Strydenburg is situated on the R12 from Cape Town to Johannesburg via Kimberley. Strydenburg ('the town of strife') received its rather doleful name on account of incessant squabbling over - of all things - the choice of name. The town is situated at the edge of a large pan, filled with shallow salty water during rainy years. The Dutch Reformed Church laid out Strydenburg in 1892 on the farm Roodedam. The local Guesthouses and museum are fine examples of these Karoo 'tuishuise'. The well-known Afrikaans author, FA Venter, was born and spent a great deal of his life in the district of Strydenburg.
Agricultural activities range from intensive crop production and mixed farming in winter rainfall and high summer rainfall areas to cattle ranching in the bushveld and sheep farming in the arid regions. Maize is most widely grown, followed by wheat, oats, ...
