Taradale and Greenmeadows were once separated from Napier by geographical barriers. However, the 1931 earthquake raised the seabed and enabled Napier's residential suburbs to expand towards Taradale and Greenmeadows. Since the 1960s, Taradale has experienced rapid growth, becoming known as the Garden Borough.
Currently, Taradale's growth rate is 6.7%, which is higher than the Hawke's Bay regional growth rate and that of Napier. The demand for middle to high-end residential property has led to several new subdivision developments in Mission Heights, Citrus Grove, and Kent Terrace, with over 1400 residential sections in progress.