Vredenburg

For other uses, see Vredenburg (disambiguation).
Vredenburg

A landscape in Vredenburg
Vredenburg
Vredenburg
Vredenburg

 Vredenburg shown within Western Cape

Coordinates: 32°54′23″S 17°59′45″E / 32.90639°S 17.99583°E / -32.90639; 17.99583Coordinates: 32°54′23″S 17°59′45″E / 32.90639°S 17.99583°E / -32.90639; 17.99583
Country South Africa
Province Western Cape
District West Coast
Municipality Saldanha Bay
Area[1]
 • Total 13.75 km2 (5.31 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 38,382
 • Density 2,800/km2 (7,200/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 28.7%
 • Coloured 55.7%
 • Indian/Asian 0.6%
 • White 13.8%
 • Other 1.1%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • Afrikaans 68.7%
 • Xhosa 19.3%
 • English 5.0%
 • Sotho 2.3%
 • Other 4.8%
Postal code (street) 7380
PO box 7380
Area code 022

Vredenburg is a town of the Cape West Coast in the Western Cape province of South Africa. "Vrede" is Afrikaans for peace. It is the transportation and commercial hub of the West Coast area and administrative center of the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality. It is located 12 kilometres inland from the coast at Saldanha Bay on the Cape Columbine Peninsula 138km north of Cape Town.

History

The town was established in 1875 initially as a Dutch Reformed Church congregation to serve the surrounding communities, as the closest church was in Hopefield. The town's original name was "Twisfontein", which from Afrikaans can be translated as "troubled fountain". This name came about when two competing farmers fought over the only available freshwater spring in the area. The town's name was later changed to "Prosesfontein". The town was renamed as they were discussing the matter of the freshwater spring and were trying to come to an agreement. When this agreement was settled and they have achieved a sense of peace among one another, the name 'Vredenburg' was chosen. The town's population in 2011 was 38,382.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Main Place Vredenburg". Census 2011.
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