Thornton, Cape Town


Thornton is a southern suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. Thornton is situated only east of the city centre, adjacent to Pinelands. Like Pinelands, Thornton is a mainly residential suburb with an abundance of trees. It is bordered by the Elsieskraal River, Pinelands, Viking Way, and the M7 Jakes Gerwel Drive. Many of the streets in Thornton are named after Viking themes, such as Thor Circle, Odin Drive and Viking Way. Others are named after trees, such as Poplar Avenue and Sipres Avenue.

Demographics

According to the 2011 Census, Thornton has a population of 5,862 people, with 94% of the labour force being employed. The predominant language spoken in Thornton is English.

Geography

Thornton, like Pinelands, is in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town, sitting close to the border delineating the Northern and Southern Suburbs. There are many trees lining the roads of Thornton, and there are green spaces with wild flowers.

Education

The College of Cape Town has a Thornton Campus for Civil and Mechanical Engineering. There is also the Thornton Primary School.

Sports

The Santos Sports Fields are in Thornton. There are also children's play parks within Thornton.

Amenities

There are two shopping centres in Thornton, including two convenience stores and shops such as a locksmith, barber, pet shop and electronics store. There are also churches in Pinelands, including the N.G. Kerk Thornton.