Elliot, Eastern Cape

Province

Elliot is a town in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province. It is located in the municipality in the district of Chris Hani Sakhisizwe.

Geography

Elliot has about 14,376 inhabitants ( 2011 census ). The most common Xhosa is spoken. The city is located south of Lesotho in the southern foothills of the Drakensberg. Nearby Cities are Barkly East 65 km north-west and Maclear around 80 kilometers north-east. After the city the Elliot Formation is named in the lithostratigraphy.

History

Elliot was founded in 1885 and received 1911 municipality status. The town was named after Sir Henry George Elliot, who was from 1891 to 1902 chief magistrate of the Transkei region.

Economy and Transport

Elliot is situated on the R58 highway which connects Elliot, among others, Barkly East and Ngcobo, and R56, which leads to Molteno and Maclear. Elliot is on the railway line Sterkstroom - Maclear, which is operated in freight traffic. North of town is the airfield Elliot ( ICAO code FAET ).