Amsterdam, Mpumalanga

Amsterdam is a small town located in Mkhondo local Municipality, Mpumalanga South Africa. Amsterdam encompasses a large Swati population as a result of the Swaziland border which is relatively close to the area. The town is located some 77 km east of Ermelo. There are large plantations of gum, pine and wattle trees in the area. The town also boast of a peaceful community with rich culture and heritage.

Amsterdam
Amsterdam Amsterdam
Coordinates: 26.617°S 30.667°E
Country	South Africa
Province	Mpumalanga
District	Gert Sibande
Municipality	Mkhondo
Area [1]
• Total	8.13 km^2 (3.14 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	6,769
• Density	830/km^2 (2,200/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	90.4%
• Coloured	0.8%
• Indian/Asian	0.4%
• White	7.4%
• Other	0.9%
First languages (2011) [1]
• Zulu	78.6%
• Afrikaans	8.0%
• Swazi	6.2%
• English	2.1%
• Other	5.1%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	2375
PO box	n/a
Area code	017

History

Part of a Scottish settlement established by Alexander McCorkindale in 1868, it was proclaimed a town in June 1881.[2] At first called Roburnia, in honour of Scottish Poet Robert Burns, the name was changed on 5 July 1882 to Amsterdam, after the Dutch city where the State Secretary, Eduard Bok, was born, and out of gratitude for Dutch sympathy during the First Anglo-Boer War (1880-1881).[2]

References

1. "Main Place Amsterdam". Census 2011.
2. Raper, Peter E.; Moller, Lucie A.; du Plessis, Theodorus L. (2014). Dictionary of Southern African Place Names. Jonathan Ball Publishers. p. 1412. ISBN 9781868425501.

• Carleton Jones High School year book 1992