King Williams Town

Originally established by the London Missionary Society in 1826, King Williams Town has had a somewhat varied career. In 1835 the Xhosa destroyed the place and drove away the missionaries. The Xhosa in turn were driven away by Sir Benjamin D'urban, Governor of the Cape, who proclaimed a new district, naming this warm valley of the Buffalo River after Queen Adelaide and the capital as King William's Town after the reigning British monarch.

In 1846 the town was again sacked and burned by the Xhosa. After the last frontier war with the Xhosa in 1856, the town developed into a prosperous trade centre for the regional tribes, and remained a garrison until a few years into the 20th century. After Queen Victoria's son, Prince Albert, visited in 1861, the town was declared a Royal Borough.

The economy of this large area today is based mainly on cattle and sheep ranching, and the town itself has a large industrial base, producing textiles, soap, candles, candy, cartons and clothing.

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