Albany, South Africa

Albany, South Africa (also known as Cape Borders, Cape Frontier, Settler Country, and Western Region) was a district in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The area was known as the 'Zuurveld' by migrating Boer farmers in the late 18th century. The ANC government merged the Albany area with the large Xhosa township of Alice as the municipal area of ' Cacadu' [http://www.ecprov.gov.za/municipality/content.asp?PageID=1350] .

History

General Jacob Glen Cuyler, the Landrost of the Uitenhage district, named the area between the Sundays and Fish rivers "Albany" after Albany in his native New York. Albany became the focus point for the settlement of the 1820 Settlers by the Cape Colony's new British masters. It was one of the largest movements of British settlers to Africa, and a milestone in the forming of the Anglo African people. Grahamstown, Bathurst, and Port Alfred became important villages in Albany following the arrival of the 1820 Settlers.

Demographics

The region, with the exception of Alice township, is predominantly Anglo African and Afrikaner (471,844 people - excluding those not reached in closed-gate communities) [http://www.demarcation.org.za/] . However, this is often overlooked, because as a whole the Eastern Cape is predominantly Xhosa.

Geographical features

The district forms the rural hinterland beyond Port Elizabeth. The coastal belt is a temperate, winter rainfall area, with rains of 500 to 700 mm per annum and above. The beautiful Tsitsikamma and Baviaans Parks lie in the extreme west of the district, close to the Western Cape. The interior is mostly dry Karoo and grasslands composed of large commercial farms and vast expanses. The historic town of Graaf-Reinet is an important centre in the north of the district. Despite the arid interior, the Sundays and Fish Rivers support extensive irrigated farming and are fed by water from the Orange River under the Fish River Transfer Scheme. Grahamstown in the east, is home to the National Arts Festival and Rhodes University, named after Rhodes, a key figure in Anglo African history. The university is the authority on South African English. The city was formed by John Graham was the capital of the Albany District Council [http://www.geocities.com/muurkroon/AlbanyDC.html] .

External References

* [http://www.albanyhotels.co.za/ The Albany Hotel chain]
* [http://www.geocities.com/muurkroon/AlbanyDC.html Albany District Council]
* [http://www.fcma.co.za/ Frontier Country Marketing Association]
* [http://www.grahamstown.co.za/forts_of_frontier_country.html Frontier Country Forts]
* [http://www.frontiercountry.co.za/ Frontier Country tourist information]
* [http://www.sa-venues.com/attractionsec/eastern_cape_frontier_country.htm Frontier County on SA Venues]
* [http://www.ccafricasafaris.com/destinations/southafrica/easterncape/frontiercountry/ Albany on CC Africa Safaris]
* [http://www.rainbowtours.co.uk/index.php?id=198 Albany on Rainbow Tours]