Petrusburg is a small mixed farming town in the Free State province of South Africa.
This town started out as a Dutch Reformed Church in 1891 and served the farms in the area. Petrusburg originally started on a farm close to “Emmaus”. Emmaus was a railway station between Bloemfontein and Kimberley but has since been deserted because of a water shortage.
This small town was named after Petrus Albertus Venter whose estate provided the money to buy the farm Diepfontein, on which the town was laid out in 1891 as a church and commercial centre for an extensive farming area.
Petrusburg is situated 80 km from Bloemfontein and 80 km from Kimberley on the N8 National Route.
It is situated approximately 55 km northeast of Koffiefontein.
Mixed farming is practised in the 3000 square km which was excised from the Fauresmith district in 1863. The main activity is sheep farming. The main crops are maize and potatoes. Modest quantities of wheat are harvested in the rare season when enough rain falls in winter and early spring.
There are numerous salt pans in the district. The centre point of South Africa is situated approximately 20 km outside the town.
Petrusburg serves as a commercial and social service centre within Letsemeng.
The main social and economic functions of the town include: main regional agro-processing centre, secondary agricultural service centre, social functions such as residence, education and medical services and transport support services on major routes.
As is the case with many other towns in the Free State, Petrusburg has a number of historical sites. These include the Paardeberg Anglo Boer-War Museum located 23 km outside of town. The Poplar Grove Battle, where Christiaan de Wet tried unsuccessfully to prevent British advancement into Bloemfontein, is one of many battles that were fought in the area.
A big music festival is held every year in March in this town and it is called the Aartappelfees (Potato Festival).
