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Kroonstad

Coordinates:27°39′S27°14′E/ 27.650°S 27.233°E/-27.650; 27.233
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Not to be confused withKronstadtin Russia.

Kroonstad
Town
Clockwise from top:Kroonstad NG Motherchurch &Sarel Cilliersmonument, Town Hall, Alex Fairweather corner in the CBD
Motto(s):
Finis Corona Opus
(Latin:The End of the Crown Work)
Kroonstad is located in Free State (South African province)
Kroonstad
Kroonstad
Kroonstad is located in South Africa
Kroonstad
Kroonstad
Kroonstad is located in Africa
Kroonstad
Kroonstad
Coordinates:27°39′S27°14′E/ 27.650°S 27.233°E/-27.650; 27.233
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceFree State
DistrictFezile Dabi
MunicipalityMoqhaka
Established1854[1]
Area
[2]
• Total89.1 km2(34.4 sq mi)
Population
(2011)[2]
• Total168,762
• Density1,900/km2(4,900/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[2]
•Black African85.2%
•Coloured4.0%
•Indian/Asian0.4%
•White10.1%
• Other0.3%
First languages(2011)
[2]
•Sotho73.3%
•Afrikaans15.8%
•English3.1%
•Xhosa2.5%
• Other5.3%
Time zoneUTC+2(SAST)
Postal code(street)
9499
PO box
9500
Area code056

Kroonstad(Afrikaansdirectly translated "Crown City" ), which consist of suburbs as follows: Brentpark, Constantia, Constantia Park, Dawid Malanville, Elandia, Gelukwaarts, Goedgedacht, Heuningspruit, Industria, Jordania, KoeKoeVillage, Kroonheuwel, Maokeng, Morewag, Noordhoek, Ou Dorp, Panorama, Phomalong, Presidensia, PrisonArea, Seisoville, Suidrand, Tuinhof, Uitsig, Vooruitsig, WestPark and Wilgenhof. Kroonstad is the fourth largest town in theFree State(afterBloemfontein,WelkomandBethlehem) and lies two hours' drive on theN1fromGauteng.It is the second-largest commercial and urban centre in the Northern Free State (after Welkom), and an important railway junction on the main line fromCape TowntoJohannesburg.

History

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Kroonstad was established in 1855[3]by the Irish pioneerJoseph Orpen,and was the first founded after the independence of theOrange Free State. WhileKroonmeans "crown", this was in fact the name of a horse that had drowned in the nearbyford.A lover of animals, Orpen had witnessed the incident, and named the infant settlement in honour of the unfortunate creature. Similarly, the ford in question came to be known asKroondrift.[3][4]

During theSecond Boer War,from 13 March to 11 May 1900, the city became the capital of theOrange Free State,and subsequently the site of aconcentration campto containBoerwomen and children.

Economy

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The main industry of Kroonstad isagriculture.It is the centre of a rich agricultural district, producing maize, wheat, dairy and meat products and wool. TheBloemhoek Damlies just east of the town and supplies much of its water needs. Acaravan parkand many more camp sites on the banks of thewillow-linedVals River(Valsrivier) are frequented by anglers and watersport enthusiasts.

Leisure

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Leisure opportunities are plentiful in Kroonstad, where visitors can enjoy golf on the 18-hole course in the town, lion tours and interaction with lion and tiger cubs at the Boskoppie Lion and Tiger Park, fishing in the well stocked Vals River or on theBloemhoek Dam,and boating on the Serfontein Dam. Horseriding, gliding and hiking trails are also available.[5]

Transport

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Road

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Kroonstad lies directly on theN1,which bypasses the town centre to the east (toJohannesburgin the north andBloemfonteinin the south). Other regional roads in the town are theR34toOdendaalsrusin the south-west andHeilbronin the east, theR76toSteynsrusin the south-east andViljoenskroonin the north-west, theR721toVredefortin the north-west and theR82toSasolburgin the north-east.

Rail

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Kroonstad Railway Stationserves the town and is located on the important railway junction fromCape TowntoJohannesburgviaBloemfontein.

On 4 January 2018, a passenger train, operated byShosholoza Meyl,collided with a truck on a level crossingnear Kroonstad/Hennenman. The train was derailed, and at least one of the carriages caught fire. Twenty people were killed and 260 were injured.[6]

Air

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Kroonstad is served by a smallairportwith no passenger flights.

Shopping

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Shopping in Kroonstad is characterised by typical high street shopping. The development of the new Kroonstad Water Front Mall is underway, Maokeng Mall, Panorama Plaza, Checkers Centre, Shoprite Centre, Ultra City Centre andPick'n'Paycentre.

General attractions

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Kroonstad is said to be one of the Free State's loveliest towns and lies on the banks of theVals River,a tributary of theVaal,roughly two hours' drive from Johannesburg. It is situated in an area characterised by open spaces and an abundant variety of vegetation that makes it particularly beautiful. Kroonstad is a quaint town that serves as a good stop over en route between Johannesburg and Bloemfontein, lying as it does at virtually the halfway mark. Kroonstad offers an array of activities that includeflea markets,a tea garden, fishing on the Vals River or at the Bloemhoek Dam, walking trails and lion tours and lion and tiger interaction at Boskoppie Lion and Tiger park. Today, as an important administrative, agricultural and educational centre, Kroonstad still boasts much of the inherent rugged beauty which led the Voortrekkers to establish the town where they did.

Sporting facilities of all kinds are well catered for, notably forjukskei,an Afrikaner folk sport. The headquarters of the SA Jukskei Council has been established here since 1951. The city is rich in historical sights; several historic buildings and statues, a former concentration camp, theSarel CilliersMuseum (although currently inactive) and other places of national interest can be found here. Kroonstad is an important agricultural service centre in the Free State with a predominantly agricultural-orientated economy served by a modern toll-road. This brings the PWV Region within two hours drive from Kroonstad as well as being accessible from theNorth West,Bloemfonteinand theEastern Free State.

In July 2022 Kroonstad was announced as the winner in the Kwêla Dorp Van Die Jaar competition.[7]

Historical sites

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Correspondentsawait the arrival ofLord Robertsduring theSecond Boer War,1901

The Bloemspruit Monument27°40′18″S27°12′23″E/ 27.67167°S 27.20639°E/-27.67167; 27.20639commemorates those who died in the Kroonstad Concentration Camp,

A Garden of Remembrance27°39′05″S27°14′19″E/ 27.65139°S 27.23861°E/-27.65139; 27.23861commemorates Allied soldiers fallen in the two World Wars.

Ablockhousesouth of the city is a reminder of later stages of theSecond Boer War.

Stonecorbelledhuts, refuges for the prehistoric inhabitants of the region, occur in various locations about the city.

In addition, fossils and San rock art are present in the region.

Notable people

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Coat of arms

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By 1931, the Kroonstad municipal council had assumed acoat of arms.[8]It was registered with theOrange Free StateProvincial Administration in February 1967[9]and at theBureau of Heraldryin April 1971.[10]

The arms were:Or, a tree on an island proper; on a chief Argent fimbriated Azure, a locomotive and tender Sable( "a golden shield displaying a tree on a grassy base, below a black locomotive and tender on a silver stripe across the top of the shield" ). Originally, an imperial crown was placed above the shield, but it was replaced with a goldenmural crownin the 1960s. The supporters were ablack wildebeestand ablesbok,and the motto wasFinis coronat opus.

Sister cities

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Kroonstad has two sister cities whose names are reminiscent of its own:

  • Romania–Braşov(German:Kronstadt), a city in Romania
  • Russia–Kronstadt,a Russian seaport city west of Saint Petersburg

See also

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References

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  1. ^Robson, Linda Gillian (2011)."Annexure A"(PDF).The Royal Engineers and settlement planning in the Cape Colony 1806–1872: Approach, methodology and impact(PhD thesis). University of Pretoria. pp. xlv–lii.hdl:2263/26503.
  2. ^abcdSum of the Main PlacesKroonstadand[1].
  3. ^abRaper, R.E.Dictionary of Southern African Place Names.Human Sciences Research Council.
  4. ^"Joseph Millerd Orpen (1828 - 1923) - Genealogy".Geni. 5 November 1828.Retrieved2014-05-21.
  5. ^"Boskoppie - Lion and Tiger Reserve".Boskoppie.Retrieved2024-06-06.
  6. ^"South Africa train crash: Four dead in truck collision".BBC News Online.Retrieved4 January2018.
  7. ^"Dorp van die Jaar".August 2022.
  8. ^The arms were depicted on acigarette card[permanent dead link]issued in 1931.
  9. ^Orange Free StateOfficial Gazette8 (17 February 1967).
  10. ^http:// national.archsrch.gov.za[permanent dead link]
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