March 1886. The station was described in 1902 as, "of wood, and include a ladies' waiting room, a public waiting room, a vestibule, stationmaster's office, ticket office, and parcels office. There is a long asphalted platform." The area west of the Waihou was named Herriesville from 1914, when a private railway siding was opened on 24 January 1914 to serve the A&P ground. William Herries had been a local landowner. Seven railway cottages were built in 1924. Both stations closed to passengers on 11 September 1967 and to freight on 11 July 1986, though Herriesville was only open for racecourse traffic. Demographics Te Aroha covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Te Aroha had a population of 4,554 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 549 people (13.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 744 people (19.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,776 households, comprising 2,214 males and 2,337 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female, with 849 people (18.6%) aged under 15 years, 639 (14.0%) aged 15 to 29, 1,839 (40.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,221 (26.8%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 84.8% European/Pākehā, 17.7% Māori, 3.9% Pacific peoples, 6.4% Asian, and 2.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 17.1, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 48.6% had no religion, 37.2% were Christian, 0.7% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.1% were Hindu, 0.7% were Muslim, 2.0% were Buddhist and 1.7% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 384 (10.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,095 (29.6%) people had no formal qualifications. 450 people (12.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,506 (40.6%) people were employed full-time, 498 (13.4%) were part-time, and 126 (3.4%) were unemployed. Geography The Waihou River runs through Te Aroha. Close by to the east is the base of the Kaimai Range, and the town is overlooked by the 952-metre Mount Te Aroha. To the north of the town is the low-lying, swampy land of the Hauraki Plains. Hot springs Thermal and mineral springs are both found close to the centre of the town. The springs have been