Pearston

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}} {{Use South African English|date=January 2015}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Pearston | image_skyline = Pearston from Voortrekker Street.png | image_caption = Pearston seen from Voortrekker Street. | pushpin_map = South Africa Eastern Cape#South Africa | coordinates = {{coord|32|34|54|S|25|08|16|E|region:ZA|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[South Africa]] | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = [[Eastern Cape]] | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = [[Sarah Baartman District Municipality|Sarah Baartman]] | subdivision_type3 = Municipality | subdivision_name3 = [[Blue Crane Route Local Municipality|Blue Crane Route]] | subdivision_type4 = Main Place | established_title = Established | established_date = 1859 | leader_title = Councillor | area_footnotes = <ref name=census2011>Sum of the Main Places [http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/262001 Pearston] and [http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/262002 Khanyiso] from Census 2011.</ref> | area_total_km2 = 32.8 | population_footnotes = <ref name=census2011 /> | population_total = 4516 | population_as_of = 2011 | population_density_km2 = auto  | demographics_type1 = Racial makeup (2011) | demographics1_footnotes = <ref name=census2011 /> | demographics1_title1 = [[Bantu peoples of South Africa|Black African]] | demographics1_info1 = 37.4% | demographics1_title2 = [[Coloureds|Coloured]] | demographics1_info2 = 59.3% | demographics1_title3 = [[Indian South African|Indian]]/[[Asian South African|Asian]] | demographics1_info3 = 0.6% | demographics1_title4 = [[White South African|White]] | demographics1_info4 = 1.9% | demographics1_title5 = Other | demographics1_info5 = 0.8%  | demographics_type2 = [[First language]]s (2011) | demographics2_footnotes = <ref name=census2011 /> | demographics2_title1 = [[Afrikaans]] | demographics2_info1 = 67.6% | demographics2_title2 = [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]] | demographics2_info2 = 27.9% | demographics2_title3 = [[English language|English]] | demographics2_info3 = 2.5% | demographics2_title4 = | demographics2_info4 = | demographics2_title5 = Other | demographics2_info5 = 2.0%   | timezone1 = [[South African Standard Time|SAST]] | utc_offset1 = +2 | postal_code_type = [[List of postal codes in South Africa|Postal code]] (street) | postal_code = 5860 | postal2_code_type = [[Post-office box|PO box]] | postal2_code = 5860 | area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in South Africa|Area code]] | area_code = 042 }} '''Pearston''' is a small town in the eastern [[Karoo]], in the [[Eastern Cape]] province of [[South Africa]]. It lies between [[Graaff-Reinet]] and [[KwaNojoli]] at the foot of the [[Coetzeesberge]], about {{convert|160|km|-1}} north of [[Port Elizabeth]]. It falls within the [[Blue Crane Route Local Municipality]] and has a population of approximately 4,500 people.<ref name="census2011" />

==History== In 1850 John Pears, a former professor of Classics at the [[South African College]] and the minister of the [[Dutch Reformed Church, Pearston|Dutch Reformed Church]] in the town of Somerset (now [[Somerset East]]) began holding services in the open under a large pear tree on the farm Rustenburg, then the property of Mr Casparus Jacobus Lötter, on the bank of the [[Voël River]].<ref name="history">{{cite web |url=http://www.pearston.co.za/index.html |title=Pearston, Eastern Cape, South Africa |accessdate=8 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="pears">{{cite web |url=http://www.pearston.co.za/page2.html |title=What is in a name |accessdate=8 February 2012}}</ref> In 1858 the church announced its intention to establish a village named Pearston on that location. A portion of the farm was purchased and lots sold, and the village was officially founded on 21 September 1859.<ref name="history" /> It became a town with municipal government on 3 April 1894.<ref name="history" />

==Government== Pearston falls within the [[Blue Crane Route Local Municipality]], which has its seat at [[Somerset East]], and forms part of the larger [[Cacadu District Municipality]]. It is located in the fourth ward of the municipality, which is represented by Councillor Mncedi Mali of the [[African National Congress]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bluecraneroute.co.za/mcinfo.aspx |title=Mayor and Councillor Information |publisher=Blue Crane Route Municipality |accessdate=8 February 2012}}</ref>

==Geography== {{Unreferenced section|date=August 2025}} Pearston is located about {{convert|160|km|-1}} north of [[Port Elizabeth]], on the banks of the [[Voël River]]. It is situated at an altitude of {{convert|710|m|-1}} on the [[Camdeboo]] plain. The [[Coetzeesberge]], a spur of the [[Sneeuberge]] (a mountain), lie to the north, and the [[Groot-Bruintjieshoogte]] lie to the east. Pearston is the meeting point of two regional roads: the [[R63 road (South Africa)|R63]] from [[Graaff-Reinet]] to [[KwaNojoli]] and [[Cookhouse (village)|Cookhouse]], and the [[R337 road (South Africa)|R337]] from [[Jansenville]] to [[Cradock, Eastern Cape|Cradock]].

==Demography== According to the [[South African National Census of 2011|2011 Census]] 3,435 people live in Pearston proper,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/262001 |title=Main Place Pearston |work=Census 2011 |accessdate=18 September 2015}}</ref> and a further 1,081 live in the adjacent [[township (South Africa)|township]] of Khayanisho,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/262002 |title=Main Place Khayanisho |work=Census 2011 |accessdate=18 September 2015}}</ref> giving the urban area a total population of 4,516. 56.9% of the people described themselves as "[[Coloured]]", 39.3% as "[[Black African]]", 3.5% as "[[White South African|White]]" and 0.3% as "[[Indian South African|Indian]] or [[Asian South African|Asian]]". 64.2% of the people spoke [[Afrikaans language|Afrikaans]] as their first language, while 35.4% spoke [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]] and 0.4% spoke [[South African English|English]].

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Populated places in the Blue Crane Route Local Municipality]] [[Category:Populated places established in 1859]] [[Category:1859 establishments in South Africa]]