Bethlehem, Free State
Encyclopedia
Bethlehem is a town in the eastern Free State
province of South Africa
that is situated on the Liebenbergs river (also called Liebenbergs Vlei) along a fertile valley just south of the Rooiberg Mountains on the N5 highway.
It is a wheat
growing area and hence the name Bethlehem (from "Beit Lechem", Hebrew
for "house of bread"). Population 66,704 (2001).
The town lies at an altitude of 1700m and this contributes to its cool climate with frosty winters and mild summers. The average annual temperature is around 24OC.
Premier Soccer League
club Free State Stars
is based in Bethlehem and plays its home games at Goble Park
.
Bethlehem is situated approximately 240km north-east of Bloemfontein, 140km east of Kroonstad and 90km west of Harrismith. The town is strategically situated in the heart of the picturesque north-eastern Free State and originally developed as a service centre. Bethlehem is the seat of the Dihlabeng Local Municipality
(this municipality is situated within the boundaries of the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality in the Eastern Free State).
The township associated with Bethlehem is called Bohlokong (Sesotho meaning "place of pain").
Free State
The Free State is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bloemfontein, which is also South Africa's judicial capital. Its historical origins lie in the Orange Free State Boer republic and later Orange Free State Province. The current borders of the province date from 1994 when the Bantustans...
province of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
that is situated on the Liebenbergs river (also called Liebenbergs Vlei) along a fertile valley just south of the Rooiberg Mountains on the N5 highway.
It is a wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
growing area and hence the name Bethlehem (from "Beit Lechem", Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
for "house of bread"). Population 66,704 (2001).
The town lies at an altitude of 1700m and this contributes to its cool climate with frosty winters and mild summers. The average annual temperature is around 24OC.
Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League is the trading name of the National Soccer League of South Africa. The top league is the ABSA Premiership, sponsored by ABSA...
club Free State Stars
Free State Stars
Free State Stars are a football club based in Bethlehem, Free State province .-History:Originally founded in 1979 and previously known as Qwa Qwa Stars, the club's franchise was sold to the Premier Soccer League in 2002....
is based in Bethlehem and plays its home games at Goble Park
Goble Park
Goble Park is a multi-use stadium in Bethlehem, South Africa. It is currently used mostly for football matches. In 2010-11 it was used as home venue by both Free State Stars F.C. in the Premier Soccer League, and Carara Kicks in the National First Division. The stadium has a capacity of 20,000...
.
Bethlehem is situated approximately 240km north-east of Bloemfontein, 140km east of Kroonstad and 90km west of Harrismith. The town is strategically situated in the heart of the picturesque north-eastern Free State and originally developed as a service centre. Bethlehem is the seat of the Dihlabeng Local Municipality
Dihlabeng Local Municipality
Dihlabeng Local Municipality is an administrative area in the Thabo Mofutsanyane District of the Free State in South Africa. It was established in terms of Section 12 of the Local Government Structures Act, 117 of 1998, after the first general local government elections of 5 December 2000 which...
(this municipality is situated within the boundaries of the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality in the Eastern Free State).
The township associated with Bethlehem is called Bohlokong (Sesotho meaning "place of pain").