0349 mi – Springfontein

The town was established in 1904 on the farm, which was part of the farm Springfontein. The name Springfontein, which is Afrikaans for “jumping fountain”, stems from the existence of a spring on the farm. A village management board was established in 1904 and the town attained municipal status in 1912. Farming with sheep, cattle and maize is prevalent in the district, and in the early part of the twentieth century the Springfontein Creameries were one of the main employers.

The town is an important railway junction on the main line to Johannesburg, being the point where the Bloemfontein line converges with the East London and Port Elizabeth lines and where a westward line to other Free State towns commences.

During the Second Boer War/Anglo-Boer War, there was a British concentration camp in the district. The camp was started in February 1901.

CAUTION: Springfontein is one of those typical Free state daytime, weekday trade towns.

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