Located in the heart of the arid Karoo. De Aar takes its name from a perennial underground spring, 'the vein', on the farm on which the town was established. It became a municipality in 1904 and from 1907-1913 was the home of the renowned writer Olive Schreiner. It boasts the second biggest railway junction in South Africa.
Agricultural activities range from intensive crop production and mixed farming in winter rainfall and high summer rainfall areas to cattle ranching in the bushveld and sheep farming in the arid regions. Maize is most widely grown, followed by wheat, oats, ...