Balfour, Eastern Cape

Balfour
Balfour is located in Eastern Cape
Balfour
Balfour
Balfour is located in South Africa
Balfour
Balfour
Coordinates: 32°32′24″S 26°40′23″E / 32.54000°S 26.67306°E / -32.54000; 26.67306
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceEastern Cape
DistrictAmathole
MunicipalityRaymond Mhlaba
Area
[1]
 • Total
7.98 km2 (3.08 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total
3,102
 • Density390/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[1]
 • Black African96.9%
 • Coloured3.0%
 • Other0.1%
First languages (2011)
[1]
 • Xhosa95.2%
 • Afrikaans3.2%
 • Other1.5%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
5740
PO box
5740

Balfour is a town in Raymond Mhlaba Municipality, Amathole District Municipality, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.

The village, which lies at the foot of the Katberg, was established as a mission station of the Glasgow Missionary Society in 1828 by John Ross and McDiarmid, and named after Robert Balfour, the 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. ^ a b c d "Main Place Balfour". Census 2011.
  2. ^ "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 67.
  3. ^ a b "Balfour". South Africa Travel & Tourist Guide. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2013.


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