Grahamstown

From Freepedia

Grahamstown is a town in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa, and is known in Xhosa as iRhini. Its population is 62,000 (www.citypopulation.de, 2005).

Located some 125km from Port Elizabeth and 180km from East London, Grahamstown is the seat of the Makana municipality and the location of Rhodes University.

It was founded in 1812 as a military outpost by Lieutenant-Colonel John Graham as part of the effort to secure the eastern frontier of British influence in Cape Colony against the Xhosa. Grahamstown grew during the 1820s as many 1820 Settlers and their families left farming to establish themselves in more secure trades. In a few decades it became the Cape Colony's second city after Cape Town. It became a bishopric in 1852.

Grahamstown is best known for its university and the National Arts Festival which takes place in the town every year in June and July.