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Worcester, South Africa: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 33°38′49″S 19°25′55″E / 33.647°S 19.432°E / -33.647; 19.432
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Sub division of the original plots dates back to the 1860s when the town experienced its first economic boon. By the 1890s, when there was a downturn in economic fortune the population grew at a considerable rate, as landless people moved to town. Small [[industry]], [[business]] and [[residence]] still operated within the original boundaries of the town. During the 1890s Worcester's community would also evolve into an uptown section for rich and middle class people and a downtown section for so called poor Whites and Coloured people. Even the Dutch Reformed Congregation would censure European and Coloured people living under desegregated circumstances.
Sub division of the original plots dates back to the 1860s when the town experienced its first economic boon. By the 1890s, when there was a downturn in economic fortune the population grew at a considerable rate, as landless people moved to town. Small [[industry]], [[business]] and [[residence]] still operated within the original boundaries of the town. During the 1890s Worcester's community would also evolve into an uptown section for rich and middle class people and a downtown section for so called poor Whites and Coloured people. Even the Dutch Reformed Congregation would censure European and Coloured people living under desegregated circumstances.


The first [[Black]] [[labourers]] arrived in Worcester at the end of the [[First World War]] and were mainly employed as cheap labour for new construction programs springing up around town. By 1936, 1271 Black African people were living in the Worcester district.
The first [[Black]] [[Africans]] arrived in Worcester at the end of the [[First World War]] and were mainly employed as cheap labour for new construction programs springing up around town. By 1936, 1271 Black African people were living in the Worcester district.


At the end of thw [[Second World War]] , housing in Worcester was at a premium and Worcester had a [[squatter camp]] at Parkersdam. It was also during these years that Worcester started to expand with new residential areas and an industrial area. The [[Apartheid]] regime responded by total [[segregation]] of the different communities.
At the end of thw [[Second World War]] , housing in Worcester was at a premium and Worcester had a [[squatter camp]] at Parkersdam. It was also during these years that Worcester started to expand with new residential areas and an industrial area. The [[Apartheid]] regime responded by total [[segregation]] of the different communities.

Revision as of 14:01, 5 November 2009

File:Worcester 2009 004.jpg
Drostdy
Dutch Reformed Church

Worcester is a town in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is located 120 km north-east of Cape Town on the N1 highway north to Johannesburg.

Being the largest town in the Western Cape's interior region, it serves as the administrative capitol of the Breede Valley Local Municipality and as regional headquarters for most Central- and Provincial Government Departments. The town also serves as the hub of the Western Cape's interior commercial, distribution and retail activity with a Shopping Mall, well developed Central Business District and infrastructure.

The Breede Valley Local Municipality was formed in December 2001 and includes the hamlets of Matroosberg, Touws River, De Doorns, Rawsonville and the town of Worcester. The people are represented by 31 Councillors, headed by an executive Mayor.

Census and population classification