Bloemfontein

Bloemfontein (blm`fŏntān'), city (1991 pop. 300,150), capital of the Free State and the judicial center of South Africa. It is a transportation hub and industrial center, containing railroad workshops, food-processing plants, and factories that produce furniture, plastics, and glassware. Bloemfontein was founded in 1846 and served as the capital of the Orange Free State Republic (see Free State) until its capture (1900) by British forces during the South African War. Afterward, it was the site of the final negotiations (1909) that led to the establishment (1910) of the Union of South Africa. Among the city's educational institutions are the Univ. of the Orange Free State (founded 1855; university status 1950) and a technical college.

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Bloemfontein

City (pop., 2005 est.: 379,000), judicial capital of the Republic of South Africa. It is also the capital of Free State province. Founded in 1846 as a fort, it became the seat of the British-administered Orange River Sovereignty (1848–54) and later that of Orange Free State, an independent Boer republic formed in 1854. The failure of the Bloemfontein Conference (1899) resulted in the outbreak of the South African War. In the 20th century the city became a geographical transportation hub. Bloemfontein became part of the Mangaung Local Municipality in 2000. See also Pretoria; Cape Town.