Balgowan, KwaZulu-Natal

Balgowan

A goods train approaching Balgowan station
Balgowan

 Balgowan shown within KwaZulu-Natal

Coordinates: 29°22′S 30°1′E / 29.367°S 30.017°E / -29.367; 30.017Coordinates: 29°22′S 30°1′E / 29.367°S 30.017°E / -29.367; 30.017
Country South Africa
Province KwaZulu-Natal
District uMgungundlovu
Municipality uMngeni
Area[1]
  Total 3.84 km2 (1.48 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
  Total 980
  Density 260/km2 (660/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
  Black African 40.6%
  Coloured 2.9%
  Indian/Asian 4.9%
  White 50.8%
  Other 0.9%
First languages (2011)[1]
  English 48.6%
  Zulu 37.0%
  Afrikaans 10.7%
  Xhosa 1.2%
  Other 2.5%
PO box 3275

Balgowan is a valley in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands in South Africa.

The town of Balgowan is not much more than an old trading store and a train station where locally grown timber is picked up. However, nearby is Michaelhouse, the Anglican boarding school for boys in the Diocese of Natal, an exclusive private boarding school. The school complex, built in the English gothic style from red Pietermaritzburg brick, includes a chapel which is open to the public, featuring a stained glass rose window by Ervin Bossanyi.

As elsewhere in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Balgowan has some wealthy farmers, mostly in the timber production industry (pine and eucalyptus) or in dairy and cattle farming. Popular niche soft drinks manufacturer Frankie's Soft Drinks Company is located in the town.

The Midlands Meander, a scenic tourist route featuring arts and crafts, restaurants and accommodation, runs through Balgowan on the R103 road.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Balgowan". Census 2011.


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, October 16, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.