Leeudoringstad

Leeudoringstad
Leeudoringstad
Leeudoringstad
Leeudoringstad

 Leeudoringstad shown within North West

Coordinates: 27°14′S 26°14′E / 27.233°S 26.233°E / -27.233; 26.233Coordinates: 27°14′S 26°14′E / 27.233°S 26.233°E / -27.233; 26.233
Country South Africa
Province North West
District Dr Kenneth Kaunda
Municipality Maquassi Hills
Established 1822
Area[1]
 • Total 5.63 km2 (2.17 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 5,054
 • Density 900/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 77.4%
 • Coloured 1.3%
 • Indian/Asian 0.8%
 • White 20.1%
 • Other 0.4%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • Tswana 57.0%
 • Afrikaans 21.8%
 • Sotho 10.4%
 • Xhosa 4.1%
 • Other 6.6%
Postal code (street) 2640
PO box 2640
Area code 018 581

Leeudoringstad (Afrikaans for Lion thorn city) is a small farming town situated on the main Cape Town - Johannesburg railway line in North West Province of South Africa.

Leeudoringstad was established in 1920 and named after the Lion-thorn tree. The town hit the headlines on 17 July 1932 when a train carrying 320 to 330 tons (previously incorrectly stated as 1,200 tons) of dynamite from the De Beers factory at Somerset West to the Witwatersrand exploded and flattened the town. Five people were killed.

The paper, "The Star" of July 18th, 1932 carried extensive articles.

Today, Leeudoringstad hosts the headquarters of Suidwes Landbou, one of the largest agricultural companies in South Africa.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Leeudoringstad". Census 2011.
  2. ↑ "Suidwes". Retrieved 26 February 2015.
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