Grahamstown, city in southern South Africa, in Eastern Cape province, about halfway between Port Elizabeth and East London. It is the commercial center of the surrounding agricultural area and has some light industry. Grahamstown is the seat of Rhodes University (founded in 1904) and contains an Observatory Museum and the Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint George, which was begun in 1825 and completed in 1952. Every summer, tens of thousands of visitors come to Grahamstown for the National Arts Festival, one of the most important South African cultural events, with performances and displays from all major art forms. Grahamstown lies in “settler country,” the early 19th century South African frontier, and was established in 1812 by British army Colonel John Graham. Scottish and English settlers began arriving in 1820, despite the closeness of Grahamstown to native Xhosa land and the danger of attack by Xhosa warriors that persisted until the late 19th century. Population (1991) 19,783.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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