Balfour, Eastern Cape

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Balfour
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Balfour
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Balfour
Coordinates: 32°32′24″S26°40′23″E / 32.54000°S 26.67306°E / -32.54000; 26.67306
Country South Africa
Province Eastern Cape
District Amathole
Municipality Raymond Mhlaba
Area
[1]
  Total7.98 km2 (3.08 sq mi)
Population
 (2011) [1]
  Total3,102
  Density390/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[1]
   Black African 96.9%
   Coloured 3.0%
  Other0.1%
First languages (2011)
[1]
   Xhosa 95.2%
   Afrikaans 3.2%
  Other1.5%
Time zone UTC+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, 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]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Balfour". Census 2011.
  2. "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 67.
  3. 1 2 "Balfour". South Africa Travel & Tourist Guide. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2013.