Springs (South Africa)

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Springs
Springs (South Africa)
Springs
Springs
Coordinates 26 ° 15 ′  S , 28 ° 26 ′  E Coordinates: 26 ° 15 ′  S , 28 ° 26 ′  E
Basic data
Country South Africa

province

Gauteng
metropolis Ekurhuleni
height 1618 m
Residents 121,610 (2011)
founding 1904
Aerial view of Springs
Aerial view of Springs

Springs is a city in South Africa . It belongs to the Gauteng Province and is located in the metropolitan municipality of Ekurhuleni , which was formerly known as the East Rand . In 2011 it had 121,610 inhabitants.

Surname

The town was named after a farm where there are numerous sources (English: springs ) today.

Geographical location

The city is 1618 meters above sea level. Springs is the easternmost major city in the Witwatersrand . To the west of Springs is Brakpan ; further west, from east to west, are Benoni , Boksburg , Germiston and Johannesburg .

history

The Springs farm originally covered an area of ​​7 km². In 1883 the land was surveyed. Coal was found there in 1887. Three years later the first railway line was built in the Transvaal to transport the coal from the East Rand to the economic area of ​​the central Witwatersrands near Johannesburg.

The coal mines were gradually closed because better coal deposits were found further east. At the same time gold was found in Springs. In 1904 the village of Springs was established; Gold mining began in 1908. In 1912 Springs became a parish. There were eight gold mines near Springs in the late 1930s. This made it the largest pure gold mining area in the world.

population

The sharp racist separation of residential areas according to population groups in the times of apartheid was softened by moving in all directions. New settlements that were not planned by the authorities have emerged near the industrial plants.

economy

Springs is one of the industrial centers of the Witwatersrand. After many mines were closed, industrial companies from the metal, chemical, paper and food sectors were opened.

traffic

Springs is on the N17 .

education

The Springs campus of Ekurhuleni East College is located in Springs .

sons and daughters of the town

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. 2011 census , accessed October 4, 2013
  2. Information at noagent.co.za ( Memento from February 20, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) (English)