Balcort

Balcort is a settlement in Chester Parish and a suburb of Grijzestad. It was founded in 1841.

History
Balcort was founded in 1841 by Hans Balle,a wealthy landowner. The region was dominated by his large farm, which was surrounded by the homes of his farm workers. This community gained the name "Balcort"- Bal from the landowner's name and cort from the Latin for estate (thus making Balle's Estate).

Balcort only became a more urban community in the 1900s, when the large estate was broken up and sold. A grid of streets was made and the area was officially incorporated into a village in 1933. In 1974, Balcort was merged into the greater Grijzestad region and has become a suburb.

In the early 20th century a significant number of Oceana people came from Lovia and many of them settled in Balcort to work in Grijzestad and the nearby farms. When the streets were being surveyed and named by city planners many of the townspeople requested to name a street "Cesta" (the Oceana word for street); the middle street (east-west) was named Cestalaan, and though its name was a redundancy it has stuck.

Economy
The economy of Balcort has traditionally focused on agriculture. Being only 25 minutes from Grijzestad, Balcort has become a weekend destination for people who want to escape the city and enjoy countryside air. The town has the largest shopping mall in the parish, which attracts many from the region.

Transportation
Roads to the Balcort region were first made in the 1880s and paved in the late 1950s. A train passed by the town starting in 1927 but most of the rail line in he village was dismantled in 1949. The remaining railway is now used by the Grijzestad S-train's S1 Linieto go to and from Grijzestad. Bus transportation is served by an express line of Grijzestad buses, which comes every half-hour to 45 minutes.

Map

 * 1- Serra-Grana Straat
 * 2- Catherinestraat