| Williston | |
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Williston
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| Coordinates: 31°21′S 20°55′E / 31.350°S 20.917°ECoordinates: 31°21′S 20°55′E / 31.350°S 20.917°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Northern Cape |
| District | Namakwa |
| Municipality | Karoo Hoogland |
| • Councillor | (ANC) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 77.95 km2 (30.10 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,070 m (3,510 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 3,368 |
| • Density | 43/km2 (110/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 5.6% |
| • Coloured | 83.6% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.8% |
| • White | 9.4% |
| • Other | 0.7% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Afrikaans | 96.2% |
| • Xhosa | 1.3% |
| • English | 1.2% |
| • Other | 1.3% |
| Postal code (street) | 8920 |
| PO box | 8920 |
| Area code | 053 |
Williston is a town in Northern Cape, South Africa. Town 103 km north-east of Calvinia and 140 km south-west of Carnarvon.
Williston was originally known as Amandelboom (literally "almond tree") due to the presence of a large almond tree planted in 1768 by Johan Abraham Nel to honour his son's birth. By the time a station was founded at the site by Rhenish mission under Johann Heinrich Lutz in 1845 the tree had grown into a significant landmark in the dry and largely treeless area. A town grew around the station and it was declared a municipality in 1881. It was renamed in 1919 after Colonel Hampden Willis, Colonial Secretary in 1883.