Balfour, Eastern Cape

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Balfour
Balfour
 Balfour shown within South Africa
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 Nkonkobe
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 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 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. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Main Place Balfour". Census 2011. 
  2. "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 67. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Balfour". South Africa Travel & Tourist Guide. Retrieved 5 May 2013. 
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