Middledrift

For the town in Limpopo, see Middeldrift, Limpopo.
Middledrift
Middeldrift, Middeldrif

Landscape near Middledrift
Middledrift

 Middledrift shown within South Africa

Coordinates: 32°49′7″S 26°59′15″E / 32.81861°S 26.98750°ECoordinates: 32°49′7″S 26°59′15″E / 32.81861°S 26.98750°E
Country South Africa
Province Eastern Cape
District Amathole
Municipality Nkonkobe
Established 1853
Area[1]
 • Total 1.84 km2 (0.71 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 2,140
 • Density 1,200/km2 (3,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 95.9%
 • Coloured 2.1%
 • Indian/Asian 0.3%
 • White 0.8%
 • Other 0.8%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • Xhosa 86.7%
 • Afrikaans 5.2%
 • English 3.8%
 • Sign language 1.0%
 • Other 3.3%
Postal code (street) 5685
PO box 5685
Area code 046

Middledrift (also Middeldrift or Middeldrif) is a small town located 90 kilometres (60 mi) north-west of East London in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated in Nkonkobe Municipality in Amathole District in an area that was formerly part of the Ciskei.

Town on the Keiskamma River, 45 km west-north-west of King William's Town and 16 km east-south-east of Alice. It was founded in 1853 and laid out in 1882. At first known as Beaconsfield, it was renamed after its situation at a ford (Dutch: drift) between two others.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Main Place Middledrift". Census 2011.
  2. ↑ "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 309.