Kimberley (South Africa)

Kimberley , city (1991 pop. 167,060), Northern Cape, South Africa. Since the 19th cent. the city has been primarily a diamond-mining center, but underground mining, which had not been profitable for some time, was halted in mid-2005. The mine's tailings dumps continue to be processed, and textiles, construction materials, and machinery are manufactured. Kimberley is also an important railroad junction.

The city was founded in 1871 when diamonds were discovered on a nearby farm. The De Beers Consolidated Mines, organized by Cecil Rhodes , assumed control of the diamond fields in 1888, and its headquarters are still in Kimberley. In 1899-1900, during the South African War , the city was besieged for 124 days by Boer (Afrikaner) forces. Northern Cape Technical College and the Alexander McGregor Memorial Museum are in Kimberley.

Kimberley City in South Africa; capital of Northern Cape province. It was founded in 1871 after the discovery of diamonds nearby. Today, it is one of the world's largest diamond centres. Other industries include the processing of gypsum, iron and manganese. Pop. (2002 est.) 189,500.

Kimberley a city in South Africa, in the province of Northern Cape, which has been a diamond-mining centre since the early 1870s.