  - Library of Congress Authority ID: n50076824
  - New Zealand Gazetteer Place ID: 32238

## FAQs
**Where is New Plymouth located?**
New Plymouth is located in the Taranaki Region of New Zealand and serves as the region's capital. It is situated within the boundaries of the New Plymouth District.

**What is the population of New Plymouth?**
According to the 2018 census, the population was 53,988, while a 2018 estimate placed it at 55,300. The preferred estimate for June 30, 2020, lists the population at 57,600.

**When was New Plymouth founded?**
The city was established on March 31, 1841.

**What is the geographical size of New Plymouth?**
The city encompasses an area of 2,324.26 square kilometers and sits at an elevation of 0 meters above sea level.

**What are the administrative identifiers for New Plymouth?**
The city uses the UN/LOCODE NZNPL, the local dialing code 06, and is categorized under various library and geographic identifiers such as VIAF ID 131321590 and GeoNames ID 2186239.

## Why It Matters
New Plymouth holds significance as the administrative and cultural capital of the Taranaki Region. As the primary urban center of the New Plymouth District, it functions as a critical hub for governance, managed by the New Plymouth District Council. Its establishment in 1841 marks it as a historically significant settlement in New Zealand's colonial history. The city's distinct native label, Ngāmotu, reflects its cultural heritage and indigenous roots. Furthermore, its documentation in major historical references like the 11th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica and the New International Encyclopedia underscores its long-standing recognition as a notable locale.

## Notable For
- Being the capital city of the Taranaki Region.
- Possessing a large land area of 2,324.26 square kilometers.
- Having a native Māori name, Ngāmotu.
- Being the subject of entries in the 11th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica and the New International Encyclopedia.
- Featuring a diverse range of visual documentation, including images of Puke Ariki, Mount Taranaki, Port Taranaki, and the Coastal Walkway.
- Having a dedicated subreddit (r/newplymouth) and an active online presence.

## Body

### Geography and Location
New Plymouth is a city located on the western coast of New Zealand's North Island. It serves as the capital of the Taranaki Region and is situated within the New Plymouth District. The geographic coordinates for the city are -39.057777777778 latitude and 174.07416666667 longitude. It covers a substantial area of 2,324.26 square kilometers and has an elevation of 0 meters above sea level. The city is identified by the UN/LOCODE NZNPL and uses the local dialing code 06.

### Demographics
The population of New Plymouth has been recorded through various censuses and estimates. The 2018 New Zealand census recorded a population of 53,988. An estimate later in 2018 (June 30) placed the population at 55,300. The most recent preferred data, an estimate from June 30, 2020, indicates a population of 57,600.

### History and Establishment
New Plymouth was officially founded on March 31, 1841. The city is historically recognized by its native label, Ngāmotu. It has been documented in significant historical encyclopedic works, including the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition) and the New International Encyclopedia. These sources describe the city as a major settlement in its region.

### Administration and Governance
As the capital of the Taranaki Region, New Plymouth is the seat of local government for the area. It is located within the New Plymouth District. The official governance body is the New Plymouth District Council, which operates the city's primary website at https://www.npdc.govt.nz/. The website content is primarily in English.

### Identification and External References
New Plymouth is cataloged in numerous global databases and authority files:
- **Library and Authority IDs:** GND ID (4117855-5), FAST ID (1203015), VIAF ID (131321590), Library of Congress Authority ID (n50076824), National Library of Ireland ID (vtls001134468), and National Library of Israel ID (987007557264505171).
- **Geographic IDs:** GeoNames ID (2186239), GNS Unique Feature ID (-1514514), New Zealand Gazetteer Place ID (32238), OpenStreetMap Node ID (60024508), and Who's On First ID (101914745).
- **Academic and Encyclopedic IDs:** Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID (new-plymouth), Online PWN Encyclopedia ID (3946969), and Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID (place/New-Plymouth).
- **Other IDs:** Freebase ID (/m/0173kj), MusicBrainz Area ID (a20712eb-0baf-444a-839d-cb8a8a005516), BBC Things ID (17ef187c-c988-4740-ba1f-201e559b8724), and RKD Thesaurus ID (54251).

### Media, Culture, and Categories
The city has a presence on various social and directory platforms. It has an active subreddit (r/newplymouth) established in 2011 and a Quora topic titled "New-Plymouth-Taranaki-New-Zealand". It is listed in the Curlie directory under Regional/Oceania/New_Zealand/Taranaki/Localities/New_Plymouth/.

New Plymouth is associated with several Wikimedia Commons categories and images, including:
- **Images:** Puke Ariki, Mount Taranaki, Port Taranaki, Te Rewa Rewa, views across the city to Mount Taranaki, an 1860-61 plan of the city, the Coastal Walkway, the Waterfront, and the Wind Wand.
- **Categories:** The main category is "New Plymouth," with subcategories for people born there ("Births in New Plymouth"), people associated with the city ("People from New Plymouth"), and people who died there ("Deaths in New Plymouth").

The city's Wikipedia entry is available in 48 languages, including English, Māori (mi), Japanese (ja), German (de), French (fr), and Spanish (es).

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. Czech National Authority Database
4. MusicBrainz
5. [Source](http://nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLECODE7981)
6. [Source](http://nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLECODE8318)
7. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
8. GeoNames
9. BBC Things
10. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/nz.htm)
11. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File