By 1887, the population of Johannesburg had increased so that it held 10,000 gold miners. Two years later, Johannesburg became the largest town in South Africa. Half of the population were immigrants, the rest were natives – many members of the Zulu tribe. The coming years brought more and more people to the area in search of gold. With them came a more civilized community. By 1890, the city had electric lights.
The middle of the 1890s brought around 75,000 mine workers, and Johannesburg became the headquarters for that region’s mining industry. While the gold rush made Johannesburg grow quickly, the booming industry did not last long. It wasn’t long before gold became hard to find, and the boom went bust.
Later, when the Boer War broke out, thousands fled the city by train. The once hugely populated community was depleted. After the war, the mines did reopen, and that brought many people back. However, Johannesburg still struggled for peace because mine workers began to cause trouble. Strikes and quarrels swept over the city for some time.
It wasn’t until after World War II that Johannesburg was officially titled a city, which marked a new era in its history. At this time, it was taken over by a new legislation, and was able to solve many of the problems in controlling its inhabitants.
Just as mining is what made Johannesburg grow in the past, it is still one of its key industries. Other thriving businesses are the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, founded in 1887, and their steel and cement industries. Beyond them, the city also has cathedrals from the early 1900s, as well as many art galleries; so architecture buffs as well as those interested in industry can enjoy living or visiting the area.
Johannesburg is also the centre of the region’s road system. Though they do not have a subway, they do have trains; they’ve been running since the 1800s.
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