White River, Mpumalanga

White River
Witrivier

Street in Witrivier
White River

 White River shown within South Africa

Coordinates: 25°19′S 31°01′E / 25.317°S 31.017°ECoordinates: 25°19′S 31°01′E / 25.317°S 31.017°E
Country South Africa
Province Mpumalanga
District Ehlanzeni
Municipality Mbombela
Area[1]
 • Total 60.55 km2 (23.38 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 16,639
 • Density 270/km2 (710/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 32.5%
 • Coloured 4.3%
 • Indian/Asian 2.5%
 • White 60.3%
 • Other 0.4%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • Afrikaans 42.2%
 • English 28.7%
 • Swazi 16.1%
 • Tsonga 3.0%
 • Other 10.0%
Postal code (street) 1240
PO box 1240

White River (Afrikaans: Witrivier) is a small holiday and farming town situated just north of Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The farms in the region produce tropical fruits, vegetables, flowers and timber. After the Boer War the British demarcated land on the Emanzimhlope River, a tributary of the Crocodile River. Emanzimhlope is Swazi for White Waters. The land was used to demobilise British soldiers and the first manager of the settlement was Tom Lawrence (snr), after whom the longest street in the town is still named.

The farming tradition of the community that settled here after the Anglo-Boer War has remained virtually unchanged to this day. Lord Milner's (administrator of the defeated Transvaal) attache, the aforementioned Tom Lawrence, demarcated land on the 'Emanzimhlope' - a tributary of the Crocodile River whose name translates from the Swazi as 'White Waters' - to demobilised British Anglo-Boer War soldiers.

After a 26 km canal to channel water from the river was built, the new settlers planted trees and established new cultivation methods. The agriculture involves largely the production of tropical fruits, vegetables, flowers and timber and tobacco, and is one of the most fertile in the province.

White River, with three irrigation dams and a number of nearby forest, is a popular holiday destination for those looking to visit the Crocodile River Valley, and the town has a reputation for its arts and crafts.

White River lies 20km north of Nelspruit not far from the border with Kruger National Park. White River has a population of 15,954 and is located in an area of considerable scenic beauty. The climate is said to be one of the best in South Africa, neither excessively hot in summer when rainfall is at its highest, nor overly cold during the sunny winters. The farms tend to be relatively small but the agriculture is intensive with tropical and citrus fruits in abundance, and vegetables and cut flowers readily available.

White River is 46 km from Hazyview, one of the easiest access points to the World Famous Kruger National Park.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Main Place White River". Census 2011.