This article is about the region. For District Municipality that governs much of the region, see
West Rand District Municipality.
The West Rand[1] is the urban western part of the
Witwatersrand that is functionally merged with the
Johannesburgconurbation. This area became settled by
Europeans after a
gold-bearing reef discovered in 1886 and sparked the
gold rush that gave rise to the establishment of Johannesburg.
The West Rand extends from
Randfontein in the west to
Roodepoort in the east, and includes the town of
Krugersdorp. The areas of
Carletonville and
Westonaria are sometimes included as being part of the Far West Rand. The areas are economically linked to the city through the gold mining industry. Following the creation of the Johannesburg unicity in 1999, Roodepoort, which is traditionally regarded as part of the West Rand, became part of Johannesburg municipality. After 1999, much of the area became part of the newly formed
West Rand District Municipality (excluding Roodepoort, which became part of the
City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality).[2]
Despite being a separate municipal area, like the
East Rand, the West Rand is included in the
Witwatersrand urban area. To this end, the West Rand shares the same
dialling code as Johannesburg (011 locally) and the same
metropolitan route numbering system as Johannesburg (and the East Rand). It is not uncommon for residents of the West Rand to
work in Johannesburg proper and vice versa.
This article is about the region. For District Municipality that governs much of the region, see
West Rand District Municipality.
The West Rand[1] is the urban western part of the
Witwatersrand that is functionally merged with the
Johannesburgconurbation. This area became settled by
Europeans after a
gold-bearing reef discovered in 1886 and sparked the
gold rush that gave rise to the establishment of Johannesburg.
The West Rand extends from
Randfontein in the west to
Roodepoort in the east, and includes the town of
Krugersdorp. The areas of
Carletonville and
Westonaria are sometimes included as being part of the Far West Rand. The areas are economically linked to the city through the gold mining industry. Following the creation of the Johannesburg unicity in 1999, Roodepoort, which is traditionally regarded as part of the West Rand, became part of Johannesburg municipality. After 1999, much of the area became part of the newly formed
West Rand District Municipality (excluding Roodepoort, which became part of the
City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality).[2]
Despite being a separate municipal area, like the
East Rand, the West Rand is included in the
Witwatersrand urban area. To this end, the West Rand shares the same
dialling code as Johannesburg (011 locally) and the same
metropolitan route numbering system as Johannesburg (and the East Rand). It is not uncommon for residents of the West Rand to
work in Johannesburg proper and vice versa.