Sandton

Sandton "Africa's Richest Square Mile"
Sandton skyline
Sandton Show map of Gauteng Sandton Show map of South Africa Sandton Show map of Africa  Sandton shown within Gauteng
Location within Greater Johannesburg  Sandton
Coordinates: 26°6.42′S 28°3.1′E / 26.10700°S 28.0517°E / -26.10700; 28.0517Coordinates: 26°6.42′S 28°3.1′E / 26.10700°S 28.0517°E / -26.10700; 28.0517
Country	South Africa
Province	Gauteng
Municipality	City of Johannesburg
Established	1969
Area
• Total	143.54 km2 (55.42 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	222,415
• Density	1,500/km2 (4,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	34.7%
• Coloured	2.5%
• Indian/Asian	11.1%
• White	49.8%
• Other	1.9%
First languages (2011)
• English	63.9%
• Afrikaans	7.4%
• Zulu	6.3%
• Northern Sotho	3.2%
• Other	19.2%
Postal code (street)	2196
PO box	2146

Sandton is an affluent area situated within the metro of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. It is well known for being the richest square mile in Africa. The name comes from the combination of two of its suburbs, Sandown and Bryanston. In 1969 Sandton was promulgated as a municipality in its own right, but lost its status as an independent town after the re-organisation of South African local governments.

Archaeological findings suggest the area, which Sandton comprises today, had originally been occupied by various indigenous groups, before European settlement, most notably the Tswana and, to a lesser extent, Sotho people. The remains of an Iron Age smelter was discovered in Lone Hill, a suburb of northern Sandton. One of the first Voortrekker parties to settle in the area were the Esterhuysen family on the farm Zandfontein (Afrikaans and Dutch for Sandy Spring or Sand Fountain). A monument to commemorate them may be found just off Adrienne Street in Sandown where the family cemetery is located. Zandfontein, Driefontein (Afrikaans and Dutch for Three Springs/Fountains) and Rietfontein (Afrikaans and Dutch for Reed Spring or Fountain of Reeds) encumbered what was to become Sandton. The municipal coat of arms of Sandton pays homage to the three farms with three round fountain barrels on its chevron. In the late 1800s the Wilhelmi family of Hanover, Germany acquired the farm Driefontein No. 3 while Rietfontein was owned by the Ehler family. The original Driefontein homestead, now within the confines of the Field & Study Centre, was looted during the Anglo-Boer War. The ruins are visible on the northern bank of the Klein Jukskei River. The Wilhemi family, upon return from Germany built the 'new' 1906 Driefontein Farmhouse on what is present-day Fifteenth Street, Parkmore cum Riverclub. The farmhouse served as the icon and headquarters for the now defunct Sandton Historical Foundation and is listed as a City of Johannesburg Owned Heritage Site.