Christiana, North West

Christiana
Christiana
Coordinates: 27°55′12″S 25°9′36″E / 27.92°S 25.16°E / -27.92; 25.16
Country	South Africa
Province	North West Province
District	Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati
Local Municipality	Lekwa-Teemane
Population
- Total	15,322
Time zone	SAST (UTC+2)

Christiana is an agricultural town with 15.322 ^[1] inhabitants on the banks of the Vaal River in North West Province of South Africa The town is located on the N12 between Bloemhof and Warrenton, on the way to Kimberley (Northern Cape). It is the administrative centre of Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality.^[2]

History

When diamonds were discovered in the Vaal River in the 1870s the former Transvaal Government established a settlement on the banks of the river in 1870, in an attempt to control and alleviate land disputes over diamond discoveries further down the Vaal River. This town was established on the farm Zoutpansdrift (salt pan drift) and named Christiana, after the only daughter of President Pretorius of the old Transvaal. The first residential stands were sold in 1870.

Two years later diamonds were discovered in the gravel of the Vaal River close by and the inevitable manic rush followed. As usual the initial rush petered with the diamonds. In 1997, diamonds were rediscovered along the banks of a farm on the Free State side of Christiana. This led to a new diamond rush and diggings that continue to this day.

Economy

The town contains one of the biggest diggers' bells ever to exist in the world. The bell is currently under water in the Vaal River as it once sank and ended in the drowning of several diggers. There were a few attempts to get the diggers' bell out, as it is said that there are diamonds still in it, but it was in vain as it is surrounded by too much mud

Christiana is one of the corners of the "Maize Rectangle", with the mainstay of the economy being the production of maize, potatoes, onions, sorghum, groundnuts and beef. The main farmers in the area are the de Beer's and Callender-Easby's. One of South Africa's top horse studs, Callaho Warmblood Sport Horses, can be found near Christiana.

Christiana is well known for its water sports along the Vaal River, as well as the Diamond Diggers Festival (Delwers Fees) that occurs annually. Other tourist attractions include the Diggers' Diamond Museum (authentic digging equipment and old photographs pay tribute to the town's diamond industry) and San Bushman rock art (excellent examples can be viewed 6 km out of town on the Farm Stowlands) and Stows Kopje (prehistoric rock engravings which have been declared a national monument).

References

1. ^ World Gazetteer
2. ^ Municipal Demarcation Board : Municipal Profiles 2003 : Contacts Retrieved 15 April 2010

Coordinates: 27°55′S 25°09′E / 27.917°S 25.15°E / -27.917; 25.15