Holly Country, known as the Coalbrook Mining Village until 1996,[2] is a town in Fezile Dabi District Municipality in the Free State province of South Africa.

Holly Country
Holly Country is located in Free State (South African province)
Holly Country
Holly Country
Holly Country is located in South Africa
Holly Country
Holly Country
Coordinates: 26°55′55″S 27°55′01″E / 26.932°S 27.917°E / -26.932; 27.917
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceFree State
DistrictFezile Dabi
MunicipalityMetsimaholo
Area
 • Total
1.39 km2 (0.54 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total
586
 • Density420/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African21.5%
 • Indian/Asian2.2%
 • White75.8%
 • Other0.5%
First languages (2011)
 • Afrikaans64.5%
 • English10.5%
 • Sotho6.6%
 • Northern Sotho3.4%
 • Other15.0%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
1946

History

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The settlement, located some 5 km from Sasolburg, is a former colliery, and was originally named Coalbrook, probably named after Coalbrookdale in England. It was the scene of the Coalbrook mining disaster on 21 January 1960; 435 workers were buried alive when the mine collapsed.[3]

Richard Hse, a Taiwanese businessman, bought out the old mine village in October 1996, renamed it and turned the place into a hub of factories including clothing, shoes, stoves, wood and paper factories and a sportsfield.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Main Place Holly Country". Census 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Monument pays tribute to miners". News24 South Africa. 4 November 2000. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 118.