Gariep Dam (town)

Gariep Dam
Gariepdam

View over Gariep Dam
Gariep Dam

 Gariep Dam shown within South Africa

Coordinates: 30°36′S 25°30′E / 30.6°S 25.5°ECoordinates: 30°36′S 25°30′E / 30.6°S 25.5°E
Country South Africa
Province Free State
District Xhariep
Municipality Kopanong
Established ~1964
Government
 • Type Municipality
 • Mayor Xolile Mathwa (ANC)
Area[1]
 • Total 24.83 km2 (9.59 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 1,568
 • Density 63/km2 (160/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 31.0%
 • Coloured 47.6%
 • Indian/Asian 0.4%
 • White 19.6%
 • Other 1.3%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • Afrikaans 76.9%
 • Xhosa 11.1%
 • English 4.9%
 • Sotho 4.6%
 • Other 2.5%
Postal code (street) 9922

Gariep Dam (Afrikaans: Gariepdam), originally founded as "Oranjekrag", is a settlement in Xhariep District Municipality in the Free State (province) of South Africa.

Gariep Dam is a township on the northern bank of the Orange River, 50 km west of Bethulie and 48 km north-east of Colesberg. It was laid out in 1965-66 to accommodate the builders of the. The previous name is Afrikaans and means "Orange (River) power".[2] The town acquired its current name in 1996.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Main Place Gariep Dam". Census 2011.
  2. ↑ "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 352.
  3. ↑ Elwyn Jenkins (2007-01-01). Falling Into Place: The Story of Modern South African Place Names. New Africa Books. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-86486-689-9.