| Laingsburg | |
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 Laingsburg
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Laingsburg
Laingsburg shown within South Africa |
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| Coordinates: 33°11′42″S 20°51′33″E / 33.19500°S 20.85917°ECoordinates: 33°11′42″S 20°51′33″E / 33.19500°S 20.85917°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Western Cape |
| District | Central Karoo |
| Municipality | Laingsburg |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 2.42 km2 (0.93 sq mi) |
| Population (2001)[1] | |
| • Total | 4,386 |
| • Density | 1,800/km2 (4,700/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2001)[1] | |
| • Black African | 2.5% |
| • Coloured | 83.5% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.1% |
| • White | 13.9% |
| First languages (2001)[1] | |
| • Afrikaans | 97.7% |
| • Xhosa | 1.4% |
| • Other | 0.9% |
| Time zone | SAST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 6900 |
| Area code | 023 |
Laingsburg is a town located in the Western Cape province in South Africa.
Contents |
History [edit]
The area where the town stands was initially a farm named Vischkuil-aan-de-Buffelsrivier (fishing pond on the Buffalo River).
In the 1870s, the government of Prime Minister John Molteno oversaw a massive expansion of the Cape Colony's railway system.[2] The route (chosen by the Prime Minister with a map, pen and ruler) ran past the farm,[3] which a man called Stephanus Greeff bought for the purpose of development. The line was completed in 1878 and a small siding named Buffelsrivier was built at the farm.
With railway access, a town soon began developing. It was initially renamed Nassau to avoid confusion with Buffalo River in East London, and finally changed to the name Laingsburg, after John Laing[disambiguation needed] who was Commissioner of Crown Lands at the time.
The town was laid out in 1881 and became a municipality in 1904. The Laingsburg Local Municipality has since been expanded to include Bergsig, Goldnerville and Matjiesfontein.
Geography [edit]
Laingsburg is situated along the N1 route, at Lat: -33.20, Long: 20.85, in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
The town is situated in the Great Karoo, a semi-desert region of South-Africa. The town's total rainfall is about 150mm per year. The main water supply is the Buffels River. Summers are extremely hot and dry, with temperatures usually exceeding 30°C. Winters are crisp to sometimes very cold, with snow occasionally occurring in the surrounding region.
Economy [edit]
Laingsburg's economy is mainly based on farming of goats, sheep, lucerne (Alfalfa) fruit and vegetables.
References [edit]
- ^ a b c d "Main Place Laingsburg". Census 2001.
- ^ Burman, Jose (1984). Early Railways at the Cape. Cape Town. Human & Rousseau, p.58. ISBN 0-7981-1760-5
- ^ Royal Colonial Society: Proceedings of the Royal Colonial Institute. Northumberland Avenue, London. 1898. p.26. "The Railway System of South Africa".
External links [edit]
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