Johannesburg World Cities Research Network. In 2011, the population of the city of Johannesburg was 4,434,827, making it the most populous city in South Africa. In the same year, the population of Johannesburg's urban agglomeration was put at 7,860,781. The land area of the municipal city () is large in comparison with those of other major cities, resulting in a moderate population density of . The city was established in 1886 following the discovery of gold on what had been a farm. The city is commonly interpreted as the modern day El Dorado due to the extremely large gold deposit found
Suburbs of Johannesburg Suburbs of Johannesburg The suburbs of Johannesburg are officially demarcated areas within the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. As in other Commonwealth countries, the term "suburb" refers to a "neighbourhood", although the term has a somewhat stronger meaning in South Africa as most (but not all) "suburbs" have legally recognised borders (see legal definition of township) and often (but not always) separate postal codes. The municipal functions for the area, such as municipal policing and social services, are still managed by the city government. Johannesburg, like many other boom towns, grew rapidly and with little planning, and thus the city