Bloemfontein

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Blomfontein (IPA: [ˈblʏmfɑnˌte(ɪ)n], Afrikaans for "fountain of Bloem (bloom)" or for "flower fountain") is one of South Africa's three capital cities, along with Pretoria and Cape Town. Bloemfontein serves as the judicial capital, as well as the capital of the Free State province. The city's Sesotho name is Mangaung, meaning "the place where cheetahs dwell". Bloemfontein is popularly and poetically known as "the city of roses", owing to the abundance of these flowers and the annual rose festival held there. Although Bloemfontein has a reputation for its flowers in an otherwise arid region, the city's name is alleged by some to refer to Jan Bloem (1775-1858), a Korana Griqua leader whose people inhabited (and still inhabit) parts of the Free State and Northern Cape. Others see this proposition as a conceit, a manifestation of Political correctness and a retrospective reconstruction of history. The British Colonial Authotities did not have a great track record of naming places after local aborigines.

The city is situated on dry grassland at 29°06′S 26°13′E, at an altitude of 1,395 metres above sea level. The city is home to 369,568 residents, while the Mangaung Local Municipality has a population of 645,455. Bloemfontein is served by Bloemfontein airport.

Contents 1 History 2 Geography & Climate 3 Suburbs 4 Sports 5 Education 6 Recreational 7 Media 8 Religion 9 Local Governance 10 Community Service Organizations 11 External links

[edit] History

Though historically a predominantly Afrikaner settlement, Bloemfontein was officially founded in 1846 by British army major Henry Douglas Warden and served from 1854 to 1902 as the capital of the Orange Free State. Warden originally chose the site largely because of its close proximity to the main route to Winburg, the spacious open country,and the absence of horse sickness. A railway line was built in 1890 connecting Bloemfontein to Cape Town.

In 1899, the city was the site of the Bloemfontein Conference, which failed to prevent the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War.

J. R. R. Tolkien was born in the city on January 3, 1892.

On March 13, 1900, during the Anglo-Boer War, British forces captured the city and built a concentration camp here to house Boer women and children. The National Women's Memorial, on the outskirts of the city, pays hmage to the 45,000 women and children (including up to 17,000 black people) who died in these camps

The South African National Congress (ANC - now the now ruling party- was founded to defend the rights of the black majority on 8 January 1912 in Bloemfontein, and counted John Dube (its first president) and the poet and author Sol Plaatje amongst its founding members.

[edit] Geography & Climate

Bloemfontein is located in central South Africa on the southern edge of the Highveld at an elevation of 1400m, bordering on the semi-arid region of the Karoo. The area is generally flat with occasional hills (koppies: Afrikaans) and the general vegetation is Highveld grassland. Owing to its high elevation and distance from the sea, Bloemfontein experiences a continental climate with hot summer days (Jan: max:31ºC min:15ºC; frequent afternoon thunderstorms) and cold, dry winters, often with severe frost (Jul: max:17ºC min:-2ºC). Snow is rare but as recently as August 2006 it snowed in the city.

Climate Table

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Highest recorded temperature (°C)	39	39	35	33	30	25	24	29	34	35	37	38	39
Highest recorded temperature (°F)	102	102	95	91	86	77	75	84	93	95	99	100	102
Average daily maximum temperature (°C)	31	29	27	23	20	17	17	20	24	26	28	30	24
Average daily maximum temperature (°F)	88	84	81	73	63	63	73	75	79	82	86	75
Average daily minimum temperature (°C)	15	15	12	8	3	-2	-2	1	5	9	12	14	8
Average daily minimum temperature (°F)	59	59	54	46	37	28	28	34	41	48	54	57	46
Lowest recorded temperature (°C)	6	4	1	-3	-9	-9	-10	-10	-7	-3	0	3	-10
Lowest recorded temperature (°F)	43	39	34	27	16	16	14	14	19	27	32	37	14
Average monthly precipitation (mm)	83	111	72	56	17	12	8	15	24	43	58	60	559
Average monthly precipitation (in)	3.3	4.4	2.8	2.2	0.7	0.5	0.3	0.6	0.9	1.7	2.3	2.4	22
Average number of rain days (>= 1 mm)	11	11	11	9	4	3	2	3	4	7	9	10	84
Source: South African Weather Service

[edit] Suburbs

Bloemfontein suburbs include Bayswater, Brandwag, Ehrlichpark, Fauna, Fichardtpark, Fleurdal, Gardeniapark, Generaal De Wet, Hospitaalpark, Kiepersol, Lourierpark, Park West, Pellissier, Uitsig, Universitas, Westdene, Wilgehof and Willows to the south of the city. To the north of Bloemfontein, you will find Langenhovenpark, Arboretum, Bayswater, Dan Pienaar, Helicon Heights, Heuwelsig, Hillsboro, Hillside, Hilton, Naval Hill, Navalsig, Noordhoek, Pentagon Park and Waverley.

[edit] Sports

Bloemfontein's Free State Stadium is home to two rugby union teams; the Central Cheetahs franchise who compete in the Super 14 and the Free State Cheetahs who play in the domestic Currie Cup. Some of the matches of the Football World Cup 2010 will be played at Bloemfontein's Free State Stadium.

[edit] Education

Bloemfontein is the seat of University of the Free State as well as the Central University of Technology

There are also several high schools (secondary schools) in the city, these include:

• Hoërskool Fichardtpark in Fichhardtpark
• Technical High School Louis Botha,
• Hoërskool Jim Fouché
• Hoërskool Sand du Plessis
• St. Andrew's School
• St. Michael's School
• Sentraal High School (Hoërskool Sentraal), located in the suburb of Dan Pienaar
• Oranje Meisieskool.

The most famous schools are Grey College and Eunice Girls' High School which are situated alongside each other.

[edit] Recreational

Bloemfontein has an excellent Motocross track run by the Bloemfontein Off Road Club.

There is also a kart circuit (M&F Raceway), which is ruled by Bloemfontein Kart Club.

One can also enjoy a day or a sleep over at the Bloemfontein Zoo. Zoo Snoozes are only one of the activities arranged by Friends of the Bloemfontein Zoo.

[edit] Media

• Die Volksblad

[edit] Religion

Several churches and denominations are represented in Bloemfontein.

• NG Gemeente Heuwelkruin (Dutch Reformed Church}

• Calvary Independent Baptist Church

[edit] Local Governance

Bloemfontein forms part of the Manguang Local Municipality and the Motheo District Municipality

[edit] Community Service Organizations

• Round Table 25 Bloemfontein

Round Table is a non-political, non-racial association of young men between the ages of 18 and 40, embracing representatives of nearly every profession and occupation. Its objects are the encouragement of high ethical standards, the promotion of social inter-action and fellowship among young professional and business men and the quickening of individual interest in everything affecting the public welfare. Click on the link above for more information.

[edit] External links

• Round Table 25 BloemfonteinRound Table 25 Bloemfontein is the oldest Round Table branch in the Free State.
• Bloemfontein The official Mangaung Local Municipality website
• Bloemonline The Bloemfontein business guide
• Additional information about Bloemfontein Airport
• Google Map
• Boyden Observatory
• Bloemfontein Business

Provincial capitals of South Africa

Western Cape | Northern Cape | Eastern Cape | KwaZulu-Natal | Free State | North West | Gauteng | Mpumalanga | Limpopo