Cape Town : Ask Biography

Administration

Full name

Cape Town

Official name

Cape Town

Native name

Settlement type

City

Motto

Spes Bona (Latin for "Good Hope")

Country

South Africa

Province

Western Cape

Municipality

City of Cape Town

Founded

1652

Municipal government

1839

Government

Type

Metropolitan municipality

Mayor

Patricia de Lille

Council

Cape Town City Council

City manager

Achmat Ebrahim

Geography

Total Area

947.5 sq mi (2454.72 km2)

Highest Elevation

5217.8 ft (1590.4 m)

Lowest Elevation

0 ft (0 m)

Demography

Total Population

3497097 (2007)

Density (pop.)

auto/km² (0/sq mi)

Demonym

Capetonian

Racial makeup

Coloured

44.0%

Black African

34.9%

White

19.3%

Indian or Asian

1.8%

Afrikaans

41.4%

Xhosa

28.8%

English

28.0%

Other information

Time zone

SAST (UTC+2)

Postal code range

7700 to 8099

Area code

+27 (0)21

Home | City | Cape Town

Cape Town ( ; ) is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality. The city is famous for its harbour as well as its natural setting in the Cape floral kingdom, including such well-known landmarks as Table Mountain and Cape Point. Cape Town is also Africa's most popular tourist destination.

Located on the shore of Table Bay, Cape Town was originally developed by the Dutch East India Company as a victualling (supply) station for Dutch ships sailing to Eastern Africa, India, and the Far East. Jan van Riebeeck's arrival on 6 April 1652 established the first permanent European settlement in South Africa. Cape Town quickly outgrew its original purpose as the first European outpost at the Castle of Good Hope, becoming the economic and cultural hub of the Cape Colony. Until the Witwatersrand Gold Rush and the development of Johannesburg, Cape Town was the largest city in South Africa.

Today it is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, reflecting its role as a major destination for immigrants and expatriates to South Africa.

the city had an estimated population of 3.5 million. Cape Town's land area of 2455 km2 (947.9 sqmi) is larger than other South African cities, resulting in a comparatively lower population density of 1425 PD/sqkm (550.2 PD/sqmi).