Ladismith is a town and agricultural centre in the western Little Karoo region of South Africa's Western Cape province.

Ladismith
Clockwise from top: View of Ladismith, Ladismith Town Hall, Albert Manor, Hoeko where C J Langenhoven was born, Dutch Reformed Church.
Ladismith is located in Western Cape
Ladismith
Ladismith
Ladismith is located in South Africa
Ladismith
Ladismith
Coordinates: 33°29′S 21°16′E / 33.483°S 21.267°E / -33.483; 21.267
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceWestern Cape
DistrictGarden Route
MunicipalityKannaland
Area
 • Total25.8 km2 (10.0 sq mi)
Elevation
540 m (1,770 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total7,127
 • Density280/km2 (720/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African6.4%
 • Coloured81.3%
 • Indian/Asian0.3%
 • White11.5%
 • Other0.5%
First languages (2011)
 • Afrikaans95.7%
 • English1.9%
 • Other2.4%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
6655
PO box
6655
Area code028

Geography

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It is situated adjacent to a series of fertile, irrigated valleys, at an elevation of 550 m above sea level, at the southern base of the Swartberg. It is currently included in the southern Kannaland Local Municipality. The nearest towns are Calitzdorp to the east, Vanwyksdorp and Riversdale to the south and Laingsburg to the north.

History

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In 1852 the farm Elandsvlei was set aside for the town, and it became a municipality in 1862. It was named after Lady Juana María de los Dolores de León Smith, the wife of Sir Harry Smith, one of two towns in South Africa named after her, the other being Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal.[2]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d Sum of the Main Places Ladismith and Nissenville from Census 2011.
  2. ^ Raper, P.E. (2004). South African Place Names. Jonathan Ball, Jhb & Cape Town. p. 199. ISBN 1-86842-190-2.
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