When searching for Sutherland on-line, remember there are no less than 16 towns, villages and cities called Sutherland in the world and at least two lakes, a river and a waterfall. The majority are above the equator and were founded or discovered in the mid to late 19th century – the time when many people migrated from Sutherland, Scotland either through forced eviction or hard choices. These settlers suffered unbelievable hardship to cross to the other side of the world, but eventually many prospered and the communities they established still thrive.
The USA has 9 places called Sutherland. London only has 3. The city of Sutherland in Iowa, was actually named after the actual Duke of Sutherland in 1882. By 1890 Sutherland, Iowa had a population of 490 which grew to 897 by 1980, now shrunk according to the most recent census, to just 629. In Iowa 490 of its 947 cities have fewer than 500 residents. In contrast, Sutherland, Nebraska is designated a village with 1,286 residents. There are eight other American towns and villages called Sutherland in Wisconsin, Nebraska, Virginia, Utah, Tennessee, North Carolina, Missouri and Kentucky. Also, there is a Lake Sutherland, in Port Angeles, Washington and another in San Diego which is really a reservoir and dam.
In South Africa there are two Sutherlands. One is about 370 kilometres from Cape Town and founded in 1855 as a church and market town to service local sheep farms. Now it is the base for the National Research Foundation of South Africa, for research in astronomy and astrophysics. It has the largest telescope in the Southern Hemisphere and known as South Africa’s Gateway to the Universe. I couldn’t find out anything about Sutherland Kwa Zulu Natal, but that’s the second settlement.
Then there is Sutherland a suburb of Sydney in Australia. Its population of 10,816 is not much less than the whole of our county. On the list of notable people who live in Sutherland are 31 Sportsmen, 1 female former racing cyclist, 3 politicians, 2 rock musicians, 1 TV presenter, 1 writer poet and 1 geologist. So sport pretty much rules Sutherland, New South Wales. There is also a Sutherland near Melbourne in Victoria apparently.
In 1878, an explorer called Donald Sutherland who had been born in Wick, is recorded as being the first European to sight the (still) highest waterfall in New Zealand which was named for him. There is a town called Sutherland in Canterbury New Zealand as well.
In Saskatoon, Canada there is a Sutherland with over 5,000 bustling, prosperous residents
You won’t confuse any of these places with our Sutherland, but in some way they are all connected, which I find touching and fascinating.
