The town was founded in 1679 by the Governor of the Cape Colony, Simon van der Stel, who named it after himself[8] – Stellenbosch means “(van der) Stel’s Bush”. It is situated on the banks of the Eerste River (“First River”), so named as it was the first new river he reached and followed when he went on an expedition over the Cape Flats to explore the territory towards what is now known as Stellenbosch. The town grew so quickly that it became an independent local authority in 1682 and the seat of a magistrate with jurisdiction over 25,000 square kilometers (9,700 sq mi) in 1685.[9] Stellenbosch History
The Dutch were skilled in hydraulic engineering and they devised a system of furrows to direct water from the Eerste River in the vicinity of Thibault Street through the town along van Riebeeck Street to Mill Street where a mill was erected.[10][11] Early visitors commented on the oak trees and gardens.[5][12] Stellenbosch History
During 1690 some Huguenot refugees settled in Stellenbosch,[13] grapes were planted in the fertile valleys around Stellenbosch and soon it became the centre of the South African wine industry.[10]
In 1710 a fire destroyed most of the town, including the first church, all the Company property and twelve houses. Only two or three houses were left standing.[14] When the church was rebuilt in 1723 it was located on what was then the outskirts of the town, to prevent any similar incident from destroying it again. This church was enlarged a number of times since 1723 and is currently known as the “Moederkerk” (Mother Church). Stellenbosch History
The first school had been opened in 1683, but education in the town began in earnest in 1859 with the opening of a seminary for the Dutch Reformed Church. Rhenish Girls’ High School, established in 1860, is the oldest school for girls in South Africa.[15] A gymnasium, known as het Stellenbossche Gymnasium, was established in 1866. In 1874 some higher classes became Victoria College and then in 1918 University of Stellenbosch. The first men’s hostel to be established in Stellenbosch was Wilgenhof, in 1903. In 1905 the first women’s hostel to be established in Stellenbosch was Harmonie [1].[16] Harmonie and Wilgenhof were part of the Victoria College. In 1909 an old boy of the school, Paul Roos, captain of the first national rugby team to be called the Springboks, was invited to become the sixth rector of the school. He remained rector until 1940. On his retirement, the school’s name was changed to Paul Roos Gymnasium.
In the early days of the Second Boer War (1899–1902) Stellenbosch was one of the British military bases, and was used as a “remount” camp; and in consequence of officers who had not distinguished themselves at the front being sent back to it, the expression “to be Stellenbosched” came into use; so much so, that in similar cases officers were spoken of as “Stellenbosched” even if they were sent to some other place.[citation needed]
Population Stellenbosch History
At the time of the 2011 census, the population of the urban area of Stellenbosch was 77,476 people in 23,730 households, in an area of 20.9 square kilometres (8.1 sq mi). Roughly 70% of the residents spoke Afrikaans as their home language, 2% spoke isiXhosa, and 21% spoke English. 15% of the population identified themselves as “Black African“, 16% as “Coloured“, and 67% as “White“.[1]
The Stellenbosch Municipality extends beyond the town of Stellenbosch itself to include rural areas, villages, and the town of Franschhoek. At the time of the 2011 census, the municipal population was 155,728, while by 2016 it was estimated to be 173,197.[17] In 2017, the municipality estimated that the population in 2018 would increase to 176,523[18]
The 1936 census recorded a total population of 8,782 residents with 3,558 of them recorded as Coloured and 4,995 recorded as White.[19]
Climate and geography Stellenbosch History
Stellenbosch History
Stellenbosch’s eastern suburbs in the winter months. In the background are the snowcapped Jonkershoek Mountains, with the prominent peak “The Twins” (elevation of 1,494 m (4,902 ft)) visible.
Stellenbosch is 53 km (33 mi) east of Cape Town via National Route N1. Stellenbosch is in a hilly region of the Cape Winelands, and is sheltered in a valley at an average elevation of 136 m (446 ft), flanked on the west by Papegaaiberg (Afrikaans: Parrot Mountain), which is actually a hill.[citation needed] To the south is Stellenbosch Mountain; to the east and southeast are the Jonkershoek, Drakenstein, and Simonsberg mountains.[citation needed] Die Tweeling Pieke (Afrikaans: The Twin Peaks) has an elevation of 1,494 m (4,902 ft); the highest point is Victoria Peak 1,590 m (5,220 ft). Jonkershoek Nature Reserve lies about 9 km (5.6 mi) east of Stellenbosch, and the Helderberg Nature Reserve is about 23 km (14 mi) south via provincial route R44.[citation needed] Just south of the Helderberg Nature Reserve is Strand, a seaside resort town.[citation needed] The soils of Stellenbosch range from dark alluvium to clay.[citation needed] This, combined with the well-drained, hilly terrain and Mediterranean climate, prove excellent for viticulture.[citation needed] Summers are dry and warm to hot, with some February and March days rising to over 40 °C (104 °F).[citation needed] Winters are cool, rainy and sometimes quite windy, with daytime temperatures averaging 16 °C (61 °F).[citation needed] Snow is usually seen a couple of times in winter on the surrounding mountains.[citation needed] Spring and autumn are colder seasons, when daytime temperatures hover in the 20s.[citation needed]
