Koster, South Africa

Koster is a small farming town situated on the watershed between the Orange and Limpopo Rivers in North West Province of South Africa.

Koster
Koster Show map of North West (South African province) Koster Show map of South Africa
Coordinates: 25°52′S 26°54′E
Country	South Africa
Province	North West
District	Bojanala Platinum
Municipality	Kgetlengrivier
Government
• Type	Municipal Council
• Mayor	(ANC)
Area [1]
• Total	18.22 km2 (7.03 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	2,342
• Density	130/km2 (330/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	25.6%
• Coloured	1.7%
• Indian/Asian	9.6%
• White	62.4%
• Other	0.8%
First languages (2011) [1]
• Afrikaans	72.9%
• English	13.9%
• Tswana	9.5%
• Other	8.1%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	0348
PO box	0348
Area code	014

History

The town was proclaimed in 1913 and named after Bastiaan Koster, the original farm owner. Koster means "church sexton".

Geography

Town 58 km south-west of Rustenburg and 72 km west-north-west of Magaliesburg. It was founded on the farm Kleinfontein in 1913, and has been administered by a village council since January 1931. Said to have been named either after Dr Herman Jacob Coster (1866–1899), State Attorney of the South African Republic, after its surveyor, or after Bastiaan Hendricus Koster, owner of the farm Kleinfontein. The latter explanation seems most plausible.^[2]

The Elands River, the Koster River and the Mooi River have their sources near the town.^[3]

Arms

Coat of arms of Koster, South Africa

Notes Granted by the Administrator of the Transvaal, 31 August 1966.[4] Crest A duiker's head and neck couped Proper. Escutcheon Vert two interlaced chevronels Argent in chief a lion rampant Or armed and langued Gules. Motto Eendrag Bring Voorspoed