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Worcester, in the Western Cape South Africa, with a population of 76,894, is the largest town in the Breede River Valley. Located 120km north-east of Cape Town on the N1 highway north to Johannesburg, it is the administrative capital of the Breede Valley Local Municipality and the hub of the Western Cape interior's commercial and retail activity. Worcester was founded in 1820 after the amalgamation of two farms, Roodewal and Langerug and named after the Marquis of Worcester; he was Lord Charles Somerset's brother.

Contents 1 Location 2 Climate 3 Economy 4 Demographics 5 Famous Residents 6 References 7 External links

Worcester is located at an elevation of 220m and lies between the Breede River and the Hex River Mountains to the north. The surrounding valley is also the largest wine producing region in South Africa, contributing almost 20% of the country's viticultural output.^[1]

Worcester experiences more extremes of temperature than neighbouring Cape Town, as oceanic influences are blocked by the Du Toitskloof and Slanghoek Mountain Ranges to the west. The daytime maximum in summer averages in the low 30°C's, however, some days in February can reach an excess of 40°C. Summer is generally dry with the rare late summer thunderstorm, whilst spring and autumn are shoulder seasons of pleasant temperatures ranging from an average 10°C minimum to 25°C maximum, with the occasional rain shower. ^[2]

Winters are generally very windy and often cool to cold with snow being common on the higher lying ground above 1500m. Daytime maximum's range from 10°C-17°C, with minimums hovering at or just above freezing. Winter brings most of Worcester's 175mm of annual rainfall. The town lies in a curious rain-shadow phenomenon caused by the surrounding high mountains. Most of the Breede River Valley receives relatively abundant rainfall (from 500mm to over 1000mm per annum), but the town of Worcester itself remains dry. ^[3]

Worcester's economy primarily functions to serve its agricultural community. Furthermore, it is also a transportation hub and administrative centre. The KWV Brandy Distillery, the largest of its kind in the world, is in Worcester. The town's economy has been relatively stagnant until very recently.

New developments around the Worcester Dam (Lake) have since sprung up, namely the new Mountain Mills Shopping Centre, a new casino and a number of new car dealerships and office developments. With new investment and economic diversification, Worcester should become less dependent on the economics governing the wine industry.

Worcester has two locally well-known schools, the De La Bat School for the deaf and the Pioneer School for the blind. Therefore there is a relatively large disabled population with a few niche industries that support them^{[citation needed]}. Most Worcesterites are primarily Afrikaans-speaking, with Xhosa and English speaking minorities; however English is the lingua franca.

Most of the wealthier suburbs are located to the north, including Fairway Heights, Panorama and Langerug. The south of the town remains lower-middle class to impoverished, with most Xhosa and Coloured population groups still residing here (much of this is due to the legacy of Apartheid) in the suburbs of Zwelinthemba, Johnsons Park and Eselen Park.

• The author J. M. Coetzee lived in Worcester as a child, and describes growing up there in his book 'Boyhood'.

• David Kramer (born Worcester in 1951) the singer, songwriter, playwright and director, most notable for his musicals about the Cape Coloured communities.

• The classical music composer Cromwell Everson was a teacher in Worcester. He was the composer of the first Afrikaans Opera, Klutaimnestra (1967). The opera's first performance was on 7 November 1967, in the Biesenbach Hall.

• Andrew Murray, Anglican preacher who emphasized humility, compassion, revival and prayer in his sermons and writings.

• C. Louis Leipoldt, one of the most famous of the early Afrikaner poets, was born in Worcester in 1880.

• Worcester Standard Local Newspaper: mostly Afrikaans

v • d • e Western Cape Province of South Africa
Capital	Cape Town
Regions	Cape Peninsula  · Cape Winelands  · Garden Route  · Little Karoo  · Overberg  · West Coast
Cities	Cape Town
Largest towns	George  · Knysna  · Oudtshoorn  · Paarl  · Robertson  · Stellenbosch  · Swellendam  · Worcester
Municipalities	Metropolitan: City of Cape Town District: Cape Winelands  · Central Karoo  · Eden  · Overberg  · West Coast Local: Beaufort West  · Bergrivier  · Bitou  · Breede River/Winelands  · Breede Valley  · Cape Agulhas  · Cederberg  · Drakenstein  · George  · Hessequa  · Kannaland  · Knysna  · Laingsburg  · Matzikama  · Mossel Bay  · Oudtshoorn  · Overstrand  · Prince Albert