# Pearston

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Place in Eastern Cape, South Africa

Pearston Pearston seen from Voortrekker Street. Pearston Show map of Eastern Cape Pearston Show map of South Africa Coordinates: 32°34′54″S 25°08′16″E / 32.58167°S 25.13778°E / -32.58167; 25.13778 Country South Africa Province Eastern Cape District Sarah Baartman Municipality Blue Crane Route Established 1859 Area [1] • Total 32.8 km2 (12.7 sq mi) Population (2011)[1] • Total 4,516 • Density 138/km2 (357/sq mi) Racial makeup (2011) [1] • Black African 37.4% • Coloured 59.3% • Indian/Asian 0.6% • White 1.9% • Other 0.8% First languages (2011) [1] • Afrikaans 67.6% • Xhosa 27.9% • English 2.5% • Other 2.0% Time zone UTC+2 (SAST) Postal code (street) 5860 PO box 5860 Area code 042

**Pearston** is a small town in the eastern [Karoo](/source/Karoo), in the [Eastern Cape](/source/Eastern_Cape) province of [South Africa](/source/South_Africa). It lies between [Graaff-Reinet](/source/Graaff-Reinet) and [KwaNojoli](/source/KwaNojoli) at the foot of the [Coetzeesberge](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coetzeesberge&action=edit&redlink=1), about 160 kilometres (100 mi) north of [Port Elizabeth](/source/Port_Elizabeth). It falls within the [Blue Crane Route Local Municipality](/source/Blue_Crane_Route_Local_Municipality) and has a population of approximately 4,500 people.[1]

## History

In 1850 John Pears, a former professor of Classics at the [South African College](/source/South_African_College) and the minister of the [Dutch Reformed Church](/source/Dutch_Reformed_Church%2C_Pearston) in the town of Somerset (now [Somerset East](/source/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](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vo%C3%ABl_River&action=edit&redlink=1).[2][3] 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.[2] It became a town with municipal government on 3 April 1894.[2]

## Government

Pearston falls within the [Blue Crane Route Local Municipality](/source/Blue_Crane_Route_Local_Municipality), which has its seat at [Somerset East](/source/Somerset_East), and forms part of the larger [Cacadu District Municipality](/source/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](/source/African_National_Congress).[4]

## Geography

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Pearston is located about 160 kilometres (100 mi) north of [Port Elizabeth](/source/Port_Elizabeth), on the banks of the [Voël River](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vo%C3%ABl_River&action=edit&redlink=1). It is situated at an altitude of 710 metres (2,330 ft) on the [Camdeboo](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Camdeboo&action=edit&redlink=1) plain. The [Coetzeesberge](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coetzeesberge&action=edit&redlink=1), a spur of the [Sneeuberge](/source/Sneeuberge) (a mountain), lie to the north, and the [Groot-Bruintjieshoogte](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Groot-Bruintjieshoogte&action=edit&redlink=1) lie to the east. Pearston is the meeting point of two regional roads: the [R63](/source/R63_road_(South_Africa)) from [Graaff-Reinet](/source/Graaff-Reinet) to [KwaNojoli](/source/KwaNojoli) and [Cookhouse](/source/Cookhouse_(village)), and the [R337](/source/R337_road_(South_Africa)) from [Jansenville](/source/Jansenville) to [Cradock](/source/Cradock%2C_Eastern_Cape).

## Demography

According to the [2011 Census](/source/South_African_National_Census_of_2011) 3,435 people live in Pearston proper,[5] and a further 1,081 live in the adjacent [township](/source/Township_(South_Africa)) of Khayanisho,[6] giving the urban area a total population of 4,516. 56.9% of the people described themselves as "[Coloured](/source/Coloured)", 39.3% as "[Black African](/source/Black_African)", 3.5% as "[White](/source/White_South_African)" and 0.3% as "[Indian](/source/Indian_South_African) or [Asian](/source/Asian_South_African)". 64.2% of the people spoke [Afrikaans](/source/Afrikaans_language) as their first language, while 35.4% spoke [Xhosa](/source/Xhosa_language) and 0.4% spoke [English](/source/South_African_English).

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-census2011_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-census2011_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-census2011_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-census2011_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-census2011_1-4) Sum of the Main Places [Pearston](http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/262001) and [Khanyiso](http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/262002) from Census 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-history_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-history_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-history_2-2) ["Pearston, Eastern Cape, South Africa"](http://www.pearston.co.za/index.html). Retrieved 8 February 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-pears_3-0)** ["What is in a name"](http://www.pearston.co.za/page2.html). Retrieved 8 February 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Mayor and Councillor Information"](http://www.bluecraneroute.co.za/mcinfo.aspx). Blue Crane Route Municipality. Retrieved 8 February 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Main Place Pearston"](http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/262001). *Census 2011*. Retrieved 18 September 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Main Place Khayanisho"](http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/262002). *Census 2011*. Retrieved 18 September 2015.

v t e Municipalities and communities of Sarah Baartman District Municipality, Eastern Cape District seat: Gqeberha Blue Crane Route Cookhouse Kommadagga Middleton Pearston Somerset East (KwaNojoli) Sarah Baartman District within South Africa Dr Beyers Naudé Aberdeen (Xamdeboo) Adendorp (KwaMseki Bishop Limba) Graaff-Reinet (Robert Sobukwe Town) Jansenville Klipplaat Kendrew Nieu-Bethesda (KwaNoheleni) Rietbron Steytlerville Willowmore Waterford Kouga Aston Bay Cape St. Francis Hankey Humansdorp Jeffreys Bay Kruisfontein Loerie Oyster Bay Paradise Beach Patensie St Francis Bay Thornhill Kou-Kamma Clarkson Coldstream Joubertina Kareedouw Krakeel River Louterwater Misgund Stormsrivier Thornham Tweeriviere Makana Alicedale Makhanda Riebeek East Salem Ndlambe Alexandria Bathurst Boesmansriviermond Boknesstrand Cannon Rocks Cuylerville Kasouga Kenton-on-Sea Port Alfred Seafield Southwell Trappe's Valley Sunday's River Valley Addo Coerney Enon Kirkwood Paterson

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pearston](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearston) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearston?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.