Napier (South Africa)

Napier
Napier
Coordinates	34 ° 28 ′  S , 19 ° 54 ′  E Coordinates: 34 ° 28 ′  S , 19 ° 54 ′  E
Basic data
Country	South Africa
province	Western cape
District	Overberg
local community	Cape Agulhas
height	111 m
Residents	4214 (2011)
founding	1833
Dutch Reformed Church in Napier

Napier is a small town in the Cape Agulhas municipality , Overberg District , Western Cape Province in South Africa . The city is 16 kilometers west of Bredasdorp and 58 kilometers southeast of Caledon at 111 meters above sea level. In 2011 the place had 4,214 inhabitants.

history

In 1833, the Dutch Reformed Church in Swellendam decided to plant a new ward to meet the needs of parishioners living in the southern areas of the ward. The location of the new church building was hotly debated. One party favored Breda and the Langfontein farm , while the other party suggested the Klipdrift farm . No compromise could be found, and so two new villages were created almost simultaneously, only 16 kilometers apart.

Langfontein was bought for £ 850 and the first settlement sites in the new village of Bredasdorp were sold on May 16, 1838.

The Klipdrift farm was bought for £ 1,000 and the first settlement sites were sold on April 12, 1838. On March 6, 1840, the newly established village of Napier was named in honor of Sir George Thomas Napier , Governor of the Cape Colony from 1837 to 1844.

The population grew steadily, from 448 inhabitants (1875) to 539 inhabitants (1891) to 761 inhabitants (1904) to over 4,000 inhabitants.

Attractions

• The Dutch Reformed Church and the Feeshuis were built in the shape of a Greek cross. The Feeshuis is one of the oldest buildings in Napier and was used as slave quarters from 1810 to 1820 .
• The largest sundial in the Cape region was built in 1965 by Danie du Toit. It is located near the community office.
• Rose Boats & Toy Museum with handcrafted tin toys

Web links

• Images page to Napier (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ 2011 census , accessed November 22, 2013