Milnerton | |
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View of Table Mountain from Milnerton beach
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Milnerton shown within Western Cape | |
Coordinates: 33°52′S 18°30′E / 33.867°S 18.500°ECoordinates: 33°52′S 18°30′E / 33.867°S 18.500°E | |
Country | South Africa |
Province | Western Cape |
Municipality | City of Cape Town |
Established | 1898 |
Area | |
• Total | 43.70 km2 (16.87 sq mi) |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 95,630 |
• Density | 2,200/km2 (5,700/sq mi) |
Racial makeup (2011) | |
• Black African | 29.9% |
• Coloured | 17.3% |
• Indian/Asian | 2.6% |
• White | 47.7% |
• Other | 2.4% |
First languages (2011) | |
• English | 55.5% |
• Afrikaans | 18.0% |
• Xhosa | 14.0% |
• Other | 12.4% |
Postal code (street) | 7441 |
PO box | 7435 |
Area code | 021 |
Milnerton is a suburb of Cape Town in South Africa situated on the Atlantic Ocean coast 11 kilometres to the north of the city's centre.
The Milnerton area of Cape Town includes Cambridge Estate, Century City, Du Noon, Joe Slovo Park, Lagoon Beach, Milnerton Ridge, Royal Ascot, Sanddrift, Tygerhof and Woodbridge Island.
One of the most identifiable features of Milnerton is its lagoon, formed where the Diep River enters the sea, with palm trees adorning the lagoon banks.
Woodbridge Island is not actually an island, but rather the area south of Milnerton Golf Club on the peninsula separating the lagoon from the ocean. Two bridges join Woodbridge Island to the mainland of Milnerton proper. The wooden bridge is now a national heritage site and is closed to the public due to disrepair, although the City of Cape Town has advertised plans to restore it. A newer bridge allows cars to cross to the island. The Milnerton Lighthouse is also a popular landmark found on the island. The beach is a popular recreational area, especially over weekends and public holidays.
Milnerton's beach is well known for its view of Table Mountain and is a popular surfing spot. The water is generally cold as a result of the Benguela current that flows along Africa's western shore .The beach is also managed by Milnerton Surf Lifesaving Club, who help to prevent drownings on the beach and surrounding area. Every Wednesday during summer the surfski and stand up paddlers use the SE winds and race the Downwind Dash series to Big Bay beach.
Milnerton is the location of two nature reserves which are owned and managed by the City of Cape Town. The Table Bay Nature Reserve Milnerton Racecourse Section is situated inside the race tracks of the old Milnerton Racecourse.
Milnerton had its own municipality from 1955 to 1996. The town council assumed a coat of arms, designed by Cornelis Pama, in October 1963, and registered it with the Cape Provincial Administration in February 1966 and at the Bureau of Heraldry in February 1968.