Bedford, South Africa Explained

Bedford
Other Name:Nyarha
Pushpin Map:South Africa Eastern Cape#South Africa
Coordinates:-32.6833°N 31°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:South Africa
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Eastern Cape
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Amathole
Subdivision Type3:Municipality
Subdivision Name3:Raymond Mhlaba
Subdivision Type4:Main Place
Established Title:Established
Established Date:1854[1]
Leader Title:Councillor
Area Footnotes:[2]
Area Total Km2:14.6
Elevation M:740
Population Total:8770
Population As Of:2011
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type1:Racial makeup (2011)
Demographics1 Title1:Black African
Demographics1 Info1:68.9%
Demographics1 Title2:Coloured
Demographics1 Info2:27.1%
Demographics1 Title3:Indian/Asian
Demographics1 Info3:0.1%
Demographics1 Title4:White
Demographics1 Info4:3.2%
Demographics1 Title5:Other
Demographics1 Info5:0.7%
Demographics Type2:First languages (2011)
Demographics2 Title1:Xhosa
Demographics2 Info1:63.5%
Demographics2 Title2:Afrikaans
Demographics2 Info2:29.7%
Demographics2 Title3:English
Demographics2 Info3:4.5%
Demographics2 Title5:Other
Demographics2 Info5:2.2%
Timezone1:SAST
Utc Offset1:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code (street)
Postal Code:5780
Postal2 Code Type:PO box
Postal2 Code:5780
Area Code Type:Area code
Area Code:046

Bedford or Nyarha is a town in the centre of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It was established in the mid-19th century when Sir Andries Stockenstroom sold portions of land from his farm Maastroom to raise funds for the restoration of his library, which had been burnt by British soldiers mistrustful of his attempts to broker peace in one of the Cape Frontier Wars. The farm is still there and open for visitors.

It is located on the southern edge of the Winterberg mountain range, in the Smaldeel (a narrow strip of grassland running laterally from Fort Beaufort to Somerset East, renowned for its sweet grass). The town suffered a major decline in fortunes in the latter half of the 20th century before reviving itself around the turn of the millennium. It is regarded today as an artist's haven and retirement village.

The lack of industry in the town, while a boon to those hoping to escape the rat race, means that the town has a large unemployment rate. The woes of the poor are exacerbated by a high HIV-AIDS infection rate.

The Bedford Provincial Hospital is situated in Maitland Street, three blocks northwest of the town's centre.

Most tourists visit Bedford to experience true South African farm living. It is also known for the garden festival where people who live in the town and surrounding farms get to show case their gardens and other creative art work.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Robson . Linda Gillian . The Royal Engineers and settlement planning in the Cape Colony 1806–1872: Approach, methodology and impact . 2011 . PhD thesis . University of Pretoria . Annexure A . https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/26503/05back.pdf?sequence=6&isAllowed=y#page=31 . 2263/26503 . xlv–lii.
  2. Sum of the Main Places Bedford, Nonzwakazi and Nyara from Census 2011.