By Ian Parlane
It has not been possible to obtain population figures for the Paeroa Township prior the formation of the Borough in 1915 and even at that stage the census figures did not include Maori residents.
| YEAR | POPULATION | DWELLINGS |
| 1916 (estimate.) | 1550 | 384 |
| 1921 (estimate.) | 1650 | 420 |
| 1926 | 1833 (see note 1) | 447 |
| 1936 | 2149 | 539 |
| 1945 | 2300 | 630 |
| 1951 | 2588 | 690 |
| 1956 | 2871 | 780 |
| 1961 | 2894 | 820 |
| 1966 | 3129 | 911 |
| 1971 | 3431 | 1010 |
| 1976 | 3796 | 1190 |
| 1981 | 3702 | 1307 |
| 1986 | 3661 | 1415 |
| 1991 | 3988 | 1492 |
| 1996 | 4055 | N.K. |
Note 1 - By 1926 the size of the Borough was reduced. The figure includes Maori as does later census figures.
Note 2 - The 1991 figure was adjusted to 3907 for comparison with new area formed after demise of the Borough.
Some of the figures for the number of dwellings are estimates as actual figures have not been available locally.
There were census due in 1931 and 1941 but these were not done because of the "Depression" in 1931 and the war in 1941.
OTHER TOWNS: Population of other towns as at the 1996 census. Waihi 4287. Waikino 306. Karangahake/Mackaytown 317. Whiritoa 266. Turua 428. Kerepehi 414. Ngatea 997.
AN EARLY CENSUS: On 31 October 1902 the local Gazette published the results of a census taken that year. The figures given related to the County Ridings and not the individual towns.
The results of the census were: Waihi Riding 4272
Karangahake Riding 2271
Waitekauri Riding 1217
Paeroa Riding 2142
Waitoa Riding 116
The report also stated that the Ohinemuri County’s total population was around 10,000 and that Waihi Borough had a population of 4000.
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