{{Infobox settlement | name = Hopefield | image_skyline = Hopefield Church, South Africa.jpg | image_caption = Hopefield Dutch Reformed Church | pushpin_map = South Africa Western Cape#South Africa | coordinates = {{coord|33|03|56|S|18|21|03|E|region:ZA|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = South Africa | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Western Cape | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = West Coast | subdivision_type3 = Municipality | subdivision_name3 = Saldanha Bay | subdivision_type4 = Main Place | established_title = Established | leader_title = Councillor | area_footnotes = <ref name="census2011">{{cite web |url=http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/163010 |title = Main Place Hopefield |work=Census 2011}}</ref> | area_total_km2 = 32.41 | population_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" /> | population_total = 6460 | population_as_of = 2011 | population_density_km2 = auto <!-- demographics (section 1) --> | demographics_type1 = Racial makeup (2011) | demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" /> | demographics1_title1 = Black African | demographics1_info1 = 2.6% | demographics1_title2 = Coloured | demographics1_info2 = 81.5% | demographics1_title3 = Indian/Asian | demographics1_info3 = 0.5% | demographics1_title4 = White | demographics1_info4 = 14.4% | demographics1_title5 = Other | demographics1_info5 = 1.0% <!-- demographics (section 2) --> | demographics_type2 = First languages (2011) | demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" /> | demographics2_title1 = Afrikaans | demographics2_info1 = 94.2% | demographics2_title2 = English | demographics2_info2 = 3.5% | demographics2_title3 = | demographics2_info3 = | demographics2_title4 = | demographics2_info4 = | demographics2_title5 = Other | demographics2_info5 = 2.3% <!-- blank fields (section 2) --> <!-- Other information --> | timezone1 = SAST | utc_offset1 = +2 | postal_code_type = Postal code (street) | postal_code = 7355 | postal2_code_type = PO box | postal2_code = 7355 | area_code_type = Area code | area_code = 022 }} '''Hopefield''' is a settlement in West Coast District Municipality in the Western Cape province of South Africa on the R45<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.route27sa.com/hopefield.html|title=Route 27 West Coast South Africa|access-date=26 June 2016}}</ref> between Malmesbury and Vredenburg. The town lies east of Saldanha Bay and Langebaan, {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on}} southeast of Vredenburg and {{convert|120|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Cape Town.
== History == Hopefield is the oldest town on the Cape West Coast.<ref name="wcw">{{Cite web |title=Hopefield |url=https://www.westcoastway.co.za/hopefield/ |website=West Coast Way |language=en-GB |access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref>
The Dutch Reformed congregation (Zoute Rivier) was established in December 1851 after farmers donated money towards its construction<ref>[http://www.ngkerkhopefield.co.za/ NG Kerk Hopefield.] URL last visited on 26 June 2016.</ref><ref name="wcw" /> and the town was founded in 1852 on the farm Langekuil. It became a municipality in 1914, and was named after two people who laid it out, Major William Hope, Auditor-General, and a Mr Field.<ref name=dsapn>{{cite web|title=Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)|url=https://archive.org/details/DictionaryOfSouthernAfricanPlaceNames|publisher=Human Science Research Council|page=215}}</ref>
== General == The Air Force Base Langebaanweg,<ref name=SAAF>{{cite web|url=http://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/bases/7/air-force-base-langebaanweg|title=Air Force Base Langebaanweg|access-date=26 June 2016}}</ref> located {{convert|22|km|mi|abbr=on}} west of the town, as well as the West Coast Fossil park {{convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}} west from town,<ref>[http://www.fossilpark.org.za West Coast Fossil park]</ref> fall within town limits. Another important fossil locality, Elandsfontein (not to be confused with the town and railway station in Gauteng), is found about {{convert|13|km|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of Hopefield.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Elandsfontein |title=Elandsfontein |work=Encyclopædia Britannica }}</ref>
In earlier years Hopefield was considered the capital of the West Coast, with banks, filling stations and multiple other shops and businesses. The only access to the towns of Vredenburg, Langebaan and Saldanha was through Hopefield. With the re-routing of the R45 road away from the town, and the construction of the R27 (West Coast Road), the importance of the town gradually faded.
== Schools == thumb|left|{{center|Hopefield High}}
There are two schools in the town, Hopefield Primary, offering Grade 1-9, and Hopefield High,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hshopefield.co.za/|title=Welkom by Hoërskool Hopefield|language=af|access-date=26 June 2016}}</ref> offering Grade R-12.
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{West Coast District Municipality}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Populated places in the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality Category:Populated places established in 1844