Clanwilliam, Western Cape

Clanwilliam
Dutch Reform Church building in Clanwilliam
Clanwilliam Show map of Western Cape Clanwilliam Show map of South Africa Clanwilliam Show map of Africa  Clanwilliam shown within Western Cape
Coordinates: 32°10′43″S 18°53′28″E / 32.17861°S 18.89111°E / -32.17861; 18.89111Coordinates: 32°10′43″S 18°53′28″E / 32.17861°S 18.89111°E / -32.17861; 18.89111
Country	South Africa
Province	Western Cape
District	West Coast
Municipality	Cederberg
Established	1806
Area
• Total	15.27 km2 (5.90 sq mi)
Elevation	100 m (300 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	7,674
• Density	500/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	22.6%
• Coloured	68.5%
• Indian/Asian	0.5%
• White	7.7%
• Other	0.7%
First languages (2011)
• Afrikaans	77.7%
• Sotho	9.2%
• Xhosa	7.8%
• English	2.3%
• Other	3.0%
Postal code (street)	8135
PO box	8135
Area code	027

Clanwilliam is a town in the Olifants River valley in the Western Cape, South Africa, about 200 kilometres (120 mi) north of Cape Town. It is located in, and the seat of, the Cederberg Local Municipality. As of 2011^[update] Clanwilliam had a population of 7,674.

Clanwilliam is situated at an elevation of 100 metres (330 ft), between the western slopes of the Cederberg mountains and the east bank of the Olifants River, which is impounded there by the Clanwilliam Dam. It is located just off the N7 national road, which runs from Cape Town to the Namibian border, and on the R364 road, which runs from Lamberts Bay to Calvinia. Clanwilliam is 230 kilometres (140 mi) from Cape Town by road.

The Dutch Reform Church has been a scheduled national monument since 1973. The mission there used to run a school where Harold Cressy once taught whilst studying to become the first coloured man to gain a degree in Cape Town.

In 1930 District Surgeon and botanist Dr Pieter Le Fras Nortier Rhodes scholar began conducting experiments with the cultivation of the rooibos plant. Dr Nortier also saw the vast commercial potential the tea held for the region. Dr Nortier cultivated the first plants at Clanwilliam on his farm Eastside and on the farm Klein Kliphuis.

Since 2001, Clanwilliam has been the site of the Clanwilliam Arts Festival, run by Cape Town-based Magnet Theatre. During the annual one-week arts festival, workshops in fine arts, dance, music, theatre, and performance are offered to children and youth from Clanwilliam.