Eshowe

Eshowe
Fort Nongqayi in Eshowe
Eshowe Location within KwaZulu-Natal Eshowe Location within South Africa
Coordinates: 28°53′18″S 31°26′54″E
Country	South Africa
Province	KwaZulu-Natal
District	King Cetshwayo
Municipality	uMlalazi
Established	1880
Area
• Total	18.23 km2 (7.04 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	14,744
• Density	808.8/km2 (2,095/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	82.7%
• Coloured	5.0%
• Indian/Asian	4.6%
• White	7.4%
• Other	0.4%
First languages (2011)
• Zulu	75.8%
• English	17.5%
• Afrikaans	2.9%
• S. Ndebele	1.2%
• Other	2.6%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	3815
PO box	3815
Area code	035

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Eshowe is the oldest town of European settlement in Zululand, historically also known as Eziqwaqweni, Ekowe or kwaMondi. Eshowe's name is said to be inspired by the sound of wind blowing through the more than 4 km² of the indigenous Dlinza Forest, the most important and striking feature of the town. Although the name is most likely to be derived from the Zulu word for the Xysmalobium shrubs, showe or shongwe.

Today Eshowe is a market town, with a 100 km radius catchment area, two shopping centres, a main bus station serving the hinterland, a major hospital, and several schools.