 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2007) |
Graaff-Reinet | |
|---|---|
View of Graaff-Reinet Town Hall Valley of Desolation Fields near Graaff-Reinet Graaff-Reinet Museum | |
 Coat of arms | |
  Graaff-Reinet  Graaff-Reinet  Graaff-Reinet | |
| Coordinates: 32°15′08″S 24°32′26″E / 32.25222°S 24.54056°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Eastern Cape |
| District | Sarah Baartman |
| Municipality | Dr Beyers Naudé |
| Established | 1786[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 203.62 km2 (78.62 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 750 m (2,460 ft) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
• Total | 35,672 |
| • Density | 180/km2 (450/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Coloured | 62.18% |
| • Black African | 28.19% |
| • White | 8.74% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.47% |
| • Other | 0.42% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Afrikaans | 71.83% |
| • IsiXhosa | 17.89% |
| • English | 3.37% |
| • Other | 6.91% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 6286, 6280, 6281 |
| Area code | 049 |
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Graaff-Reinet (Afrikaans: ['χrɑːf rɛɪnɛt]; Xhosa: eRhafu) is a town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It is the oldest town in the province and the fifth oldest town in South Africa, after Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Simon's Town, Paarl and Swellendam.[3][4] The town was the centre of a short-lived republic in the late 18th century.[5] The town was a starting point for Great Trek groups led by Gerrit Maritz and Piet Retief and furnished large numbers of the Voortrekkers in 1835–1842.[5]
Graaff-Reinet is home to more national monuments than any other town or city in South Africa.[6] It is also known for being a flourishing market for agricultural produce, noted for its mohair industry, and sheep and ostrich farming.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d Sum of the main places Graaff Reinet [1] and uMasizakhe [2] from Census 2011.
- ^ Floyd, TB (1960). "What are the Oldest Towns in South Africa?".
- ^ "What are the Oldest Towns in South Africa?". 2003.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
EB1911was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Graaff-Reinet City website".