Riversdale, Western Cape

Riversdale
Approaching the town of Riversdale on the N2 highway
Riversdale  Riversdale shown within Western Cape
Coordinates: 34°05′49″S 21°15′44″E / 34.09694°S 21.26222°ECoordinates: 34°05′49″S 21°15′44″E / 34.09694°S 21.26222°E
Country	South Africa
Province	Western Cape
District	Eden
Municipality	Hessequa
Established	1838[1]
Area[2]
• Total	100.45 km^2 (38.78 sq mi)
Population (2011)[2]
• Total	16,176
• Density	160/km^2 (420/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[2]
• Black African	8.9%
• Coloured	75.2%
• Indian/Asian	0.3%
• White	15.3%
• Other	0.3%
First languages (2011)[2]
• Afrikaans	92.3%
• Xhosa	3.7%
• English	2.2%
• Other	1.8%
Postal code (street)	6670
PO box	6670
Area code	028

Riversdale (Afrikaans: Riversdal) is a town located on the N2 highway between Cape Town and George on the Agulhas Coastal Plain of the southern Western Cape province of South Africa. It is an agricultural service oriented town, being a hub for shopping and other services for surrounding farming communities, smaller towns, and coastal resorts, like Witsand and Stilbaai. It is located beneath the imposing Langeberg Mountains to the north, with Sleeping Beauty Mountain overlooking the town.

The town was founded as a church on the farm, Doornkraal, and was subsequently named after Harry Rivers, the then incumbent Civil Commissioner of Swellendam. It was proclaimed a town on 30 August 1838. Riverdale is the seat of the Hessequa Local Municipality. It is also sometimes considered the westernmost point in the Garden Route region.

Notable residents

• Dr Cecil Moss, Springbok.

See also

• South African Class 7E 4-8-0
• South African Class 7F 4-8-0

References

1. "Chronological order of town establishment in South Africa based on Floyd (1960:20-26)" (PDF). pp. xlv–lii.
2. "Main Place Riversdale". Census 2011.