Leeudoringstad | |
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Leeudoringstad shown within North West | |
Coordinates: 27°14′S 26°14′E / 27.233°S 26.233°ECoordinates: 27°14′S 26°14′E / 27.233°S 26.233°E | |
Country | South Africa |
Province | North West |
District | Dr Kenneth Kaunda |
Municipality | Maquassi Hills |
Established | 1822 |
Area | |
• Total | 5.63 km2 (2.17 sq mi) |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 5,054 |
• Density | 900/km2 (2,300/sq mi) |
Racial makeup (2011) | |
• Black African | 77.4% |
• Coloured | 1.3% |
• Indian/Asian | 0.8% |
• White | 20.1% |
• Other | 0.4% |
First languages (2011) | |
• Tswana | 57.0% |
• Afrikaans | 21.8% |
• Sotho | 10.4% |
• Xhosa | 4.1% |
• Other | 6.6% |
Postal code (street) | 2640 |
PO box | 2640 |
Area code | 018 581 |
Leeudoringstad (Afrikaans for Lion thorn city) is a small farming town situated on the main Cape Town - Johannesburg railway line in North West Province of South Africa.
Leeudoringstad was established in 1920 and named after the Lion-thorn tree. The town hit the headlines on 17 July 1932 when a train carrying 320 to 330 tons (previously incorrectly stated as 1,200 tons) of dynamite from the De Beers factory at Somerset West to the Witwatersrand exploded and flattened the town. Five people were killed.
The paper, "The Star" of July 18th, 1932 carried extensive articles.
Today, Leeudoringstad hosts the headquarters of Suidwes Landbou, one of the largest agricultural companies in South Africa.