Koppies | |
Other Name: | Kopjes |
Pushpin Map: | South Africa Free State#South Africa |
Coordinates: | -27.2333°N 62°W |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
Subdivision Type1: | Province |
Subdivision Name1: | Free State |
Subdivision Type2: | District |
Subdivision Name2: | Fezile Dabi |
Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
Subdivision Name3: | Ngwathe |
Subdivision Type4: | Main Place |
Established Title: | Established |
Leader Title: | Councillor |
Area Footnotes: | [1] |
Area Total Km2: | 7.5 |
Population Total: | 13803 |
Population As Of: | 2011 |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup (2011) |
Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
Demographics1 Info1: | 94.9% |
Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
Demographics1 Info2: | 0.4% |
Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
Demographics1 Info3: | 0.3% |
Demographics1 Title4: | White |
Demographics1 Info4: | 3.9% |
Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
Demographics1 Info5: | 0.4% |
Demographics Type2: | First languages (2011) |
Demographics2 Title1: | Sotho |
Demographics2 Info1: | 79.5% |
Demographics2 Title2: | Xhosa |
Demographics2 Info2: | 6.1% |
Demographics2 Title3: | Afrikaans |
Demographics2 Info3: | 4.9% |
Demographics2 Title4: | Zulu |
Demographics2 Info4: | 2.7% |
Demographics2 Title5: | Other |
Demographics2 Info5: | 6.7% |
Timezone1: | SAST |
Utc Offset1: | +2 |
Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
Postal Code: | 9540 |
Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
Postal2 Code: | 9540 |
Area Code Type: | Area code |
Area Code: | 056 |
Website: | www.koppies.info |
Koppies is a small town (railway station) situated near the Renoster River in the Free State province of South Africa.
The town is situated 63 km north-east of Kroonstad, 48 km west of Heilbron and 42 km south-south-east of Parys. It was laid out as a township in 1910 and became a municipality in 1926. Formerly Kopjes, meaning 'hills', the name is derived from that of the farm on which it was laid out, Honingkopjes, Dutch for 'honey hills'.
General De Wet donated his Farm "Rooipoort" to be set up for under-privileged whites in the form of a few morgen irrigation land, and then a few morgen "dry" land for cultivating maize, etc. By the time the people got out of the war they were very poor, and were supplied with a few eggs and a paraffin lamp/hatcher for the eggs.
By demand/pressure of General De Wet, the Koppies Dam was constructed to supply water for irrigation, and work to the local people who needed it badly. During the 1960s, the wall of the dam was raised to where it is today.