Sign In Register

Charlestown, South Africa

KwaZulu-Natal · South Africa

Charlestown is a small city in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa with a population of 5,262. Elevation: 5,443 ft (1,659 m). Average temperature: 59°F (15°C).

5,262 Population 620/sq mi density
5,443 ft Elevation 1,659 meters
59°F Avg Temperature 15°C
30.6 in Annual Rain
Africa / Johannesburg Timezone

Discover Charlestown, South Africa

Explore over 40 sections covering people, economy, housing, health, crime, climate, community, costs, trends, schools, colleges, hospitals, treatment centers, industries, museums, libraries, breweries, farmers markets, grocery stores, pharmacies, campgrounds, parks, trails, stadiums, ski resorts, daycare centers, nursing homes, churches, fire stations, cell towers, bridges, power plants, EV stations, prisons, radio stations, airports, police stations, post offices, Amtrak stations, superfund sites, UNESCO sites, and more.
Use the tabs and dropdown menus below to navigate every data point we track for this city.

Full City Profile

About Charlestown

Charlestown is a small town situated at the top of Laing's Nek pass in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa between Newcastle and Volksrust. It started out as an important railway station and customs post between Natal and Transvaal in 1891 until the Union of South Africa came into being in 1910, and customs tariffs were abolished. It is named after Sir Charles Mitchell, governor of Natal. In 1927 the town was the site of one of South Africa's first mass-shooting instances when local farmer Stephanus Swart shot and killed 8 people.

People

Population5,262
Density620/mi²

Climate

Avg Temp59°F (15°C)
Rain30.6 in/yr
Sunny Days280/yr
Elevation5,443 ft (1,659 m)
Population5,262
Population Density620 / sq mi
Elevation5,443 ft (1,659 m)
Coordinates-27.4111°, 29.8738°
TimezoneAfrica/Johannesburg
Country🇿🇦 South Africa
State / ProvinceKwaZulu-Natal
Average Temperature59°F (15°C)
January Average67°F (19°C)
July Average47°F (9°C)
Annual Precipitation30.6 inches (778 mm)
Annual Snowfall0.0 inches (0 cm)

About Charlestown

Charlestown is a small city in South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal) with a population of 5,262. The city sits at an elevation of 5,443 feet (1,659 meters) above sea level. The average annual temperature is 59°F (15°C). Temperatures range from 67°F in January to 47°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 30.6 inches. The timezone is Africa/Johannesburg.

Charlestown enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 67°F in January while summers reach 47°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 280 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 30.6 inches. The city sits at an elevation of 5,443 feet, a high-altitude location.

Temperature

67°F Jan (19°C) 47°F Jul (9°C)
Annual Average58.6°F
9% above South Africa avg
January Average67°F (19°C)
July Average47°F (9°C)
Sunny Days280 days/yr

Geography

Elevation5,443 ft (1,659 m)
Area8.5 sq mi (22.0 km²)
Population Density620/sq mi
Coordinates-27.4111°N, 29.8738°W
TimezoneAfrica/Johannesburg

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 30.6"
19% below South Africa avg
Snowfall 0.0"
Wettest Month (Jan) 5.35"
Driest Month (Jun) 0.31"

Air Quality

Earthquake History

5 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.7. Most recent: M4.7 on Mar 13, 2022.

Mar 13, 2022 14 km W of eMbalenhle, South Africa M4.7 137 km
Jul 12, 2002 14 km NNW of eMbalenhle, South Africa M4.7 140 km
May 27, 2012 14 km S of Piet Retief, South Africa M4.4 98 km
Jul 1, 2019 36 km W of Mhlambanyatsi, Eswatini M3.7 133 km
Oct 11, 1993 45 km ESE of Ekuvukeni, South Africa M3.3 147 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 67°F (19°C) 5.4 in Warmest, Wettest
February 66°F (19°C) 4.4 in
March 64°F (18°C) 3.2 in
April 59°F (15°C) 1.6 in
May 53°F (11°C) 0.7 in
June 48°F (9°C) 0.3 in Driest
July 47°F (9°C) 0.4 in Coldest
August 52°F (11°C) 0.6 in
September 58°F (15°C) 1.3 in
October 62°F (16°C) 3.4 in
November 64°F (18°C) 4.7 in
December 66°F (19°C) 4.8 in

Charlestown has a seasonal temperature swing of 19°F / from 47°F in July to 67°F in January. Total annual precipitation is 30.6 inches, with January being the wettest month (5.4") and June the driest (0.3").

View full weather details →

Schools in Charlestown

1 public schools (NCES 2022-23 data).

School Level Enrollment Teachers Student/Teacher
Amahobe Primary School
View full schools details →

Airports Near Charlestown

10 airports within the area.

AirportIATAType
Newcastle AirportNCSMedium Airport
Amersfoort AirportSmall Airport
Battlefields AirportSmall Airport
Durnacol AirportSmall Airport
Majuba Power Station AirportSmall Airport
Tutuka Power Station AirportSmall Airport
Utrecht AirportSmall Airport
Volksrust AirportSmall Airport
Vrede AirportSmall Airport
Wakkerstroom AirportSmall Airport

Quick Facts

Timezone
Africa/Johannesburg
Area
22.0 km² (8.5 mi²)
Founded
1889

🇿🇦 About South Africa

Capital Pretoria
Population 57,779,622
Area 1,219,912 km²
GDP (USD) $381,440,724,491
GDP per capita $6,034
HDI 0.717
Life expectancy 66.1 years
Internet users 75.7%
Urban population 63.6%
Currency ZAR (Rand)
Languages Afrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Vend...
Calling code +27
TLD .za
Driving side left

Public Holidays in South Africa

12 public holidays this year

Date Holiday Local Name
Jan 1 New Year's Day New Year's Day
Mar 21 Human Rights Day Human Rights Day
Apr 3 Good Friday Good Friday
Apr 6 Family Day Family Day
Apr 27 Freedom Day Freedom Day
May 1 Workers' Day Workers' Day
Jun 16 Youth Day Youth Day
Aug 10 National Women's Day National Women's Day
Sep 24 Heritage Day Heritage Day
Dec 16 Day of Reconciliation Day of Reconciliation
Dec 25 Christmas Day Christmas Day
Dec 26 Day of Goodwill St. Stephen's Day

Download Full City Report

Get a comprehensive, print-ready PDF with all data for Charlestown.

Get Report

Frequently Asked Questions About Charlestown

What is the population of Charlestown?

Charlestown has a population of 5,262 residents and is located in South Africa. The population density is 620 people per square mile, spread across 8.5 square miles.

What is the weather like in Charlestown?

Charlestown enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winter temperatures average 67°F in January, while summers reach an average of 47°F in July. The area receives 280 sunny days per year, well above the national average of 205. Annual rainfall totals 30.6 inches.

Nearby Cities

Compare Charlestown with another city: