Alexandria, South Africa Explained

Alexandria
Pushpin Map:South Africa Eastern Cape#South Africa
Coordinates:-33.6533°N 50.5°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:South Africa
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Eastern Cape
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Sarah Baartman
Subdivision Type3:Municipality
Subdivision Name3:Ndlambe
Subdivision Type4:Main Place
Established Title:Established
Leader Title:Councillor
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:5.7
Population Total:10085
Population As Of:2011
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type1:Racial makeup (2011)
Demographics1 Title1:Black African
Demographics1 Info1:77.4%
Demographics1 Title2:Coloured
Demographics1 Info2:16.3%
Demographics1 Title3:Indian/Asian
Demographics1 Info3:0.3%
Demographics1 Title4:White
Demographics1 Info4:5.2%
Demographics1 Title5:Other
Demographics1 Info5:0.8%
Demographics Type2:First languages (2011)
Demographics2 Title1:Xhosa
Demographics2 Info1:72.8%
Demographics2 Title2:Afrikaans
Demographics2 Info2:20.3%
Demographics2 Title3:English
Demographics2 Info3:4.2%
Demographics2 Title5:Other
Demographics2 Info5:2.7%
Timezone1:SAST
Utc Offset1:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code (street)
Postal Code:6185
Postal2 Code Type:PO box
Postal2 Code:6185
Area Code Type:Area code
Area Code:046

Alexandria is a small farming town in the Eastern Cape of South Africa and is situated 100 km North East of Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, on the way to Bushman's River Mouth, Kenton-on-Sea and Port Alfred. Alexandria is part of the Ndlambe Local Municipality in the Sarah Baartman District Municipality of the Eastern Cape.

It might have been established by the Dutch colonial government in the late 18th century, but was named Alexandria in 1856 after Reverend Alexander Smith. It has a warm temperate climate and is unusual in southern Africa in having no distinct dry or wet season, with rain received throughout the year.

Alexandria is one of the most important chicory producing areas in South Africa and is also known for pineapple production and dairy farming. The Alexandria area also includes the Alexandria State Forest, known as Langebos to the locals, which is a narrow stretch of pristine indigenous forest bordering the Alexandria dune field, one of the largest active dune fields in the world. The Woody Cape Nature Reserve, which stretches from the Sundays River mouth to the Bushman's River mouth and includes the dune field and the indigenous forest, has been incorporated into the Addo Elephant National Park.

Notes and References

  1. Sum of the Main Places Alexandria and KwaNonkqubela from Census 2011.