Stellenbosch

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Stellenbosch Stellenbosch with Great Drakenstein and Stellenbosch Mountains beyond Nickname(s): Eikestad Stellenbosch Stellenbosch  Stellenbosch shown within South Africa Coordinates: 33°55′12″S 18°51′36″E / 33.92000°S 18.86000°E / -33.92000; 18.86000Coordinates: 33°55′12″S 18°51′36″E / 33.92000°S 18.86000°E / -33.92000; 18.86000 Country South Africa Province Western Cape District Cape Winelands Municipality Stellenbosch Area  • Total 30.41 km2 (11.74 sq mi) Elevation 136 m (446 ft) Population (2001)  • Total 44,160  • Estimate (2001) 117,713  • Density Bad rounding here1,500/km2 (Bad rounding here3,800/sq mi) Racial makeup (2001)  • Black African 2.4%  • Coloured 52.1%  • Indian/Asian 0.4%  • White 45.1% First languages (2001)  • Afrikaans 86.8%  • English 11.2%  • Other 2% Time zone SAST (UTC+2) Postal Code(s) 7599, 7600

Stellenbosch /ˈstɛlənbɒs/ is a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa, situated about 50 kilometres (31 mi) east of Cape Town, along the banks of the Eerste River. It is the second oldest European settlement in the province, after Cape Town. The town became known as the City of Oaks or Eikestad in Afrikaans and Dutch due to the large number of oak trees that were planted by its founder, Simon van der Stel, to grace the streets and homesteads.

Stellenbosch has its own municipality (incorporating the neighbouring towns of Pniel and Franschhoek), adjoining the greater/metro area of the city of Cape Town. The town is home to Stellenbosch University. Technopark is a modern science park situated on the southern side of the town near the Stellenbosch Golf Course.

A panorama of Stellenbosch, as seen from Papegaaiberg