Humansdorp

Humansdorp is a small town and surrounding district in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, with a population of around 29,000 during the census of 2011. It is part of the Kouga Local Municipality of the Sarah Baartman District.

Humansdorp
View of Humansdorp
Humansdorp
Humansdorp
Coordinates: 34°02′S 24°46′E
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceEastern Cape
DistrictSarah Baartman
MunicipalityKouga
Area
 • Total34.5 km2 (13.3 sq mi)
Elevation
120 m (390 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total28,990
 • Density840/km2 (2,200/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African38.0%
 • Coloured54.3%
 • Indian/Asian0.3%
 • White6.7%
 • Other0.6%
First languages (2011)
 • Afrikaans63.1%
 • Xhosa31.4%
 • English2.6%
 • Other2.9%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
6300
PO box
6300
Area code042

The town is the centre of the district's light industry and farming. Humansdorp was founded in 1849, and was named after Johannes Jurie Human and Matthys Gerhardus Human, who were joint founders of the Dutch Reformed Church congregation there.[2] The town's residential streets are lined with trees that were planted before the First World War by the then mayor, Ambrose Saffery.

The Apple Express passes through Humansdorp.

Notable residents

Heinrich Schörbeck (alias Hendrik Spoorbek/Skoorbek), was a seer, healer and magician who settled in the Humansdorp district around 1815. In Afrikaner folklore, he is commonly known as Hendrik Spoorbek/Skoorbek the "Towenaar" (Magician/Wizard).

Three-time Olympic athlete Cornelia Bürki was born in Humansdorp. She competed for Switzerland and still lives there today in the little town of Wagen. The Humansdorpers know her as Corrie de Vos.

Sergeal Petersen was born in Humansdorp. Ricardo Groenewald

References
  1. Sum of the Main Places Humansdorp and KwaNomzamo from Census 2011.
  2. "Soon to be the new home of: www.humansdorptourism.co.za". humansdorptourism.co.za. Archived from the original on 24 June 2012.

Media related to Humansdorp at Wikimedia Commons

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