Bethlehem is a city in the eastern Free State province of South Africa that is situated on the Liebenbergs river (also called Liebenbergs Vlei) along a fertile valley just north of the Rooiberg Mountains on the N5 road. It is the fastest growing city in the Free state province, with its target of being the third largest city after Bloemfontein and Welkom. It is a wheat growing area and named after the biblical Bethlehem, from ("Beit Lechem"), meaning "house of bread". The city lies at an altitude of and this contributes to its cool climate with frosty winters and mild summers. The average annual temperature is around . Bethlehem is situated approximately north-east of Bloemfontein, east of Kroonstad and west of Harrismith. The city is strategically situated in the heart of the picturesque north-eastern Free State and originally developed as a service centre. Bethlehem is the seat of the Dihlabeng Local Municipality (this municipality is situated within the boundaries of the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality in the Eastern Free State). The township associated with Bethlehem is called Bohlokong, named after the hloko/bohloko grass Diheteropogon filifolius. History 3 Village founders - Today we look at the founders of Bethlehem, in alphabetical order, Malan, Muller and Naude. The foundation of church and town was practically simultaneous. In the Museum are the history and artifacts of the founders, including beautiful large framed photographs of each: Daniel Jacobus Johannes Malan (1821-1892) Johannes Christoffel Muller (1822-1900) Francois Paulus Naude (1800 - 1881) Their families were all Voortrekkers, experienced the ups and downs of Natal, but they came to make their home and settle in the Bethlehem region. This triumvirate of J.C. Pretorius bought the farm Pretoriuskloof and founded a church/town on it. After approval from the Free State Government, plots were measured in 1864 and 44 were immediately sold. The founders were farmers and their farms are still in family ownership. Malan farmed at the famous Malanspos, on the road between Bethlehem and Lindley. A house and outbuildings were built and he and his wife were buried on the farm Sterkfontein. Their third son ace the famous Senator D.J.J. Malan. Muller's farm, Mullersrust, lies on the Blijdschap/Brighton/Kleingraansentrumpad, next to the Liebenbergsvlei River. Here was his homestead and in the river he built a mill which was destroyed by the British in the Anglo-Boer War. He was buried in the family cemetery on the farm. Naude's