# Durban

> city in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

**Wikidata**: [Q5468](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5468)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durban)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/durban

## Summary
Durban is a major coastal city in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, known for its port, cultural diversity, and historical significance. It is the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal and serves as the capital of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. Established in 1835, it has grown into a key economic and cultural hub in South Africa.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1835 as Port Natal, later renamed after Benjamin d'Urban.
- Located in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality since 2000.
- Population: 595,061 (2011), down from 536,644 (2001).
- Area: 225.91 km².
- Elevation: 22 meters above sea level.
- Timezone: UTC+02:00.
- Coordinates: 29.8583° S, 31.0250° E.
- Named after Benjamin d'Urban, a British colonial administrator.
- Part of the Creative Cities Network since 2017, designated as a City of Literature.
- Sister cities include New Orleans, Leeds, Guangzhou, Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, and many others.
- Has a rich history tied to the Union of South Africa (1910–1961) and the Colony of Natal (1835–1910).
- Postal codes: 4001 (general), 4000 (P.O. Box).
- Local dialing code: 031.
- Member of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality since 2000.
- Hosts the Princess Magogo Stadium and Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
- Features a subtropical climate and is a major port city on the Indian Ocean.
- Official website: [durban.gov.za](http://www.durban.gov.za/)
- Has a diverse set of aliases including eThekwini, エテクウィニ, and others.
- Connected to various global knowledge systems: Wikidata, Freebase, GeoNames, and more.
- Has a subreddit (r/Durban) with over 10 years of activity.
- Twinned with numerous cities globally, including international relations established in the 1990s and 2000s.

## FAQs
### What is Durban's history?
Durban was founded in 1835 as Port Natal and renamed after Benjamin d'Urban. It was part of the Colony of Natal from 1835 to 1910, then part of the Union of South Africa until 1961, and later became part of KwaZulu-Natal until 2000, when it became the capital of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.

### What is Durban known for?
Durban is known as a major port city and economic center in South Africa. It is also recognized for its cultural diversity, beaches, and role in the Creative Cities Network as a City of Literature since 2017.

### What are Durban's sister cities?
Durban has numerous sister cities including New Orleans (since 2003), Leeds (since 1998), Guangzhou (since 2000), Chicago (since 1997), and others such as Daejeon, Rio de Janeiro, and Rotterdam.

### What is the population of Durban?
As of 2011, the population was 595,061, down from 536,644 in 2001.

### What are Durban's official identifiers?
- UN/LOCODE: ZADUR
- Timezone: UTC+02:00
- Postal codes: 4001 (general), 4000 (P.O. Box)
- Local dialing code: 031
- Geonames ID: 1007311
- OpenStreetMap Node ID: 27564996

### What organizations is Durban a member of?
Durban is a member of the Creative Cities Network as a City of Literature since 2017. It is also part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality since 2000.

### What are some notable landmarks or features of Durban?
Durban is home to the Princess Magogo Stadium and Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium. It also features a diverse cultural and linguistic landscape, with a subtropical climate and a coastline along the Indian Ocean.

### What is Durban's elevation?
Durban is approximately 22 meters above sea level.

### What are Durban's aliases?
Durban is known by several names including eThekwini, エテクウィニ, and historically as Port Natal.

### What is Durban's role in global culture?
Durban is part of the Creative Cities Network, recognized for its literary contributions. It also has a vibrant online presence with a subreddit (r/Durban) and is featured in numerous language versions of Wikipedia.

## Why It Matters
Durban is a major economic and cultural hub in South Africa, serving as a key port city with a diverse population and rich history. It plays a significant role in the country's economy, particularly in trade and tourism. As part of the Creative Cities Network, it contributes to global cultural exchange. Its sister city relationships highlight its international engagement, and its historical evolution from a colonial port to a modern metropolis underscores its importance in South Africa's urban and political development.

## Notable For
- Being the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal and a major port on the Indian Ocean.
- Its designation as a City of Literature in the Creative Cities Network since 2017.
- Hosting major sports venues like Princess Magogo Stadium and Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
- A diverse population and rich cultural heritage reflected in its sister city relationships.
- Its role in global knowledge systems, with entries in Wikidata, GeoNames, and others.
- A subreddit with an active community since 2011.
- A historical timeline that includes its founding in 1835 and evolution through various political and administrative changes.

## Body

### History
Durban was established in 1835 as Port Natal and later renamed after Benjamin d'Urban. It was part of the Colony of Natal from 1835 to 1910, then part of the Union of South Africa until 1961. Since 2000, it has been the capital of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. The city's history is deeply tied to South Africa's colonial and post-colonial development, and it has evolved into a major urban center.

### Geography and Demographics
Durban is located in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and covers an area of 225.91 km². It lies at 29.8583° S, 31.0250° E, with an elevation of 22 meters above sea level. The city's population was 595,061 in 2011, down from 536,644 in 2001. It is part of the Indian Ocean coastal region and has a subtropical climate.

### Administration and Governance
Durban is the capital of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality since 2000. It was previously part of KwaZulu-Natal from 1994 to 2000 and Natal Province before that. The city's local dialing code is 031, and it uses postal codes 4001 (general) and 4000 (P.O. Box). The official website is [durban.gov.za](http://www.durban.gov.za/).

### Culture and Recognition
Durban is part of the Creative Cities Network, recognized as a City of Literature since 2017. It has a vibrant cultural scene and is part of the global knowledge ecosystem with entries in Wikidata, GeoNames, and other international databases. The city's subreddit (r/Durban) has been active since 2011.

### International Relations
Durban has numerous sister city relationships, including:
- New Orleans (since 2003)
- Leeds (since 1998)
- Guangzhou (since 2000)
- Chicago (since 1997)
- Daejeon (since 2011)
- Mombasa (since 2012)
- Rotterdam (since 1991)
- And many others including Rio de Janeiro, Nantes, and Campinas.

### Infrastructure and Landmarks
Durban is home to the Princess Magogo Stadium and Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium. It is a major port city with a well-developed infrastructure that supports its role in trade and tourism.

### Online Presence and Data Identifiers
Durban is represented in numerous global systems:
- Wikidata ID: Q1007311
- GeoNames ID: 1007311
- Freebase ID: /m/01tjvv
- OpenStreetMap Node ID: 27564996
- Facebook Location ID: 111235618901233
- iNaturalist Place ID: 48427
- WorldCat Entities ID: E39PCjvYVrc7HqrkXDG474qxXd

### Language and Cultural Representation
Durban is represented in over 100 language versions of Wikipedia, including Afrikaans, Zulu, English, French, German, and many others. It is also part of the global knowledge systems of Brockhaus, Encyclopædia Britannica, and others.

### Notable People and Communities
Durban has a rich community of people associated with it, as seen in categories like "Category:People from Durban" and "Category:Births in Durban." It also has a subreddit with the tagline "Fun, sun and sea" and a dedicated community.

### Cultural and Historical Significance
Durban is part of the Creative Cities Network, recognized for its literary contributions. It has a diverse cultural and linguistic landscape, with a history that includes its role in the development of South Africa's urban and political landscape.

### Global Recognition
Durban is part of the global knowledge ecosystem, with entries in numerous international databases and systems. It is also part of the iNaturalist platform, with a place ID of 48427, and is recognized in the WorldCat Entities database.

### Sports and Recreation
Durban is home to the Princess Magogo Stadium and Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, which host various sports events. The city's sports infrastructure supports its role in regional and national sports development.

### Digital and Social Presence
Durban has a subreddit (r/Durban) with an active community since 2011. It also has a presence on various global knowledge systems, including Wikidata, GeoNames, and others.

### Cultural and Historical Archives
Durban is part of the global knowledge ecosystem, with entries in numerous international databases and systems. It is also part of the iNaturalist platform, with a place ID of 48427, and is recognized in the WorldCat Entities database.

### Cultural and Historical Recognition
Durban is part of the global knowledge ecosystem, with entries in numerous international databases and systems. It is also part of the iNaturalist platform, with a place ID of 48427, and is recognized in the WorldCat Entities database.

## References

1. [Source](https://nola.gov/mayor/news/archive/2018/20180105-pr-mayor-landrieu,-orleans,-france-mayor/)
2. [Source](http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Services/IGR/sistercities/Documents/new%20orleans_1.pdf)
3. [Source](http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Services/IGR/sistercities/Documents/SSD_leeds.pdf)
4. [Source](https://www.leeds.gov.uk/Pages/International-Relations.aspx)
5. [Source](http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Services/IGR/sistercities/Documents/SSD_guangzhou.pdf)
6. [Source](http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Services/IGR/sistercities/Pages/default.aspx)
7. [Source](http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Services/IGR/sistercities/Documents/daejeon_1.pdf)
8. [Source](https://www.daejeon.go.kr/english/EngSisterCities.do?menuSeq=7028)
9. [Source](https://www.daejeon.go.kr/drh/DrhContentsHtmlView.do?menuSeq=1739)
10. [Source](https://bylaws.durban.gov.za/storage/Documents/Performance%20Monitoring%20and%20Evaluation/Annual%20Reports/2018-2019%20Annual%20Report%20Draft.pdf)
11. [Source](https://www.municipio.co.ve/municipio-maracaibo.html)
12. [Source](http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Services/IGR/sistercities/Documents/SSD_alexandria.pdf)
13. [Source](http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Services/IGR/sistercities/Documents/chicago_1.pdf)
14. [Source](http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Services/IGR/sistercities/Documents/curatiba.pdf)
15. [Source](http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Services/IGR/sistercities/Documents/SSD_nantes.pdf)
16. [Source](http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Services/IGR/sistercities/Documents/bremen.pdf)
17. [Source](https://landesportal.bremen.de/bund-europa-international/die-hansestadt-international)
18. [Source](https://www.rathaus.bremen.de/partnerstadt_durban-7637)
19. [Source](http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Services/IGR/sistercities/Documents/le%20port.pdf)
20. [Source](http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Services/IGR/sistercities/Documents/mombasa.pdf)
21. [Source](http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Services/IGR/sistercities/Documents/SSD_rotterdam.pdf)
22. [Source](https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/our-city/newcastles-international-relationships)
23. [Source](https://www.campinas.sp.gov.br/governo/cooperacao_internacional/irmas/)
24. Virtual International Authority File
25. South African Post Office
26. [Source](http://www.postoffice.co.za/tools/pcodes.xls)
27. [Source](https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/durban)
28. [Source](https://www.britannica.com/place/Durban)
29. Google Earth
30. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
31. Czech National Authority Database
32. MusicBrainz
33. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
34. GeoNames
35. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/za.htm)
36. Quora
37. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
38. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
39. museum-digital