Bloemfontein (pronounced /ˈbluːmfɒnteɪn/, Afrikaans and Dutch for "spring of Bloem (bloom)", "flower spring" or "fountain of flowers" is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa. The city's Sesotho name is Mangaung, meaning "place of cheetahs." Bloemfontein is popularly and poetically known as "the city of roses", owing to the abundance of these flowers and the annual rose festival held there. EXAMPLE:Laughbox,Blondie,BamBam,Pinkie,etc. ... A map of the nine provinces of South Africa South Africa is currently divided into nine provinces. ... For the term free state as it arises in United States history, see: Free state. ... Elevation histogram of the surface of the Earth – approximately 71% of the Earths surface is covered with water. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... Time zones of Africa: Striped colours indicate countries observing daylight saving South African Standard Time, or SAST, is a time zone used by all of South Africa, in addition to Lesotho and Swaziland. ... Eastern European Time Central Africa Time Israel Standard Time South Africa Standard Time Central European Summer Time West Africa Summer Time Category: ... Look up Wiktionary:Swadesh lists for Afrikaans and Dutch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For the term free state as it arises in United States history, see: Free state. ... Sesotho is a language spoken in southern Africa. ... This article is about the animal. ...

Although Bloemfontein has a reputation for its flowers in an otherwise arid region, the city's name is alleged by some to refer to Jan Bloem (1775-1858), a Korana Griqua leader whose people inhabited (and still inhabit) parts of the Free State and Northern Cape. The Griqua (Afrikaans Griekwa) are a subgroup of South Africas heterogeneous and multiracial Coloured people. ... Northern Cape is a province of South Africa, created in 1994 when the Cape Province was split up. ...

This theory is widely disputed, as the emerging Boer settlement would likely have avoided identifying the town with an indigenous group. The founding of the town also predates Bloem's death.

The city is situated on dry grassland at 29°06′S, 26°13′E, at an altitude of 1,395 metres above sea level. The city is home to 369,568 residents, while the Mangaung Local Municipality has a population of 645,455. Bloemfontein is served by Bloemfontein airport. This article is about the unit of length. ... For considerations of sea level change, in particular rise associated with possible global warming, see sea level rise. ... Bloemfontein Airport (IATA: BFN, ICAO: FABL) is located in Bloemfontein, South Africa. ...

History

Though historically a predominantly Afrikaner settlement, Bloemfontein was officially founded in 1846 by British army major Henry Douglas Warden as a British outpost in the Transoranje region, at that stage occupied by various groups of peoples including Cape Colony Trek Boers, Griqua and Basotho. With colonial policy shifts the region changed into the Orange River Sovereignty (1848-1854) and eventually the Orange Free State Republic (1854-1902). From 1902-1910 it served as the capital of the Orange River Colony and since that time as the provincial capital of the Orange Free State (now Free State). In 1910 it became the Judicial Capital of South Africa. This article is about the Southern African ethnic group. ... Anthem: God Save the Queen Cape Colony Capital Cape Town Language(s) English and Dutch1 Religion Dutch Reformed Church, Anglican Government Constitutional monarchy Last Monarch King George VI Last Prime Minister  - 1908 – 1910 John X. Merriman Last Governor  - 1901 - 1910 Walter Hely-Hutchinson Historical era 19th century  - Dutch East India... The Trekboers were descendants of Dutch settlers, French Huguenot refugees, German Protestants, Friesians and smaller numbers of Belgians, Scandinavians, Scots, also some Indian slaves due to intermarriage, and an a mixture of Khoi and Malay due to absorption into the nascent Boer nation. ... The Griqua (Afrikaans Griekwa) are a subgroup of South Africas heterogeneous and multiracial Coloured people. ... The Orange River Sovereignty (1848-1854) was a short-lived political entity between the Orange and Vaal rivers in southern Africa. ... Flag of the Orange Free State Capital Bloemfontein Language(s) Afrikaans, English Religion Dutch Reformed Church Government Republic President  - 1854 - 1855 Josias P. Hoffman  - 1855 - 1859 Jacobus Nicolaas Boshoff  - 1859 - 1863 Marthinus Wessel Pretorius (also President of the South African Republic from 1857 to 1871). ... Flag of Orange River Colony The Orange River Colony was a British colony created by the annexation of the Orange Free State in 1900, after the Boer War. ... Flag of the Orange Free State Capital Bloemfontein Language(s) Afrikaans, English Religion Dutch Reformed Church Government Republic President  - 1854 - 1855 Josias P. Hoffman  - 1855 - 1859 Jacobus Nicolaas Boshoff  - 1859 - 1863 Marthinus Wessel Pretorius (also President of the South African Republic from 1857 to 1871). ... Capital Bloemfontein Largest city Bloemfontein Area  - Total Ranked 3rd 129,480 km² Premier Beatrice Marshoff (ANC) Population   - 2001   - 1996   - Density Ranked 8th 2,706,776 2,633,504 21/km² (2001) Languages Sotho (62%) Afrikaans (14%) isiXhosa (9. ...

Founding and early days

Warden originally chose the site largely because of its close proximity to the main route to Winburg, the spacious open country, and the absence of horse sickness. African horse sickness (AHS) is a highly infectious, and deadly disease. ...

1854-1898

The old Raadsaal in Bloemfontein, with the statue of Christiaan de Wet

As the capital of the Orange Free State Republic the growth and maturing of the Republic resulted in the growth of the town. Numerous public buildings that remain in use to day were constructed. This was largely facilitated by the excellent governance of the Republic (which acquired the term model republic) and the compensation from the British for the loss of the diamond rich Griqualand area. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Christiaan Rudolf de Wet (7 October 1854 - 5 February 1922) was a Boer general and politician. ... The Griqua are a subgroup of South Africas Coloured population, descended from an admixture of European settlers and the Khoisan peoples they encountered on their initial arrival at the Cape. ...

A railway line was built in 1890 connecting Bloemfontein to Cape Town. Nickname: Motto: Spes Bona (Latin for Good Hope) Location of the City of Cape Town in Western Cape Province Coordinates: , Country Province Municipality City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality Founded 1652 Government [1]  - Type City council  - Mayor Helen Zille  - City manager Achmat Ebrahim Area  - Total 2,499 km² (964. ...

The writer J. R. R. Tolkien was born in the city on January 3, 1892, though his family left South Africa while he was still a child following the death of his father, Arthur Tolkien (1896). He recorded that his earliest memories were of "a hot country". Tolkien redirects here. ... is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Arthur Reuel Tolkien, the father of J.R.R. Tolkien, was born in Handsworth, Stafford, England, about February of 1857. ... Year 1896 (MDCCCXCVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar). ...

Second Anglo-Boer War/South African War

In 1899, the city was the site of the Bloemfontein Conference, which failed to prevent the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War. The conference was a final attempt to avert a war between England and the Transvaal; with its failure the stage was set for the Anglo-Boer War. The Bloemfontein Conference was a meeting that took place in Bloemfontein, capital of the Orange Free State from May 13 until June 5, 1899. ... Combatants British Empire Orange Free State South African Republic Commanders Sir Redvers Buller Lord Kitchener Lord Roberts Paul Kruger Louis Botha Koos de la Rey Martinus Steyn Christiaan de Wet Casualties 6,000 - 7,000 (A further ~14,000 from disease) 6,000 - 8,000 (Unknown number from disease) Civilians...

The rail line from Cape Town proved to be critical to the British in occupying the city later Nickname: Motto: Spes Bona (Latin for Good Hope) Location of the City of Cape Town in Western Cape Province Coordinates: , Country Province Municipality City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality Founded 1652 Government [1]  - Type City council  - Mayor Helen Zille  - City manager Achmat Ebrahim Area  - Total 2,499 km² (964. ...

On March 13, 1900, following the Battle of Paardeberg during the Anglo-Boer War, British forces captured the city and built a concentration camp nearby to house Boer women and children. The National Women's Memorial, on the outskirts of the city, pays homage to the 45,000 women and children (including up to 17,000 black people) who died in these camps.^{[citation needed]} is the 72nd day of the year (73rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Äž: For the film, see: 1900 (film). ... Combatants The British Empire Boers Commanders Sir John French Colonel Kelly-Kenny Piet Cronje Strength 15,000 men 5,000 men Casualties 258 dead 1,211 wounded 86 captured 100 dead 250 wounded 4,096 captured The Battle of Paardeberg was a major battle during the Second Anglo-Boer War. ... It has been suggested that Internment be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about the Boer people (Boerevolk). ...

Recent history

Until 1994 the city was best known as the sole judicial capital of South Africa. It remains the seat for the Supreme Court Of Appeal (formerly the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court)and is generally therefore regarded as the judicial capital. It is also an administrative centre with many private hospitals and educational institutions.

Geography & Climate

Bloemfontein is located in central South Africa on the southern edge of the Highveld at an elevation of 1400m, bordering on the semi-arid region of the Karoo. The area is generally flat with occasional hills (koppies in Afrikaans) and the general vegetation is Highveld grassland. Bloemfontein experiences an oceanic climate with hot summer days (Jan: max:31°C min:15°C; frequent afternoon thunderstorms) and cooler, dry winters, often with frosts (July: max:17°C min:-2°C). Snow is rare but as recently as August 2006 it snowed in the city, with snowfalls occurring again at the airport on July 26th 2007. The Highveld is a high plateau area of South Africa which includes the largest metropolitan area in the country, Johannesburg. ... The Karoo is a semi-desert region of South Africa. ... Look up Wiktionary:Swadesh lists for Afrikaans and Dutch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Celsius is, or relates to, the Celsius temperature scale (previously known as the centigrade scale). ... For other uses, see Fahrenheit (disambiguation). ... Celsius is, or relates to, the Celsius temperature scale (previously known as the centigrade scale). ... For other uses, see Fahrenheit (disambiguation). ... Celsius is, or relates to, the Celsius temperature scale (previously known as the centigrade scale). ... For other uses, see Fahrenheit (disambiguation). ... Celsius is, or relates to, the Celsius temperature scale (previously known as the centigrade scale). ... For other uses, see Fahrenheit (disambiguation). ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ...

Suburbs

Bloemfontein suburbs include Woodlandhills Wildlife Estate http://www.woodlandhills.co.za, Bayswater, Brandwag, Ehrlichpark, Fauna, Fichardtpark, Fleurdal, Gardeniapark, Generaal De Wet, Hospitaalpark, Kiepersol, Lourierpark, Park West, Pellissier, Uitsig, Universitas, Westdene, Wilgehof and Willows to the south of the city. To the north of Bloemfontein, you will find Langenhovenpark, Arboretum, Bayswater, Dan Pienaar, Helicon Heights, Heuwelsig, Hillsboro, Hillside, Hilton, Naval Hill, Navalsig, Noordhoek, Pentagon Park and Waverley. Fauna is a suburb of the city of Bloemfontein in South Africa. ... For Universitas, see: A Latin word meaning corporation. A student newspaper at the University of Oslo; Published once a week; See http://www. ... Willows housed the first post office which was build in Bloemfontein. ... Major-General Daniel Pienaar CB DSO (1893-1942) was a South African World War II military commander. ... Heuwelsig is a suburb of Bloemfontein. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Sports

Stadiums

The Free State Stadium and the surrounding sports complex is the main sports venue in the city and province. There are several other sports venues however in the city, including facilities belonging to the University, schools and sports clubs. The Free State Stadium, also known as Vodacom Park Stadium, is a football (soccer) stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa. ...

Vodacom Park also known as "Free State Stadium" will be the hosting stadium of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa matches played in Bloemfontein.

For more information on Free State Stadium "Vodacom Park" visit http://www.fscheetahs.co.za

Soccer

Bloemfontein is joint home (together with nearby Botshabelo) to Premier Soccer League team Bloemfontein Celtic. Some of the matches of the Football World Cup 2010 will be played at the Free State Stadium. Botshabelo is a large black settlement set up by the then apartheid government 45km east of Bloemfontein, Free State Province, South Africa. ... Premier Soccer League is the trading name of the National Soccer League of South Africa, also known by its initials (PSL). ... Bloemfontein Celtic is a South African football (soccer) club, playing in the countrys Premier Soccer League. ... The 2010 Football World Cup will take place in South Africa. ...

Rugby

Bloemfontein's Free State Stadium is home to two rugby union teams; the Central Cheetahs franchise who compete in the Super 14 and the Free State Cheetahs who play in the domestic Currie Cup. The Free State Cheetahs won the Currie Cup in 2005 against the Blue Bulls, they drew the final with the Blue Bulls in 2006 and retained the Currie Cup title in 2007 by by winning the Golden Lions resulting in the Free State Cheetahs to be Currie Cup champions until at least 2008. For more information on Vodacom Free State Cheetahs visit http://www.fscheetahs.co.za & information on Super 14 Vodacom Cheetahs visit http://www.vodacomcheetahs.com The Free State Stadium, also known as Vodacom Park Stadium, is a football (soccer) stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa. ... For other uses, see Rugby (disambiguation). ... The Central Cheetahs is a South African Super 14 rugby union franchise set to begin play in 2006. ... The Super 14 is the largest rugby union football club championship in the southern hemisphere, consisting of provincial teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. ... The Free State Cheetahs (formerly the Orange Free State), for sponsorship reasons named Vodacom Free State Cheetahs, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. ... For the cricket competition originally known as the Currie Cup, see SuperSport Series. ... The Blue Bulls, for sponsorship reasons named Vodacom Blue Bulls, or more popularly by the clubs Afrikaans name Die Blou Bulle, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. ... The Blue Bulls, for sponsorship reasons named Vodacom Blue Bulls, or more popularly by the clubs Afrikaans name Die Blou Bulle, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. ... For the cricket competition originally known as the Currie Cup, see SuperSport Series. ... (This article is about the South African rugby team. ... The Free State Cheetahs (formerly the Orange Free State), for sponsorship reasons named Vodacom Free State Cheetahs, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. ... For the cricket competition originally known as the Currie Cup, see SuperSport Series. ...

Cricket

The Gestetner Eagles representing the Free State and Northern Cape in various series is located at Good Year Park, part of the Free State Stadium complex. The Goodyear Eagles is the current name of the Free State Province first class cricket team in South Africa. ... Goodyear Park is a stadium in Bloemfontein used for cricket in South Africa. ... The Free State Stadium, also known as Vodacom Park Stadium, is a football (soccer) stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa. ...

For more information on Gestetner Eagles visit http://www.eaglescricket.com

Motor Sports

• Bloemfontein has an excellent Motocross track run by the Bloemfontein Off Road Club.
• There is also a kart circuit (M&F Raceway), which is ruled by Bloemfontein Kart Club.

Education

This list may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please help improve this list. It may be poorly defined, unverified or indiscriminate.

Bloemfontein is the seat of University of the Free State as well as the Central University of Technology Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Shortcut: WP:WIN Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia and, as a means to that end, also an online community. ... The University of the Free State is situated in Bloemfontein, the capital of the Free State Province. ... Central University of Technology main campus is situated in Bloemfontein, while its distance-learning centre in Welkom serves students in the Goldfields area. ...

Primary schools include:

• Grey College Primary School http://www.gcpb.co.za
• Bloemfontein Primary School
• Laerskool Universitas (TJOKKIES)

There are also several high schools (secondary schools) in the city, these include:

• Grey College Secondary School http://www.greycollege.com
• Bloemfontein High School
• CVO Skool Dankbaar in Bain's Vlei is a private Calvinist school, affiliated with the BCVO
• Hoërskool Fichardtpark in Fichhardtpark
• Technical High School Louis Botha,
• Hoërskool Jim Fouché
• Hoërskool Sand du Plessis - Hoërskool Sand du Plessis Forum
• St. Andrew's School
• St. Michael's School
• Sentraal High School ([http://www.sentraal.co.za Hoërskool Sentraal

The BCVO (Afrikaans: Beweging vir Christelik- Volkseie Onderwys) (English: Movement for Christian- National Education) is an educational organisation in South Africa, committed to educating the youth of the Boervolk from grade 1 through 12 in the Calvinist Tradition and Afrikaans language. ... St. ... St. ...

Recreational

Bloemfontein has an excellent Motocross track run by the Bloemfontein Off Road Club. Motocross traditionally took place (and still does) in wet weather, leading to muddy scenes like this and hence the term Scrambling. Photo from New Zealand. ...

There is also a kart circuit (M&F Raceway), which is ruled by Bloemfontein Kart Club. A kart racer takes a turn on an indoor track Kart racing (as the word is so spelled by enthusiasts) or karting is a variant of open-wheeler motor sport with simple, small four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. ...

One can also enjoy a day or a sleep over at the Bloemfontein Zoo. Zoo Snoozes are only one of the activities arranged by Friends of the Bloemfontein Zoo.

Boyden Observatory, a unique astronomy research and educational centre outside the city, offers public open evenings on certain nights during the year, arranged by the Friends of Boyden Observatory. Groups can also visit the Observatory for exclusive evenings on appointment. Boyden Observatory is an astronomy research observatory. ...

Atop Naval Hill is the Franklin game reserve, thought to be the only game reserve in the world within city limits. It was named after John Franklin, South African Senator, attorney and frequent Mayor of Bloemfontein in the 1930s.

Media

• Die Volksblad (Newspaper)
• OFM (Radio Station)
• Chillies (Online Media)

Famous Persons

This list may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please help improve this list. It may be poorly defined, unverified or indiscriminate.

• International long distance athlete Zola Budd.
• J. R. R. Tolkien CBE was born in Bloemfontein on 3 January 1892. Tolkien is famous for his fantasy epics The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. When aged 3, Tolkien left South Africa for England.
• Shaun Morgan.
• Hansie Cronje.
• Juan Smith
• Os du Randt
• Allan Donald
• Ryk Neethling, Olympic gold medalist swimmer

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Shortcut: WP:WIN Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia and, as a means to that end, also an online community. ... Zola Budd running a cross-country race barefoot Zola Pieterse, still better known by her maiden name of Zola Budd (born May 26, 1966 in Bloemfontein, Orange Free State in South Africa), is a former Olympic track and field competitor who, within a period of less than three years, twice... Tolkien redirects here. ... The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GBE) Knight Commander... is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... This article is about the book. ... This article is about the novel. ... The Silmarillion is a collection of J. R. R. Tolkiens mythopoeic works, edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in 1977, with assistance from Guy Gavriel Kay, who would later become a noted fantasy fiction writer. ... Shaun Morgan Welgemoed (Born December 21, 1978) is a South African musician , best known as the lead singer of the Post-Grunge band Seether, formerly known as Saron Gas. ... Wessel Johannes Hansie Cronje (KRON-year) (September 25, 1969 - June 1, 2002) was a South African cricketer and captain of the South African national cricket team in the 1990s. ... Date of Birth: 30 July 1981 Place of Birth: Bloemfontein, South Africa Height: 1. ... Jacobus Petrus du Randt, better known as Os du Randt (born 8 September 1972 in Elliot, South Africa), is a South African rugby player who plays as a loosehead prop for the Springboks, Central Cheetahs (Super 14), and Free State Cheetahs (Currie Cup). ... Allan Anthony Donald, (born October 20, 1966, Bloemfontein) was a South African cricketer, and one of their most successful pace bowlers ever. ... Ryk Neethling (born November 17, 1977) is a South African swimmer and the winner of an Olympic gold medal. ...

Religion

Bloemfontein has a large and diverse Christian population. The city houses several churches and denominations:

• It is the seat of the Anglican Diocese of the Free State
• Afrikaanse Baptiste Kerk (Afrikaans Baptist Church}
• NG Gemeente Heuwelkruin (Dutch Reformed Church}
• Sacred Heart Cathedral in Bloemfontein is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bloemfontein

Probably the most popular church in Bloemfontein is the Christian Revival Church (CRC). Christian Revival Church has a total of 25,000 members, making it the second largest church in South Africa. The Dutch Reformed village church of St. ... The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bloemfontein (Latin: Bloemfonteinen(sis)) is the Metropolitan See for the Ecclesiastical province of Bloemfontein in South Africa. ...

Local Governance

Bloemfontein forms part of the Manguang Local Municipality and the Motheo District Municipality A map of South Africa showing Motheo (within Free State province) Motheo is one of the 5 districts of Free State province of South Africa. ...

Community Service Organizations

• Round Table 25 BloemfonteinRound Table is a non-political, non-racial association of young men between the ages of 18 and 40, embracing representatives of nearly every profession and occupation. Its objects are the encouragement of high ethical standards, the promotion of social inter-action and fellowship among young professional and business men and the quickening of individual interest in everything affecting the public welfare. Click on the link above for more information.

External links

• Bloemfontein The official Mangaung Local Municipality website
• Bloemfontein The Bloemfontein Information website
• Round Table 25 BloemfonteinRound Table 25 Bloemfontein is the oldest Round Table branch in the Free State.
• Additional information about Bloemfontein Airport
• Google Map
• Boyden Observatory

Coordinates: 29°06′S, 26°13′E Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

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