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Fossils discovered at the Sterkfontein Caves show that hominids lived in the vicinity of Centurion between 2 to 3 million years ago. The Sterkfontein Caves, a World Heritage Site, is less than 50 km from Centurion, near the town of Krugersdorp.

In 1841 the Erasmus family arrived and settled in the area that would later become Centurion. Daniel Jacobus Erasmus settled on the farm Zwartkop, Daniel Elardus Erasmus on the farm Doornkloof and Rasmus Elardus Erasmus developed the farm Brakfontein. Several of the suburbs like Erasmia, Elardus Park, Zwartkop and Doornkloof were named after these 19th century owners of the land and their properties.

During the Second Boer War the Irene Concentration Camp was established in 1901 on the farm Doornkloof, as part of the British scorched earth policy, where Boer women and children were housed under extremely poor conditions. At its peak the camp had 5,500 inhabitants, mostly women and children. Between February 1901 and the end of the war in 1902, 1249 lost their lives here, about 1000 of them children. The Irene Camp Cemetery is well preserved and contains 576 of the original slate tombstones that was carved by hand in the camp.

The town of Irene was established in 1902 when 337 plots were laid out on the farm Doornkloof. Jan Smuts later owned this farm, and died there in 1950. The Smuts House is a museum today, and regularly hosts open air fleamarkets on its grounds.

Centurion was granted City Council status in 1962 as Lyttelton. It was formed by combining the areas of Doornkloof, Irene and Lyttelton. In 2000, the Centurion local government became part of the newly-created City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, which also includes Pretoria, and the town ceased to have its own Town Council.

Lyttelton was renamed Verwoerdburg in 1967, after Hendrik Verwoerd, the so-called "architect of apartheid".The surrounding areas, as they grew, came under the same name and Lyttelton became known as one of the suburbs of Verwoerdburg. Others included Clubview, Eldoraigne, Wierdapark, Zwartkops and their extensions.

The politically neutral name Centurion has no significance, and was presumably chosen by residents in 1995 to match the name of the Centurion Park cricket ground, located in the area after the end of apartheid. Following the end of Apartheid, the Indian township of Laudium and surrounding suburbs including Erasmia and Claudius, which were formerly a part of Pretoria, were made part of Centurion. A black township, called Olievenhoutbosch was created in Centurion at around the same time.

Centurion Geography and Climate

The Hennops River flows through the heart of Centurion, and causes occasional flooding when heavy rainfall has occurred. Suburbs of Centurion include Lyttelton, Clubview, Irene, Raslouw, Sunderland Ridge, Rooihuiskraal, Wierda Park, Doringkloof, Eldoraigne and Zwartkop. Centurion is located on the Highveld like Johannesburg and Pretoria and has a similar climate, with dry, sunny winters (max daytime temperature around 20°C dropping to a crisp average minimum of 5°C) , and warm to hot summers (October - April) tempered by late-afternoon showers often accompanied by spectacular thunder and lightning. Hailstorms are not uncommon, but a serious hailstorm has not happened for many years. Summer temperatures range from the mid 20's to the mid 30's (°Celsius). Centurion's weather tends to follow the slightly warmer Pretoria, when compared to that of Johannesburg.

Climate of Centurion

Centurion enjoys a dry, sunny climate, with the exception of occasional late afternoon downpours in the summer months of October to April. Temperatures in the greater Johannesburg are usually fairly mild thanks to the city's high altitude, with the average maximum daytime temperature in January of 26 ℃ (79 ℉), dropping to an average maximum of around 16 ℃ (61 ℉) in June. Winter is the sunniest time of the year, with cool days and cold nights. The temperature occasionally drops to below freezing at night, causing frost. Snow is a rare occurrence, with snowfall having been experienced in May 1956, August 1962, June 1964, September 1981 and August 2006 (light). Snow fell again on 27 June 2007, accumulating up to 10 centimeters (3.9 in) in the southern suburbs. Regular cold fronts pass over in winter bringing very cold southerly winds but usually clear skies. The annual average rainfall is 713 millimetres (28.1 in), which is mostly concentrated in the summer months. Infrequent showers occur through the course of the winter months.

Centurion Facilities and Recreation

Healthcare facilities include numerous government clinics as well the privately run Union Hospital and Clinton Clinic.Sport facilities abound in the town and established clubs exist for tennis, rugby, boxing, wrestling, cricket, jukskei, netball, hockey, soccer, bowls, korfball and ring tennis. Centurion is also home to the renowned Reading Country Club and Golf Course. Until it became defunct, Centurion was also home to the New Market Race Course.

Towns and Suburbs of the Gauteng province of South Africa

Alberton , Arcadia , Bedfordview , Benoni , Boekenhoutskloof , Boksburg , Bruma , Bryanston , Centurion , De Wagensdrift , Dinokeng , Edenvale , Fourways , Johannesburg , Germiston ,Glenvista , Hartbeespoort , Hatfield , Kameeldrift , Kempton Park , Kromdraai , Krugersdorp , Lanseria , Linden , Lonehill , Lynnwood , Magaliesburg , Menlyn , Meyerspark , Midrand , Modderfontein , Mondeor , Montana , Muldersdrift , Murrayfield , Northcliff , Pretoria , Pretoria East , Randburg , Rivonia , Roodepoort , Rosebank , Rust de Winter , Sandton , Springs , Vereeniging , Vanderbijlpark , Walkerville , Wapadrand , Waterkloof , Weltevredenpark , Woodmead

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