Zoar, South Africa

Place in Western Cape, South Africa
33°29′S 21°26′E / 33.483°S 21.433°E / -33.483; 21.433CountrySouth AfricaProvinceWestern CapeDistrictGarden RouteMunicipalityKannalandArea • Total49.10 km2 (18.96 sq mi)Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total4,659 • Density95/km2 (250/sq mi)Racial makeup (2011) • Black African4.0% • Coloured95.0% • Indian/Asian0.4% • White0.2% • Other0.4%First languages (2011) • Afrikaans96.9% • English1.5% • Other1.6%Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)PO box
6656
Area code028

Zoar is a settlement in Garden Route District Municipality in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Village and mission station 21 km east of Ladismith. It was founded by a group of over 200 German Separatists seeking escape from religious persecution in their homeland, on the farm Elandsfontein in 1817 and named after Zoar on the Red Sea, mentioned in the Bible (Gen. 14:2-8). The name at first meant ‘insignificance’, but when Lot fled thither from Sodom, it acquired the meaning of ‘haven’.[2] The Seweweekspoort pass and Seweweekspoort Peak are located to the north of the community.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Main Place Zoar". Census 2011.
  2. ^ "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 486.
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Municipalities and communities of Garden Route District Municipality, Western Cape
District seat: George
Bitou
Garden Route District within South Africa
Garden Route District within South Africa
GeorgeHessequaKannalandKnysnaMossel BayOudtshoorn