Town 6 km West of Germiston and 11 km South of Johannesburg. It was laid out on the Farm, Elandsfontein in 1904. Named after General Hendrick Abraham Alberts, chairman of a syndicate which purchased the Estate in 1904.
Today it is still a very exclusive Area, some of the famous South African's who live there are: Japie Mulder (Springbok rugby player);Arnold Vosloo (Actor);Carl Niehaus (Politician);Andrew Hall (Protea Cricketer);Andre Pretorius (Springbok rugby player) as well as Bernadette Coston (Protea and Olympian Hockey player )!
The only reason for Alberton's location is its proximity to the major Population centre. It has large Industrial Areas, and has become a part of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, together with other towns such as Germiston, Bedfordview and Edenvale. There are several shopping centres, libraries, clinics, hospitals and entertainment facilities.
The construction of the Alberton Boulevard, was a major development started in the late 1980s with the aim of converting a section of Voortrekker Road that runs past the Alberton City Shopping Mall into a pedestrian-friendly zone.
The town's initial centre of development was in the area now known as Alberton North or ‘Old’ Alberton.
Alberton has an elevation of approximately 1,570 m Above Sea Level.
Over the years development sprawled out into adjacent areas, and today Alberton is made up of 19 Suburbs: Aarton, Alberante, Albertsdal, Alberton North, Alrode, Brackendowns, Brackenhurst, Eden Park, Florentia, General Alberts Park, Mayberry Park, Meyersdal, New Redruth, Newmarket Park, Palm Ridge, Randhart, Raceview, Roxton, South Crest, South Downs, Thokoza, and Verwoerdpark. Alrode, which is Alberton's current Industrial Suburb, was established in 1943.
The original black Settlement in Alberton was in the Area of the Alberton Dam, but during the Apartheid Era inhabitants were removed to surrounding black townships, and a white suburb was established around the dam and named Verwoerdpark, after former Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd.
References
New Dictionary of South African Place Names by Peter E. Raper.