Editing Grootfontein

{{short description|City in the Otjozondjupa Region of central Namibia}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
|name                   = Grootfontein
|other_name             =
|native_name            = {{small|{{langx|hz|Otjivanda}}}}
|nickname               = 
|settlement_type        = [[List of cities and towns in Namibia|City]]
|motto                  = Fons Vitæ
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
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|pushpin_map_caption    = Location in Namibia
<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       = {{flag|Namibia}}
|subdivision_type1      = [[Regions of Namibia|Region]]
|subdivision_name1      = [[Otjozondjupa Region]]
|subdivision_type2      = [[Constituencies of Namibia|Constituency]]
|subdivision_name2      = [[Grootfontein constituency]]
|subdivision_type3      = 
|subdivision_name3      = 
<!-- Politics ----------------->
|government_footnotes   =
|government_type        =
|leader_title           = Mayor
|leader_name            = Haimene<ref>{{cite news
|url=https://www.namibian.com.na/117519/archive-read/Four-towns--re-elect-mayors
|title=Four towns re-elect mayors
|date=9 December 2013
|work=[[The Namibian]]
|publisher=[[NAMPA]]
|url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024191602/https://www.namibian.com.na/117519/archive-read/Four-towns--re-elect-mayors
|archive-date=2021-10-24
}}</ref>
|leader_title1          =  <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
|leader_name1           =
|established_title      =  Established<!-- Settled -->
|established_date       = 1885
<!-- Area    --------------------->
|area_magnitude         = 
|unit_pref                =Imperial <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired-->
|area_footnotes           =
|area_total_km2           = 61.7 
|area_land_km2            = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion-->
|area_water_km2           =
|area_total_sq_mi         =
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of               = 2023
|population_footnotes           = <ref name=nsa>{{cite web | title=Table 4.2.2 Urban population by Census years (2001 and 2011) | url=http://cms.my.na/assets/documents/p19dmn58guram30ttun89rdrp1.pdf | work=Namibia 2011 - Population and Housing Census Main Report | publisher=Namibia Statistics Agency | access-date=24 August 2016 | page=39}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nsa.nsa.org.na/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Preliminary-Report-doc-fn.pdf |title=2023 Population & Housing Census Preliminary  Report|website=Statistics Namibia| df=dmy }}</ref>
|population_note                =
|population_total               = 26,839
|population_density_km2         = auto
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<!-- General information  --------------->
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|coordinates            = {{coord|19|34|S|18|7|E|region:NA|display=inline}}
|elevation_footnotes    =  <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
|elevation_m            = 
|elevation_ft           =
|blank_name_sec1        = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
|blank_info_sec1        = [[Semi-arid climate#Hot semi-arid climates|BSh]]
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type       =  <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... -->
|postal_code            =
|area_code              = 067
|blank_name             =
|blank_info             =
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|website                = http://www.grootfonteinmun.com.na/
|footnotes              = 
}}

'''Grootfontein''' ({{langx|en|great spring}}, named after the nearby [[hot springs]]) is a city<ref name="ALANlist">{{cite web
|url=http://www.alan.org.na/?q=localauthorities/list
|title=Local Authorities
|publisher=Association of Local Authorities in Namibia (ALAN)
|access-date=1 October 2012
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610203011/http://www.alan.org.na/?q=localauthorities%2Flist
|archive-date=10 June 2013
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> with 26,839 inhabitants in the [[Otjozondjupa Region]] of central [[Namibia]]. It is one of the three towns in the Otavi Triangle, situated on the [[B8 road (Namibia)|B8 national road]] that leads from [[Otavi]] to the [[Caprivi Strip]].

==Overview==
The place was known to the [[Herero people|Herero]] under the name ''Otjivanda''.<ref>{{cite news | title=Windhoek?! Rather make that Otjomuise | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/16007/archive-read/Windhoek-Rather-make-that-Otjomuise | last=Menges | first=Werner | newspaper=[[The Namibian]] | date=12 May 2005}}</ref> In 1885, 40 [[Boer]] families from the north-west of [[South Africa]] settled at Grootfontein. Part of the [[Dorsland trek]]kers, they were heading towards [[Angola]].  When that territory fell under [[Portugal|Portuguese]] control, they turned back and established the [[Upingtonia|Republic of Upingtonia]] at Grootfontein.  Abandoned by 1887, it became the headquarters of the [[South West Africa Company]] in 1893.

In 1908 the [[Roman Catholic church]] established a [[Mission (station)|mission]] in Grootfontein as the basis of their eventually successful attempt to establish missions in [[Kavango Region|Kavango]].<ref>{{cite book |title= Sata vuotta suomalaista lähetystyötä 1859–1959. II: Suomen Lähetysseuran Afrikan työn historia |trans-title= ‘One Hundred Years of Finnish Missionary Work 1859–1959. II: The History of FMS’s Missionary Work in Africa’ |last= Peltola |first= Matti |year=1958 |publisher=The Finnish Missionary Society |location=Helsinki |page=217 }}</ref>

Like all the towns in the Otavi Triangle, Grootfontein is green in summer but drier in winter.  In spring, [[jacaranda]] and [[Royal Poinciana|flamboyant trees]] bloom in profusion. The town has an old German [[Schutztruppe]] fortress from the year 1896, which today houses a [[museum]] that expounds on the local history.  The economic mainspring of the area were for many decades the [[Berg Aukas]] and [[Abenab]] mines to the north east of the town. These produced [[zinc]] and [[vanadium]] but have since closed.  Namibia is a [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomite]] country and the [[carbonate]] deposits in the upper parts of the mine have yielded interesting [[fossil]]s of [[simian]] or [[pongoid]] creatures that lived millions of years before modern humans evolved.
[[File:Hoba Meteorite 2007.jpg|thumb|left|Hoba Meteorite 2007]]
Twenty four kilometres west of Grootfontein lies the huge [[Hoba meteorite]].  At over 60 tons, it is the largest known [[meteorite]] on Earth, as well as  the largest naturally occurring mass of iron known to exist on the planet's surface.

{{Clear|left}}
==Economy and infrastructure==
===Transport===
[[File:Grootfontein Airport (2018).jpg|thumb|Military Airport and the town beyond|left]]
Grootfontein is a [[railhead]] on [[TransNamib]], the national railway and transport system. The next station to the west is [[Otavi]]. Grootfontein is also home of Namibia's main military base which housed several units of the now departed [[South African Defence Force]]. 

It has an airfield that can handle large transport carriers such as the Hercules C130, as well as commercial passenger aircraft.

{{Clear|left}}

===Agriculture===
''The Grootfontein Show'', an annual agricultural exhibition that has taken place since 1911,<ref>{{cite news
 |url       = http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40818
 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130221051202/http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40818
 |url-status  = dead
 |archive-date = 21 February 2013
 |title     = Onÿarata @ Grootfontein Show centenary while The Wire storm the coastal towns
 |date      = 23 September 2011
 |newspaper = [[New Era (Namibia)|New Era]]
}}</ref> is the second largest annual entrepreneurial exhibition in the country, after the [[Windhoek Show]].<ref>{{cite news
|url=https://www.namibian.com.na/archive19982004/2004/september/national/046B5E1F0B.html
|title=Farmer dies at Show
|date=29 September 2004
|newspaper=[[The Namibian]]
|url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024191930/https://www.namibian.com.na/archive19982004/2004/september/national/046B5E1F0B.html
|archive-date=2021-10-24
}}</ref>

== Climate ==
Grootfontein receives an annual average rainfall of {{convert|557|mm}}, with a high of {{convert|956|mm|abbr=on}} in the 2010/2011 rainy season,<ref name="Nam2011">{{cite news
 |url=http://www.namibian.com.na/news/full-story/archive/2011/may/article/rainy-season-was-one-for-the-record-books/ 
 |title=Rainy season was one for the record books 
 |last=Menges 
 |first=Werner 
 |date=26 May 2011 
 |newspaper=[[The Namibian]] 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111215044804/http://www.namibian.com.na/news/full-story/archive/2011/may/article/rainy-season-was-one-for-the-record-books/ 
 |archive-date=15 December 2011 
}}</ref> and a low of {{convert|230|mm|abbr=on}} during the 2010s drought in 2018/19.<ref>{{Cite news | title=Khomas faces worst drought in 90 years | last1=Menges | first1=Werner | last2=Oliveira | first2=Yokany | newspaper=[[The Namibian]] | date=23 May 2019 | page=1 | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/78826/read/Khomas-faces-worst-drought-in-90-years}}</ref>

The town has a hot [[semi arid]] climate (Koppen:BSh). 

{{Weather box
|location = Grootfontein, Namibia
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
| Jan high C = 30.9
| Feb high C = 29.8
| Mar high C = 29.4
| Apr high C = 28.5
| May high C = 26.5
| Jun high C = 24.0
| Jul high C = 23.8
| Aug high C = 26.8
| Sep high C = 30.6
| Oct high C = 32.1
| Nov high C = 31.9
| Dec high C = 31.3
|year high C = 28.8
| Jan low C = 18.5
| Feb low C = 18.0
| Mar low C = 17.1
| Apr low C = 14.4
| May low C = 10.4
| Jun low C = 7.1
| Jul low C = 6.8
| Aug low C = 9.6
| Sep low C = 13.8
| Oct low C = 16.9
| Nov low C = 18.0
| Dec low C = 18.4
|year low C = 14.1
| Jan humidity = 58
| Feb humidity = 66
| Mar humidity = 66
| Apr humidity = 70
| May humidity = 51
| Jun humidity = 48
| Jul humidity = 43
| Aug humidity = 34
| Sep humidity = 28
| Oct humidity = 33
| Nov humidity = 42
| Dec humidity = 46
|year humidity = 49
| Jan precipitation mm = 141.7
| Feb precipitation mm = 127.0
| Mar precipitation mm = 99.6
| Apr precipitation mm = 30.1
| May precipitation mm = 4.3
| Jun precipitation mm = 0.4
| Jul precipitation mm = 0
| Aug precipitation mm = 1.3
| Sep precipitation mm = 4.9
| Oct precipitation mm = 21.5
| Nov precipitation mm = 51.6
| Dec precipitation mm = 70.7
|year precipitation mm = 553.1
|source = Ministry of Works and Transport (Meteorological Service Division)
{{cite web
|url =http://www.meteona.com/attachments/035_Namibia_Long-term_Climate_Statistics_for_Specified_Places[1].pdf |title =Ministry of Works & Transport: Tabulation of Climate Statistics for Selected Stations in Namibia 
|year=2012}}
|date=April 2012}}

==Politics==
Grootfontein is governed by a municipal council that has seven seats.<ref>{{Cite news | title=Know Your Local Authority | publisher=Institute for Public Policy Research | newspaper=Election Watch | year = 2015 | issue=3 | page=4}}</ref>

The [[Namibian local and regional elections, 2015|2015 local authority election]] was won by Namibia's ruling [[SWAPO]] party which gained five seats and 2,019 votes. One seat each went to the [[Democratic Turnhalle Alliance]] (DTA, 546 votes) and to the [[All People's Party (Namibia)|All People's Party]] (APP, 154 votes).<ref>{{cite web | title=Local elections results | publisher=[[Electoral Commission of Namibia]] | page=6 | url=http://www.ecn.na/documents/27857/218731/LA+results+%28press+release%29+2015.pdf/870a030b-8547-487f-ad18-b22713b16d4c?version=1.0 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210194328/http://www.ecn.na/documents/27857/218731/LA+results+%28press+release%29+2015.pdf/870a030b-8547-487f-ad18-b22713b16d4c?version=1.0 | url-status=dead | archive-date=10 December 2015 | date=28 November 2015 }}</ref> SWAPO also won the [[2020 Namibian local and regional elections|2020 local authority election]], obtaining 1,727 votes and gaining four seats. The [[Independent Patriots for Change]] (IPC), an opposition party formed in August 2020, obtained 653 votes and gained two seats. The remaining seat went to the [[Popular Democratic Movement]] (PDM, the new name of the DTA) with 309 votes.<ref>{{Cite web | title=2020 Local Authority Elections Results and Allocation of Seats | page=15 | date=29 November 2020 | publisher=[[Electoral Commission of Namibia]] | url=https://www.ecn.na/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Media-Release-on-LA-Results_2020.pdf | access-date=4 March 2021 | archive-date=24 January 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124162938/https://www.ecn.na/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Media-Release-on-LA-Results_2020.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Education==
Previously the German school ''Regierungsschule Grootfontein'' had been in Grootfonten. In 1965 it had 4 teachers and 117 learners and was supported by the German government.<ref>"[http://dipbt.bundestag.de/doc/btd/04/036/0403672.pdf Deutscher Bundestag 4. Wahlperiode Drucksache IV/3672]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160312191648/http://dipbt.bundestag.de/doc/btd/04/036/0403672.pdf Archive]). [[Bundestag]] (West Germany). 23 June 1965. Retrieved on 12 March 2016. p. 31.</ref>

Nowadays, Grootfontein is home to four high schools, Grootfontein Secondary School, Otjiwanda High School<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newera.com.na/2014/01/24/school-defies-ministry/ | title=Another school defies ministry | last=Matali | first=John Travolter | date=24 January 2014 | newspaper=[[New Era (Namibia)|New Era]]}}</ref> Friedrich Awaseb Senior Secondary School,<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.lelamobile.com/content/16168/Grootfontein-learner-allegedly-dies-after-punch-to-the-head/ | title=Grootfontein learner allegedly dies after punch to the head | publisher=[[Namibia Press Agency|Nampa]] | date=5 April 2014 | access-date=21 February 2017 | archive-date=18 April 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418031637/http://www.lelamobile.com/content/16168/Grootfontein-learner-allegedly-dies-after-punch-to-the-head/ | url-status=usurped }}</ref> and a private school named Karstveld Academy.  Further the primary schools Luiperdheuwel, Kalenga, Makalani, Omulunga and Wilhelm Nortier are located here. The city also hosts a private [[German language|German medium]] primary school (''Deutsche Privatschule Grootfontein'' - DPG).<ref>[http://www.dsvg.iway.na/schule.htm Deutsche Privatschule Grootfontein] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415120836/http://www.dsvg.iway.na/schule.htm |date=2015-04-15 }}, dsvg.iway.na</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Behati Prinsloo]]&nbsp;– model, best known for working with [[Victoria's Secret]] and wife of the band Maroon 5's lead vocalist, [[Adam Levine]]
*[[Leon Jooste]]&nbsp;– [[SWAPO]] politician and businessman<ref>[http://www.nid.org.na/view_book_entry.php?book_id=68 Leon Jooste] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611173056/http://www.nid.org.na/view_book_entry.php?book_id=68 |date=2011-06-11 }} Namibia Institute for Democracy</ref>
*[[Hage Geingob]]&nbsp;– Former president of the Republic of Namibia
*[[Lydia Katjita]]&nbsp;– SWAPO politician and member of the [[Pan-African Parliament]]
*[[Hannes Smith]]&nbsp;– journalist
*[[Inge Zaamwani]]&nbsp;– businesswoman

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.grootfonteinmun.com.na/}}
* [http://www.altefortmuseum.de Web site of the Alte Fort Museum in the former German Schutztruppe fortress]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Coord|19|33|57|S|18|06|13|E|region:NA_type:city|display=title}}
 
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[[Category:Populated places in the Otjozondjupa Region]]
[[Category:Cities in Namibia]]
[[Category:Capitals of former nations]]
[[Category:Populated places founded by Afrikaners]]
[[Category:Hot springs of Namibia]]
[[Category:Catholic missions in Namibia]]