Balfour, Eastern Cape

Balfour
Balfour
Balfour
Balfour

 Balfour shown within Eastern Cape

Coordinates: 32°32′24″S 26°40′23″E / 32.54000°S 26.67306°E / -32.54000; 26.67306Coordinates: 32°32′24″S 26°40′23″E / 32.54000°S 26.67306°E / -32.54000; 26.67306
Country South Africa
Province Eastern Cape
District Amathole
Municipality Raymond Mhlaba
Area[1]
 • Total 7.98 km2 (3.08 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 3,102
 • Density 390/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 96.9%
 • Coloured 3.0%
 • Other 0.1%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • Xhosa 95.2%
 • Afrikaans 3.2%
 • Other 1.5%
Postal code (street) 5740
PO box 5740

Balfour is a town in Raymond Mhlaba Municipality, Amatole District Municipality, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.

The village, which lies at the foot of the Katberg, was established as a mission station of the Glasgow Missionary Society in 1828 by John Ross and McDiarmid, and named after Robert Balfour, first Secretary of the Society.[2]

Throughout the nine Frontier Wars, the town experienced some heavy fighting.[3] Today, tobacco, citrus, wool and beef farming are practised in the area.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Balfour". Census 2011.
  2. ↑ "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 67.
  3. 1 2 "Balfour". South Africa Travel & Tourist Guide. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
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