Hoopstad

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Hoopstad
Hoopstad Church
Hoopstad Show map of Free State (South African province) Hoopstad Show map of South Africa
Coordinates: 27°50′S 25°55′E / 27.833°S 25.917°E / -27.833; 25.917
Country	South Africa
Province	Free State
District	Lejweleputswa
Municipality	Tswelopele
Established	1873[1]
Area [2]
• Total	27.8 km2 (10.7 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[2]
• Total	89,917
• Density	3,200/km2 (8,400/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [2]
• Black African	30%
• Coloured	1.9%
• Indian/Asian	1.2%
• White	66%
• Other	1.7%
First languages (2011) [2]
• Sotho	3.7%
• English	3.1%
• Tswana	1.6%
• Afrikaans	86.8%
• Other	4.8%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	9479
PO box	9479
Area code	053

The town of Hoopstad is situated at the intersection of the R34, R59 & R700 in the Free State Province. This area is considered to be the richest maize-producing district in South Africa. The town is located near the Bloemhof Dam which is situated on the Vaal River. The Sandveld Nature Reserve is positioned alongside the Bloemhof Dam. Hopetown and Hoopstad are two different towns and are often confused.

The town of Hoopstad was initially founded in 1876 and named Hauptstad after Mr Haupt, a surveyor. The translation of Hauptstad into Afrikaans means Capital, which it clearly wasn't and the town was therefore renamed Hoopstad. The town, whose name means "Hope City" in Afrikaans, was established on the one side of the large farm Kameeldoorns, with another town Bultfontein on the other side.