Francistown: Capital of the North

With a population of about 113, 315 people, according to the 2001 population census, it is the second largest city in Botswana. Named after a gold digger, Daniel Francis, the town has the dubious distinction of being the only town in Botswana bearing a European name. Historians say the present town was founded in 1897 as a settlement near the Monarch mine.

Incidentally this is the year that Cecil John Rhodes’ railroad, the Cape-to-Cairo railway line reached Monarch.