Riversdale, Western Cape

Riversdale
Approaching the town of Riversdale on the N2 highway
Riversdale Riversdale shown within the Western Cape
Riversdale
Coordinates: 34°05′49″S 21°15′44″E
Country	South Africa
Province	Western Cape
District	Eden
Municipality	Hessequa
Area
• Total	68.66 km2 (26.51 sq mi)
Population (2001)
• Total	12,013
• Density	175/km2 (450/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2001)
• Black African	1.3%
• Coloured	76.2%
• Indian/Asian	0.2%
• White	22.3%
First languages (2001)
• Afrikaans	97.2%
• English	2.5%
• Other	0.3%
Time zone	SAST (UTC+2)

Riversdale (Afrikaans: Riversdal) is a town located on the N2 highway between Cape Town and George on the Agulhas Coastal Plain of the southern Western Cape province of South Africa. It is an agricultural service orientated town, being a hub for shopping and other services for surrounding farming communities, smaller towns, and coastal resorts, like Witsand and Stilbaai. It is located beneath the imposing Langeberg Mountains to the north, with Sleeping Beauty Mountain overlooking the town.

The town was founded as a church on the farm, Doornkraal, and was subsequently named after Harry Rivers, the then incumbent Civil Commissioner of Swellendam. It was proclaimed a town on 30 August 1838. Riverdale is the seat of the Hessequa Local Municipality. It is also the westernmost point in the Garden Route region.

Notable residents

• Dr Cecil Moss, Springbok.

See also

• South African Class 7E 4-8-0
• South African Class 7F 4-8-0