Welkom Information
Welkom is a city in the Free State province of South Africa, with a population in 2001 of 408,173. It is 160 kilometres northeast of Bloemfontein, the provincial capital.
The city is the hub of the Free State gold fields, serving several gold and uranium mines. In addition to mineral ore, Welkom produces such goods as steel, lumber, and beef. The city has a technical college and a technological institute. Welkom is served by a small airport and a branch of the main railway between Johannesburg and Cape Town. The city is internationally known for the Grand Prix racing circuit located at its edge.
The city is named after the farm Welkom where gold was first found. The word welkom is Afrikaans and Dutch for welcome. It is now the second largest city in the Free State.
Famous people
- Jan Hendrik de Beer - Union rugby player
- Gerard Louis Brophy - Cricketer
- CJ van der Linde - Union rugby player
- Brian Mervin McMillan - Cricketer
- Wynand Olivier - Union rugby player
- Mark Richard Shuttleworth - Entrepreneur and founder of Canonical Ltd.
- Thandi Tshabalala - Cricketer
External links
- Phakisa Freeway Story about the world-standard motorsport venue in Welkom by Roderick Eime
- Oppenheimer golf course, designed by Robert Grimsdell in 1949.
- Pictures and history of gold exploration in Welkom
- Online Business Directory for Welkom - Accommodation, Services etc
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Coordinates: 27°58′34″S 26°44′04″E / 27.97611°S 26.73444°E
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Categories: Populated places in the Free State (South African province) |
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