town and mining centre of the Free State goldfields, north-central Free State province, South Africa, at 4,411 ft (1,344 m) above sea level. Although it obtained municipal status in 1912, Odendaalsrus remained little more than a village until 1946, when a highly profitable goldfield was discovered 2 mi (3 km) away. It grew rapidly and is now a modern planned town. Pop. (2001) 8,654.