Edenburg is founded

Updated: 21 Feb 2020

The church village Edenburg in the Orange Free State was established when the farm Rietfontein was purchased to build a church. The initial application for recognition of Edenburg as a town was rejected by the Volksraad, but permission was finally granted on 4 March 1863. Municipal status was only attained in 1891. The economy of the town revolves around sheep and cattle farming. The oldest mission station of the Berlin Mission Society north of the Orange River is located 16km north of the town. There is uncertainty around the origin of the name of the town. The most likely explanation is that it refers to the Garden of Eden of the Bible. However, others believe that it is an Afrikaans version of Edinburgh in Scotland.

How we know this

01Potgieter, D.J. et al. (eds)(1970). Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, Cape Town: NASOU, v. 4, p. 214.
02SA Places, Edenburg, from -South African Places CC-, [online], Available at www.places.co.za [Accessed: 30 January 2014]

Last updated · 21 Feb 2020

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Edenburg is founded. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011014

South African History Online (2011) 'Edenburg is founded', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011014 (Accessed: 9 October 2026).

South African History Online, Edenburg is founded [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011014, (accessed 9 October 2026).

"Edenburg is founded." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011014. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "Edenburg is founded." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011014.