Derby is a small
town
A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city.
The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...
situated in
North West Province
North West ( ; ) is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Mahikeng. The province is located to the west of the major population centre and province of Gauteng and south of Botswana.
History
North West was incorporated after the end of ...
of
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
that was named after the British Secretary of State Lord Derby. Derby began as a refuge for destitute people.
Village 117 km west-north-west of
Johannesburg
Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and Xhosa language, Xhosa: eGoli ) (colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, Jo'burg or "The City of Gold") is the most populous city in South Africa. With 5,538,596 people in the City of Johannesburg alon ...
, 60 km south-west of
Rustenburg
Rustenburg (; , Afrikaans and Dutch language, Dutch: ''City of Rest'') is a town at the foot of the Magaliesberg mountain range. Rustenburg is the most populous city in North West (South African province), North West province, South Africa (549 ...
and 17 km east of
Koster. Laid out on portions of the farms Rietfontein and Vlakfontein, it was named after
Lord Derby,
British Secretary of State.
References
Populated places in the Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality
Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby
{{NorthWestZA-geo-stub