Jacobsdal is a small farming town in the Free State province of South Africa with various crops under irrigation, such as grapes, potatoes, lucerne, and groundnuts.
Jacobsdal is situated approximately 45 km north-west of Koffiefontein and only 15 km east of the Northern Cape Provincial border. Access to the town is via the R705 between Koffiefontein and Modderrivier.
Although situated in a semi-desert area, four major rivers converge in the vicinity of the town namely the Modder, Riet, Vaal and Orange (Xhariep) rivers. The water from these rivers was harnessed via the Riet River with the help of the Sarel Hayward Irrigation Scheme. The Scheme, referred to as the “Oranje Riet”, provided life-giving water to crops such as grapes, grain, potatoes and lucerne, fruit, nuts and olives.
In the ensuing years the community became the first outside the then Cape Province, to have its own wine cellar.
This town should not be confused with the Jacobsdal in the North West Province of South Africa.
History
The small town of Jacobsdal was laid out on the farm Kalkfontein in 1859 and was named after the owner of this land, Christoffel Johannes Jacobs.
The first residential stands were sold on 7 March 1859 and municipal status was granted in July 1860. The town is situated in close proximity to the place where the Anglo-Boer war started and was the first town in the Free State to be occupied by the British. Many historic battles took place near the town.
