Oudtshoorn | |
|---|---|
Clockwise from top: View of Oudtshoorn, Welgeluk Ostrich Palace, Ostrich farms, NG Church, Cango Caves, CP Nel Museum | |
| Nickname: Ostrich Capital of the World | |
  Oudtshoorn  Oudtshoorn  Oudtshoorn | |
| Coordinates: 33°35′S 22°12′E / 33.583°S 22.200°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Western Cape |
| District | Garden Route |
| Municipality | Oudtshoorn |
| Established | 1857[1] |
| Government | |
| • Councillor | James du Preez (DA)[2] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 37.6 km2 (14.5 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[3] | |
| • Total | 61,507 |
| • Density | 1,600/km2 (4,200/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 12.5% |
| • Coloured | 70.9% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.4% |
| • White | 15.3% |
| • Other | 1.0% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Afrikaans | 87.8% |
| • Xhosa | 7.4% |
| • English | 2.6% |
| • Other | 2.2% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 6625 |
| PO box | 6620 |
| Area code | 044 |
.jpg)
Oudtshoorn (/ˈaʊtshɔːrn/, Afrikaans pronunciation: [ˈəutsˌɦuərən]) is a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa, located between the Swartberg mountains to the north and the Outeniqua Mountains to the south. Dubbed the "ostrich capital of the world",[4] Oudtshoorn is known for its ostrich-feather booms, during 1865–1870 and 1900–1914.[5] With approximately 60,000 inhabitants, it is the largest town in the Klein Karoo region. The town's economy is primarily reliant on the ostrich farming and tourism industries.[6] Oudtshoorn is home to the world's largest ostrich population,[7] with a number of specialised ostrich breeding farms, such as the Safari Show Farm and the Highgate Ostrich Show Farm, as stated by Pierre D. Toit.
Bhongolethu is a township 10 km (6 mi) east of Oudtshoorn. Derived from Xhosa, its name means "our pride".[8]
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Ward Councillors". Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d Sum of the Main Places Oudtshoorn, Bongolethu and Bridgeton from Census 2011.
- ^ Robyn Curnow and Teo Kermeliotis (22 February 2012). "S. Africa ostrich industry hit by major bird flu outbreak". Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ Footprint. "Oudtshoorn in South Africa". Archived from the original on 20 September 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ Vecchiatto, Paul (30 July 2014). "DA heads to court on ANC failure to hand over Oudtshoorn council". Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ van der Westhuizen, Lauren (14 April 2011). "South Africa Says Suspends Exports of Ostrich Meat After Bird Flu Outbreak". Bloomberg. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ Raper, P.E. (1987). Dictionary of Southern African Place Names. Johannesburg: Lowry. ISBN 9780947042066. Retrieved 17 May 2014.