BLOEMFONTEIN (bloom'fon-tin), capital of the Orange Free State, U. of S. Africa, 29° 7' S., 26° 13' E. 4,558 feet above sea-level. Distance by rail from Port Elizabeth 450m., from Dur ban 514, from Cape Town 75c. Pop. (19 26) with suburbs, 22,587 white, 23,50o coloured. White pop. (1931) 28,503. The cli mate in winter is bracing and healthy, and sharp frosts occur. The summers are hot, the mean maximum temperatures for December and January being over 86°F. The average rainfall is from 20 to 25 inches.
Bloemfontein has one of the best "native villages" in South Africa. This is situated to the south of the main town, and con tains about 20,000 natives. Its rectangular houses are of pise de terre, and were built in most cases by their occupants, who are chiefly Basuto and Bechuana.
Bloemfontein is a clean, spacious town, lighted by electricity, and with a good water-supply from Mazelspoort (14m.) and from the Modder river at Sanna's Port (21m.) . The town dates back to about 1852, and became a municipality in 1880. It is the trading centre for a large part of the Orange Free State, and also does a good deal of trade with Basutoland. The surrounding country is good for cattle and sheep, and the Bloemfontein stock fairs are among the largest in South Africa. Large irrigation schemes are being developed in the neighbourhood. Furthermore the town has become an important educational centre ; the Grey University college, constituent college of the University of South Africa, lies on the western outskirts of the town; 14m. to the north is the Glen Agricultural college. Owing to its central position in South Africa, Bloemfontein, in addition to being the provincial capital of the Orange Free State, has become a favourite centre for religious, political and educational conferences. It is the judicial capital of the Union, and there the court of appeal for the Union of South Africa was established in 191o. Bloemfontein is the seat of a bishopric of the English Church. An English and a Dutch daily newspaper are published.