Seddon, New Zealand

Infobox Settlement
name = Seddon
population_total = 513
population_as_of = 2006
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = New Zealand
subdivision_type1= Region
subdivision_name1= Marlborough
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = left
latd = 41
latm = 40
lats = 12
latNS = S
longd = 174
longm = 4
longs = 25
longEW = E

Seddon is a small town in Marlborough, New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 1, 25 kilometres south of Blenheim and 20 km north of Ward. Seddon is located close to the mouths of the Awatere and Blind Rivers, and also close to the Lake Grassmere salt works. [cite book|title=Reed New Zealand Atlas|year=2004|id=ISBN 0-7900-0952-8|author=Peter Dowling (editor)|publisher=Reed Books|pages=map 67] [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 147]

Salt and lime [cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/B/Blenheim/Blenheim/en|title=Blenheim|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966)] are major local industries, and the Awatere Valley is a developing wine region. [cite web|url=http://www.marlboroughonline.co.nz/index.mvc?ArticleID=23|title=Awatere River|publisher=Marlborough Online]

The population was 513 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 39 from 2001. [cite web|url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/census/2006-census-data/final-counts/marlborough-region.htm|title=Final counts – census night and census usually resident populations, and occupied dwellings - Marlborough Region|publisher=Statistics New Zealand]

The town's best known structure is a joint single-lane road-rail bridge spanning the Awatere River which was in service until October 2007. A two lane road bridge has replaced the road bridge component. [cite news|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5XsE4I15p|archivedate=2008-05-17|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4267387a6008.html|publisher=The Marlborough Express|title=New Awatere Bridge 'opens' today|date=9 November 2007] The railway line continues over the old historic bridge which is the Main North Line and a daily service in each direction of the TranzCoastal passenger express stops in Seddon.

A train derailment at Blind River, south of Seddon, on 25 February 1948, killed six people and injured 40 others. [cite book|title=Click - A Captured Moment - Marlborough's Early Heritage|author=Marlborough Historical Society|year=2005|isbn=0-473-10475-X|pages=p 65]

The town was named for former Prime Minister of New Zealand Richard Seddon.

Education

Seddon School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 5 and a roll of 110. [cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=2988|title=Te Kete Ipurangi - Seddon School|publisher=Ministry of Education]

Notes

See also

* List of road-rail bridges