Country Namibia Constituency Karibib Constituency Climate BWh Population 3,583 (2011) | Region Erongo Region Established 1900s Local time Monday 5:07 AM | |
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Time zone South African Standard Time (UTC+1) Weather 18°C, Wind E at 13 km/h, 44% Humidity | ||
Visiting namibia third step on steppe usakos
Usakos (Damara: grab the heel, Otjiherero name: Okanduu) is a town on the banks of river Khan, 140 kilometres north-east of Swakopmund in the Erongo Region of Namibia. It is located on the B2 (Trans-Kalahari Highway), the main road between the Walvis Bay and Johannesburg. The town has 3,000 inhabitants and owns 58 square kilometres (22 sq mi) of land.
Contents
- Visiting namibia third step on steppe usakos
- Map of Usakos Namibia
- History
- Development and infrastructure
- Politics
- Local authority results 2010
- Notable residents
- References
Map of Usakos, Namibia
Surrounded by mountains, Usakos is quite picturesque. Certain spots around the town show the longest uninterrupted horizon in the world. It is the closest town to the Spitzkoppe, often referred to as the "Matterhorn of Namibia".
History
The settlement was founded in the early 1900s as a workshop and watering station for locomotives. Herero chief Samuel Maharero sold the land to Europeans who resold it in 1903 to the Otavi Minen- und Eisenbahngesellschaft (Otavi Mining and Railway Company) (OMEG) which operated an industrial railway line from Swakopmund to Tsumeb. OMEG established a railway station and a repair shop which was used until the 1960s. When mining operations slowed down, Usakos' importance faded quickly. Today it is just a drive-through from the Namibian inland to the coast.
Historic buildings and structures in Usakos are the Roman Catholic church (erected 1905), the now dilapidated railway station building, and the old hotel.
Development and infrastructure
Usakos is riddled with poverty and alcohol abuse, the current unemployment rate is around 60%. Unlike other Namibian towns, it has not seen substantial development since independence in 1990.
Usakos Railway Station connects the town to the Namibian railway network.
Politics
Usakos was downgraded from municipal to town status in 2010. It is now governed by a town council that has seven seats.
Local authority results, 2010
In the 2010 local authority election, a total of 1,029 votes were cast in the city. SWAPO won with approximately 47% of the vote. Of the three other parties seeking votes in the election, UDF received approximately 31% of the vote, followed by RDP (17%) and COD (4%).
Notable residents
Usakos is the hometown of the following prominent politicians: