Kroonstad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kroonstad
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Clockwise from top: Kroonstad NG Motherchurch & Sarel Cilliers monument, Town Hall, Alex Fairweather corner in the CBD
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| Motto(s):
Finis Corona Opus
(Latin: The End of the Crown Work) |
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 Kroonstad
Location in Free State (South African province)
Kroonstad
Location in South Africa
Kroonstad
Location in Africa
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| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Free State |
| District | Fezile Dabi |
| Municipality | Moqhaka |
| Established | 1854 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 89.1 km2 (34.4 sq mi) |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 168,762 |
| • Density | 1,894.1/km2 (4,905.6/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 85.2% |
| • Coloured | 4.0% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.4% |
| • White | 10.1% |
| • Other | 0.3% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Sotho | 73.3% |
| • Afrikaans | 15.8% |
| • English | 3.1% |
| • Xhosa | 2.5% |
| • Other | 5.3% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) |
9499
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| PO box |
9500
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| Area code | 056 |
Kroonstad is a town in the Free State province of South Africa. Its name means "Crown City" in Afrikaans. It is the fourth largest town in the Free State, after Bloemfontein, Welkom, and Bethlehem.
Kroonstad is about two hours' drive from Gauteng on the N1 highway. It is an important railway hub on the main line connecting Cape Town to Johannesburg. The town is known for its beautiful open spaces and many types of plants.
Contents
History of Kroonstad
Kroonstad was founded in 1855 by an Irish pioneer named Joseph Orpen. It was the first town started after the Orange Free State became independent.
The name "Kroonstad" comes from a horse named Kroon. This horse sadly drowned in a nearby river crossing, which is called a ford. Joseph Orpen loved animals and named the new town to remember the horse. The ford itself became known as Kroondrift.
During the Second Boer War, Kroonstad was the capital of the Orange Free State for a short time, from March to May 1900. It also became a site where many Boer women and children stayed in a camp during the war.
Kroonstad's Economy
The main industry in Kroonstad is agriculture. The area around the town is very good for farming. Farmers here grow crops like maize and wheat. They also produce dairy products, meat, and wool.
The Bloemhoek Dam, located just east of the town, provides most of Kroonstad's water. The Vals River also flows through the town. Its banks are lined with willow trees, making it a popular spot.
Fun Things to Do in Kroonstad
Kroonstad offers many fun activities for visitors. You can play golf on the town's 18-hole course. For animal lovers, there are lion tours at the Boskoppie Lion and Tiger Park. You can even interact with lion and tiger cubs there.
If you enjoy fishing, the Vals River and Bloemhoek Dam are great places to cast a line. Boating is also popular on the Serfontein Dam. Other activities include horseriding, gliding, and hiking trails.
Getting Around Kroonstad
Road Travel
Kroonstad is located right on the N1 highway. This major road goes north to Johannesburg and south to Bloemfontein. Other important roads connect Kroonstad to nearby towns like Odendaalsrus, Heilbron, Steynsrus, Viljoenskroon, Vredefort, and Sasolburg.
Train Travel
The Kroonstad Railway Station is a key point on the railway line from Cape Town to Johannesburg. This makes Kroonstad an important place for train travel in South Africa.
In January 2018, a passenger train had an accident near Kroonstad. It collided with a truck at a railway crossing. This accident caused the train to derail, and one carriage caught fire. Sadly, some people were killed and many were injured.
Air Travel
Kroonstad has a small airport. However, it does not have any regular passenger flights.
Shopping in Kroonstad
Kroonstad has many places to shop. You can find typical high street shops. There are also several shopping centers like Maokeng Mall, Panorama Plaza, Checkers Centre, Shoprite Centre, and Pick'n'Pay Centre. A new shopping area called Kroonstad Water Front Mall is also being built.
General Attractions in Kroonstad
Many people say Kroonstad is one of the most beautiful towns in the Free State. It sits on the banks of the Vals River, which flows into the Vaal River. The town is about two hours' drive from Johannesburg. It is a good place to stop if you are traveling between Johannesburg and Bloemfontein.
Kroonstad has many activities to enjoy. You can visit flea markets, relax at a tea garden, or go fishing. There are also walking trails and the Boskoppie Lion and Tiger Park. Kroonstad is an important center for farming, education, and local government.
The town has excellent sports facilities, especially for jukskei. This is an Afrikaner folk sport, and the main office for the SA Jukskei Council has been in Kroonstad since 1951. Kroonstad also has many historical places to see. These include old buildings, statues, and a former concentration camp. The town won the Kwêla Dorp Van Die Jaar competition in July 2022.
Historical Sites to Explore
- The Bloemspruit Monument remembers those who died in the Kroonstad Concentration Camp.
- A Garden of Remembrance honors Allied soldiers who died in the two World Wars.
- A blockhouse south of the city reminds us of the later parts of the Second Boer War.
- You can find old stone huts, called corbelled huts, around the city. These were shelters for people who lived here long ago.
- The region also has ancient fossils and San rock art.
Famous People from Kroonstad
Many well-known people have come from Kroonstad, including:
- Sid James, an actor
- Angela de Jesus, an artist
- Steve Komphela, a football coach
- Antjie Krog, a poet
- Pallo Jordan, a former politician
- Fana Mokoena, an actor and politician
- Jeffrey Ntuka, a football player
- Max du Preez, a journalist
- Levy Sekgapane, an opera singer
- Al J Venter, a writer and journalist
- Mosiuoa Lekota, a former politician
- Winkie Direko, a former politician
- Robbie Wessels, a singer
- Anton Goosen, a singer
- Gert Smal, a former rugby player and coach
- Andre Venter, a former rugby player
- Faan Rautenbach, a former rugby player
- Kulu Ferreira, a former rugby player
- Burger Geldenhuys, a former rugby player
- Michael Claassens, a former rugby player
- Sarel Cilliers, a preacher and leader
- Alwyn Schlebusch, a politician who was Vice President of South Africa
- Herbert Kretzmer, who wrote lyrics for the musical Les Misérables
Kroonstad's Coat of Arms
By 1931, the Kroonstad town council had its own coat of arms. This special design was officially registered in 1967 and 1971.
The shield of the coat of arms was golden. It showed a tree on a grassy island. At the top, there was a silver stripe with a black train engine and its tender. Originally, an imperial crown was above the shield, but it was changed to a golden wall-like crown in the 1960s. The shield was held up by a black wildebeest and a blesbok. The motto was Finis coronat opus, which means "The end crowns the work" in Latin.
Sister Cities
Kroonstad has two sister cities. Their names are similar to Kroonstad's name:
– Braşov (also known as Kronstadt), a city in Romania
– Kronstadt, a seaport city in Russia
See also
In Spanish: Kroonstad para niños
