Griekwastad
| Griekwastad | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Coordinates | 28 ° 51 ′ S , 23 ° 15 ′ E | ||
| Basic data | |||
| Country | South Africa | ||
| North Cape | |||
| District | Pixley ka Seme | ||
| ISO 3166-2 | ZA-NC | ||
| local community | Siyancuma | ||
| height | 1314 m | ||
| Residents | 6428 (2011) | ||
| founding | 1812 | ||
 Street in Griekwastad
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Griekwastad (originally Klaarwater, then Griquastad, English also Griquatown ) is a place in the South African province of North Cape . It is located in the Siyancuma parish in the Pixley ka Seme district . It is the first settlement established by Europeans in South Africa north of the Orange River .
geography
Griekwastad has 6,428 inhabitants (as of 2011). Around 60 percent of the population counted themselves among the colored in 2011 , 95.3 percent stated Afrikaans as the main language used. The place is located in a relatively flat area with an arid climate .
history
The place was founded around 1812, making it the oldest place in southern Africa north of the Orange River founded by Europeans. The founders were two missionaries from the London Missionary Society (LMS). The first mission station in the region, Leeuwenkuil, was founded in 1801; but the area turned out to be too dry. They then founded the place Klaarwater upstream , which they called Griquastad from 1813. Above all Griqua lived in the area , including the two leaders Andries Waterboer and Adam Kok II, who administered the area. From 1813 to 1871 the area around the city was called Waterboer's Land . In 1826 Adam Kok II moved with his followers to Philippolis to another LMS mission station.
From 1871 to 1880 Griquatown was the capital of the British colony Griqualand West , which became part of the Cape Colony in 1880 . In 1878 the Griqua rebellion against the British, which was bloodily suppressed after a few days. Around 100 Griqua were killed.
Economy and Transport
The branches of business include sheep breeding and the promotion of gemstones , especially tiger's eye and jasper .
Griekwastad is on the N8 , which leads from Groblershoop in the west to Kimberley in the east, and on the R386, which connects Postmasburg in the north with Prieska in the south.
Attractions
One museum deals with Mary Moffat, the wife of the African explorer David Livingstone , who was born in Griquastad in 1821. There is a tree in the village where Andries Waterboer had death sentences carried out by hanging.
Web links
- Griekwastad at places.co.za (English)
- City portrait at northern-cape.com ( Memento from April 11, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b 2011 Census , accessed on November 18, 2013
- ↑ a b The Griqua at routes.co.za ( Memento from October 26, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) (English)
- ↑ City portrait at northern-cape.com ( Memento from April 11, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) (English)