Boshof

Boshof is a farming town in the west of the Free State province, South Africa.

Boshof
Boshof is located in Free State (South African province)
Boshof
Boshof
Boshof is located in South Africa
Boshof
Boshof
Coordinates: 28°33′S 25°14′E
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceFree State
DistrictLejweleputswa
MunicipalityTokologo
Established1856[1]
Area
[2]
 • Total91.7 km2 (35.4 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total8,509
 • Density93/km2 (240/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[2]
 • Black African78.5%
 • Coloured10.5%
 • Indian/Asian0.4%
 • White10.1%
 • Other0.5%
First languages (2011)
[2]
 • Tswana57.9%
 • Afrikaans28.7%
 • Sotho4.4%
 • Xhosa3.8%
 • Other5.1%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
8340
PO box
8340
Area code053

The town is 55 km north-east of Kimberley on the R64 road. Established in March 1856 on the farm Vanwyksvlei, which had been named after a Griqua who sowed his crops on it from time to time. Named in honour of Jacobus Nicolaas Boshof (1808-1881), second President of the Orange Free State (1855–59) and founder of its civil service. Became a municipality in 1872.[3]

The local commando was involved in the siege of Kimberley, notably the disruption of the city’s water supply at Riverton. The Battle of Boshof, which resulted in the death of the Comte de Villebois-Mareuil, was fought nearby on 5 April 1900.

References
  1. Robson, Linda Gillian (2011). "Annexure A" (PDF). The Royal Engineers and settlement planning in the Cape Colony 1806–1872: Approach, methodology and impact (PhD thesis). University of Pretoria. pp. xlv–lii. hdl:2263/26503.
  2. Sum of the Main Places Boshof and Seretse from Census 2011.
  3. Raper, Peter E. (1987). Dictionary of Southern African Place Names. Internet Archive. p. 89. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
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