Where Is Newcastle In South Africa
Newcastle is the third-largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The city is KwaZulu-Natal’s industrial centre. The majority of its citizens reside in Newcastle East in the main townships of Madadeni and Osizweni, with the balance residing in Newcastle West (the two sides of Newcastle are separated by the N11 Road). Set at the foothills of the northern KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg Mountains, Newcastle is located in the northwest corner of the province along the Ncandu River.
Newcastle is the seat of the local municipality as well as being the seat to the Amajuba District Municipality. Newcastle’s municipal area is 188 square kilometres (73 square miles), ranking Newcastle as South Africa’s tenth-largest city, and consists of 31 wards.
The N11 and R34 are the principal roads linking the city to the rest of South Africa.
The Toponymy Of Newcastle In South Africa
Newcastle has changed names on numerous occasions during the country’s historic rule. It was initially named Post Halt Number 2 on military maps during the 1840s, as postal coaches stopped here to obtain fresh horses on the journey between Durban (then Port Natal in Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek) and Johannesburg. It was later known as the Waterfall River Township because of the Ncandu River. Newcastle received her name after the British Colonial Secretary, the fifth Duke of Newcastle, a British aristocrat, and not the city in England as some believe.
During the Anglo-Boer War, Newcastle was invaded by Boer forces on 14 October 1899, and the entire district was incorporated into the Transvaal Republic. Newcastle’s name lasted for a period of seven months when it was renamed to Viljoensdorp after the commander of the Johannesburg Commando, General Ben Viljoen. However, after relief of Ladysmith under the command of General Redver Buller, the British forces reclaimed the name back to Newcastle.
What Is Newcastle Like Today?
Today, Newcastle is the main commercial and industrial centre in northern KwaZulu-Natal, and is the province’s third-largest city. Continuous development has seen this city grow in prominence, and the municipality is striving to make the city sustainable by 2030. The city is the gateway to the Zulu Kingdom from the Free State and Mpumalanga.
The Geography And Climate Of Newcastle In South Africa
Located at approximately 1,194 metres (3,917 feet) above sea level, Newcastle is located in the northwest corner of the province of KwaZulu-Natal at the foothills of the northern Drakensberg mountains. The city has a temperate climate and is classified under the country’s ‘Cold Interior’.
Temperatures in Newcastle often drop below freezing during the winter months, with snowfall often experienced at least twice a decade. Newcastle’s summer temperatures have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in the recent past due to the 2015 El Niño weather phenomenon, with the region experiencing drought conditions after 28 years.
What Is The Economy Of Newcastle Like?
From the 1880s, Newcastle experienced constant economic growth. Today, Newcastle has the largest concentration of commerce & industry in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
This city serves the surrounding towns of Utrecht, Vryheid, Dannhauser, Glencoe and Dundee, maize, livestock and dairy farmers and country at large with an extensive amount of resources, products and goods some of which are also for export.
