NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Kimberley, Northern Cape

Kimberley is a town in South Africa, and the capital of the Northern Cape. It is located at 28.742° S 24.772° ECoordinates: 28.742° S 24.772° E near the Orange River, and is serviced by the nearby Kimberley Airport. The Kimberley Comprehensive Urban Plan (1998) estimates that Kimberley has 210,800 people representing 46,207 households living in the city. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 Ã— 1944 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 Ã— 1944 pixel, file size: 2. ... The Big Hole is a huge open-pit mine in Kimberley, South Africa. ... Northern Cape is a province of South Africa, created in 1994 when the Cape Province was split up. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... This image shows only the last 100 kilometers or so of the Orange River. ... Kimberley Airport (IATA: KIM, ICAO: FAKM) is an airport in Kimberley, South Africa. ...

History

In 1866, Erasmus Jacobs found a small white pebble on the banks of the Orange River, on the farm De Kalk leased from local Griquas, near Hopetown. The pebble turned out to be a 21.25 carat (4.25 g) diamond. In 1871, an even larger 83.50 carat (16.7 g) diamond was found on the slopes of Colesberg Kopje, and led to the first diamond rush into the area. As miners arrived in their thousands, the hill disappeared, and became known as the Big Hole. A town, New Rush, was formed in the area, and was renamed to Kimberley on 5 June 1873, after the British Secretary of State for the Colonies at the time, John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley. The British, who had control of much of South Africa, were prompt to annex the area of the diamond mine, which became the British colony of Griqualand West. The Boers were upset by this, because they wanted it to be a part of the Orange Free State as it lay between Orange and Vaal rivers. See also: 1865 in South Africa, other events of 1866, 1867 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... This image shows only the last 100 kilometers or so of the Orange River. ... The Griqua (Afrikaans Griekwa) are a subgroup of South Africas heterogeneous and multiracial Coloured people. ... Hopetown, South Africa lies at the edge of the Great Karoo on an arid slope leading down to the Orange River, named by the great explorer Colonel Robert Gordon in honour of William Prince of Orange. ... The carat is a unit of mass used for gems, and equals 200 milligrams or 3. ... BIC pen cap, about 1 gram. ... This article is about the gemstone. ... See also: 1870 in South Africa, other events of 1871, 1872 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... See also: 1870 in South Africa, other events of 1871, 1872 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... The Big Hole is a huge open-pit mine in Kimberley, South Africa. ... is the 156th day of the year (157th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... See also: 1872 in South Africa, other events of 1873, 1874 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley (1826-1902), English statesman, was born on 7 January 1826, being the eldest son of the Hon. ... Diamond Mine is also another name for the computer game Bejeweled. ... The Griqua are a subgroup of South Africas Coloured population, descended from an admixture of European settlers and the Khoisan peoples they encountered on their initial arrival at the Cape. ... Afrikaners are white South Africans of predominantly Calvinist Dutch, German, French Huguenot, Friesian and Walloon descent who speak Afrikaans. ... Flag of the Orange Free State Capital Bloemfontein Language(s) Afrikaans, English Religion Dutch Reformed Church Government Republic President - 1854 - 1855 Josias P. Hoffman - 1855 - 1859 Jacobus Nicolaas Boshoff - 1859 - 1863 Marthinus Wessel Pretorius (also President of the South African Republic from 1857 to 1871). ...

The largest company to operate a diamond mine in South Africa was the De Beers Company, owned by Cecil Rhodes. Very quickly, Kimberley became the largest city in the area, mostly due to a massive African migration to the area from all over the continent. The immigrants were accepted with open arms, because the De Beers company was in search of cheap labour to help run the mines. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... De Beers, founded in South Africa by Cecil Rhodes, comprises companies involved in rough diamond exploration, diamond mining and diamond trading. ... Cecil Rhodes Cecil John Rhodes, PC, DCL, (July 5, 1853 â€“ March 26, 1902[1]) was a British-born South African businessman, mining magnate, and politician. ...

Five big holes were dug into the earth, which followed the kimberlite pipes. The largest, The Kimberley mine or "Big Hole" covering 170 000 m², reached a depth of 240 m and yielded 3 tons of diamonds. The mine was closed in 1914, while three of the holes – Du Toitspan, Wesselton and Bultfontein – closed down in 2005. Hewn kimberlite core sample from the James Bay Lowlands region of Northern Ontario, Canada. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ... â€¹ The template below (Unit of length) is being considered for deletion. ... Look up ton in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... See also: 1913 in South Africa, other events of 1914, 1915 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On 2 September 1882, Kimberley became the first town in the southern hemisphere to install electric street lighting. is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... See also: 1881 in South Africa, other events of 1882, 1883 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... southern hemisphere highlighted in yellow (Antarctica not depicted). ... Lightning strikes during a night-time thunderstorm. ... A streetlight in front of a red sky at night A street light, also known as a light standard, is a raised light on the edge of a road, turned on or lit at a certain time every night. ...

The rising importance of Kimberley led to one of the earliest South African and International Exhibitions to be staged in Kimberley in 1892. It was opened by Sir Henry Loch, the then Governor of the Cape of Good Hope on the 8th of September. It presented exhibits of art, an exhibition of paintings from the royal collection of Queen Victoria and mining machinery and implements amongst other items. The exhibition aroused considerable interest at international level, which resulted in a competition for display space.

South Africa's first school of mines was opened here in 1896 and later relocated to Johannesburg, becoming the core of the University of the Witwatersrand. In fact the first two years were attended at colleges elsewhere in Capetown, Grahamstown or Stellenbosch, the third year in Kimberley and the fourth year in Johannesburg. Buildings were constructed against a total cost of 9000 pounds with De Beers contributing on a pound for pound basis. See also: 1895 in South Africa, other events of 1896, 1897 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The University of the Witwatersrand (pronounced vit-vaters-rant, with flat vowels -- see South African English) is a leading South African university situated in Johannesburg. ... De Beers, founded in South Africa by Cecil Rhodes, comprises companies involved in rough diamond exploration, diamond mining and diamond trading. ...

On 14 October 1899, Kimberley was besieged at the beginning of the Second Boer War. The British forces trying to relieve the siege suffered heavy losses. The siege was only lifted on 15 February 1900, but the war continued until May 1902. By that time, the British had built a concentration camp at Kimberley to house Boer women and children. Image File history File links Kimberley-ticket. ... Image File history File links Kimberley-ticket. ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... See also: 1898 in South Africa, other events of 1899, 1900 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... Combatants Great Britain Boers Commanders Lt. ... Combatants British Empire Orange Free State South African Republic Commanders Sir Redvers Buller Lord Kitchener Lord Roberts Paul Kruger Louis Botha Koos de la Rey Martinus Steyn Christiaan de Wet Casualties 6,000 - 7,000 (A further ~14,000 from disease) 6,000 - 8,000 (Unknown number from disease) Civilians... is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... See also: 1899 in South Africa, other events of 1900, 1901 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... See also: 1901 in South Africa, other events of 1902, 1903 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... It has been suggested that Internment be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about the Boer people (Boerevolk). ...

In 1913, South Africa's first flying school opened there and started training the pilots of the South African Aviation Corps, later the South African Air Force. See also: 1912 in South Africa, other events of 1913, 1914 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... The South African Air Force roundel The South African Air Force (SAAF) (Afrikaans: Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag) is the air force of South Africa. ...

Kimberley has proposed the new Kimberley Stadium to be built in May 2007 for the 2010 Football World Cup but the proposal was not chosen as one of the ten venues for the tournament. Kimberley Stadium will be a new world-class stadium to be built in the diamond city of Kimberley, South Africa in 2007 for the Football World Cup 2010. ... The 2010 Football World Cup will take place in South Africa. ...

See also

The portion of South Africa which would form the Vicariate of Kimberley in Orange had earlier become in the division of the Vicariate of Good Hope part of the Eastern District, and later on part of the Vicariate of Natal. ... Kimberley Airport (IATA: KIM, ICAO: FAKM) is an airport in Kimberley, South Africa. ... Combatants Great Britain Boers Commanders Lord Methuen Piet Cronje Strength Unknown Unknown Casualties 70 dead 415 wounded 150 The Battle of Modder River was an engagement in the Boer War, fought at Modder River, on November 28, 1899. ... Combatants The British Empire Boers Commanders Sir John French Colonel Kelly-Kenny Piet Cronje Strength 15,000 men 5,000 men Casualties 258 dead 1,211 wounded 86 captured 100 dead 250 wounded 4,096 captured The Battle of Paardeberg was a major battle during the Second Anglo-Boer War. ... Combatants United Kingdom Boers Commanders Lord Methuen Piet Cronje Strength 13,000 8,500 Casualties Nearly 1,000 70 dead 250 wounded Unknown captured and deserted, but believed to be significant The Battle of Magersfontein was fought on December 11, 1899 at Magersfontein near Kimberley at , on the borders of...

External links

Category: Towns in the Northern Cape A map of the nine provinces of South Africa South Africa is currently divided into nine provinces. ... The following is a list of the capitals of the provinces of South Africa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Africa. ... Nickname: Motto: Spes Bona (Latin for Good Hope) Location of the City of Cape Town in Western Cape Province Coordinates: , Country Province Municipality City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality Founded 1652 Government [1] - Type City council - Mayor Helen Zille - City manager Achmat Ebrahim Area - City 2,499 kmÂ² (964. ... Kimberley is a town in South Africa, and the capital of the Northern Cape. ... Bisho is a town in South Africa, and the capital of the Eastern Cape Province. ... City motto: City of Choice Province KwaZulu-Natal Mayor Zanele Hlatshwayo Area 649kmÂ² Population - Total (1991) 228,549 Population - Total (2001) 521,805 Established 1838 Time zone SAST (UTC+2) Calling code 033 Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city of the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. ... Bloemfontein at night Bloemfontein (IPA: , Afrikaans and Dutch for spring of Bloem (bloom), flower spring or fountain of flowers is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Panoramic view from the hilltops Nelspruit is a city of 221,474 people (2000) situated in northeastern South Africa. ... Polokwane (previously known as Pietersburg) is a city, municipality and the capital of the Limpopo province in South Africa. ... Northern Cape is a province of South Africa, created in 1994 when the Cape Province was split up. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The following is a list of the capitals of the provinces of South Africa. ... The Kalahari Desert is a large arid to semi-arid sandy area in southern Kgalagadi Africa extending 900,000 kmÂ² (362,500 sq. ... Namaqualand (Afrikaans: Namakwaland) is an arid region of South Africa, extending along the west coast over 600 miles and covering a total area of 170,000 square miles/440,000 kmÂ². It is divided by the lower course of the Orange River into two portions - Little Namaqualand to the south... This is a list of cities and towns in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. ... This is a list of cities and towns in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. ... Kuruman is a town in Northern Cape Province, South Africa, famous for its scenic beauty and the Eye, a geographic phenomenon bringing water from deep underground to the surface in the Kalahari Desert. ... Upington is a town founded in 1871 located in the Northern Cape, South Africa, along the Orange River. ... De Aar is a town in Northern Cape, South Africa. ... Map indicating Oranias location Afrikaner cultural celebration at Orania Orania is a South African town located along the Orange River in the Northern Cape province in the arid Karoo region. ... Garies is a small agricultural centre situated in South Africas Northern Cape province about 110km south of Springbok, the chief town of the Namaqualand district. ... Griquatown is a cattle farming town situated in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. ... Namakwa is one of the 5 districts of the Northern Cape province of South Africa. ... A map of South Africa showing Karoo (within Northern Cape province) Karoo is one of the 5 districts of the Northern Cape province of South Africa. ... A map of South Africa showing Siyanda (within Northern Cape province) Siyanda is one of the 5 districts of the Northern Cape province of South Africa. ... Frances Baard is one of the 5 districts of Northern Cape province of South Africa. ... Kgalagadi is one of the 5 districts of the Northern Cape province of South Africa. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Nama Khoi Municipality is an administrative region of the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. ...

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History