How quickly did Johannesburg’s population grow during the 1890s gold rush?

Following the discovery of gold in 1886, Johannesburg experienced an exceptionally rapid transformation from a mining camp into a major urban center. By 1896, only a decade after its founding, the city’s population had grown to 100,000 people.1

This explosive growth was driven by an influx of fortune hunters from around the world, including Australia and California, as well as skilled miners from Cornwall and Wales. The city also saw significant migration from across the southern African subcontinent, as Black workers arrived to support the mining industry, and destitute Afrikaners moved to the area seeking employment. This rapid expansion established Johannesburg as the last great boomtown of the 19th century.1