Bitterfontein

Bitterfontein
Bitterfontein is located in Western Cape
Bitterfontein
Bitterfontein
Bitterfontein is located in South Africa
Bitterfontein
Bitterfontein
Coordinates: 31°02′10″S 18°15′58″E / 31.03611°S 18.26611°E / -31.03611; 18.26611
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceWestern Cape
DistrictWest Coast
MunicipalityMatzikama
Area
 • Total39.90 km2 (15.41 sq mi)
Elevation
355 m (1,165 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total986
 • Density25/km2 (64/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African3.5%
 • Coloured91.2%
 • Indian/Asian0.4%
 • White4.7%
 • Other0.2%
First languages (2011)
 • Afrikaans97.4%
 • Xhosa1.3%
 • Other1.2%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
8200
PO box
8200
Area code027

Bitterfontein is a village in the Knersvlakte, the northernmost area of the Western Cape province of South Africa, 320 kilometres (200 mi) north of Cape Town. It is the railhead of a line from Cape Town; ore from the copper mines at Okiep is transferred there from road transport to the railway. It is also located on the N7 (Cape Town–Namibia) national road; the distance from Cape Town is 386 kilometres (240 mi) by road and 465 kilometres (289 mi) by rail.[2]

Bitterfontein is located in the Matzikama Local Municipality, which is part of the West Coast District Municipality. According to the 2001 Census, it had a population of 906 in an area of 1.77 square kilometres (0.68 sq mi).[3] It is served by a police station,[4] a primary school,[5] a library,[6] and a satellite health clinic.[7]

  1. ^ a b c d "Main Place Bitterfontein". Census 2011.
  2. ^ Boonzaaier, Boon (2008). Tracks Across the Veld. ISBN 978-0-620-41711-2.
  3. ^ Census 2001 — Statistics for Main Place
  4. ^ "Bitterfontein Police Station". Cape Gateway.
  5. ^ "Bitterfontein Primary School". Western Cape Education Management System. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21.
  6. ^ "Bitterfontein Library Depot". Cape Gateway. Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  7. ^ "Bitterfontein Municipality Satellite Clinic". Cape Gateway.