Douglas, Northern Cape

Douglas
Douglas suburbia
Douglas
 Douglas shown within Northern Cape
Douglas
Douglas (South Africa)
Douglas
Douglas (Africa)
Coordinates: 29°03′S 23°46′E / 29.050°S 23.767°E / -29.050; 23.767Coordinates: 29°03′S 23°46′E / 29.050°S 23.767°E / -29.050; 23.767
Country South Africa
Province Northern Cape
District Pixley ka Seme
Municipality Siyancuma
Established 1867
Area[1]
  Total 86.42 km2 (33.37 sq mi)
Elevation 990 m (3,250 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
  Total 20,083
  Density 230/km2 (600/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
  Black African 32.1%
  Coloured 58.3%
  Indian/Asian 0.8%
  White 8.0%
  Other 0.9%
First languages (2011)[1]
  Afrikaans 93.1%
  Tswana 2.3%
  English 1.5%
  Other 3.1%
Time zone UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street) 8730
PO box 8730
Area code 053

Douglas is an agricultural and stock farming town situated near the confluence of the Orange and Vaal Rivers in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. Notably the rural town has a diverse population, with mostly state institutions and the anchor private employer, GWK, an agricultural company.

Location

Douglas lies about 100km southwest of Kimberley the capital of the Northern Cape. These two are connected by the R357 road.

History

The town was founded in 1848 as a mission station on the farm Backhouse by the Reverend Isaac Hughes. In 1867, a group of Europeans from Griquatown signed an agreement giving them the right to establish a town. The town was named after General Sir Percy Douglas, Lieutenant Governor of the Cape Colony.

Notable people from Douglas

  • Ingrid Jonker, poet
  • Hannes Nienaber, well-known sports journalist

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Douglas". Census 2011.


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