Hoopstad

The key town of Hoopstad is situated on the R700 Highway between Bloemfontein and the North West Province. This area is considered to be the richest maize-producing district in South Africa. The town is located near the Bloemhof Dam which is situated on the Vaal River. The Sandveld Nature Reserve is positioned alongside the Bloemhof Dam. Hopetown and Hoopstad are two different towns and often get confused.

Hoopstad
Hoopstad Church
Hoopstad
Hoopstad
Coordinates: 27°50′S 25°55′E
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceFree State
DistrictLejweleputswa
MunicipalityTswelopele
Established1873[1]
Area
 • Total30.2 km2 (11.7 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total16,033
 • Density530/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African91.9%
 • Coloured2.0%
 • Indian/Asian0.4%
 • White5.5%
 • Other0.3%
First languages (2011)
 • Sotho52.0%
 • Xhosa18.5%
 • Tswana14.6%
 • Afrikaans7.1%
 • Other7.8%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
9479
PO box
9479
Area code053

History and activities

The town of Hoopstad was initially founded in 1876 and named Hauptstad after Mr Haupt, a surveyor. The translation of Hauptstad into Afrikaans means Capital, which it clearly wasn’t and the town was therefore renamed Hoopstad. The town, whose name means "Hope City" in Afrikaans, was established on the one side of the large farm Kameeldoorns, with another town Bultfontein on the other side.

References
  1. "Chronological order of town establishment in South Africa based on Floyd (1960:20-26)" (PDF). pp. xlv–lii.
  2. Sum of the Main Places Hoopstad and Tikwana from Census 2011.
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