Over the years its position has made it a convenient stopover on one of Southern Africa's principal north–south rail and road routes.

Their capital was the settlement of Phalatswe, also called Old Palapye, and was situated at the western end of the Tswapong Hills.

The Bamangwato people's houses were initially clustered around the church, but finding its vicinity too rocky, they moved 1.5 km (0.93 mi) from Gaborone and away.

[6] Palapye is situated nearly 70 km (43 mi) north of the Tropic of Capricorn, by the Lotsane River, towards the central-eastern edge of Botswana.

[8] Palapye's population is believed to be bordering the 80,000 mark, however, this is not an official figure, with many quarters arguing that the actual number is much higher or lower.

[citation needed] Due to current blackouts across the country, resulting from South Africa's refusal to supply electricity to Botswana, construction has been halted for many projects.

[11] The Morupule Expansion Project 1, with an estimated budget of P1.5 billion, is expected to produce 3.8 million tonnes of coal.

From being a mere stop-over, Palapye is rapidly developing to one of Botswana's main financial, residential, industrial and educational hubs.

[citation needed] Palapye also has a professional recording studio, called Ruff Riddims, built in early 2009.

While in those leagues they play their matches in Orapa, Francistown, Sua, Maun or Selibe Phikwe.

Popular private institutions in the town are; Kgaswe High School and Royal Professional College (which also offers tertiary level programmes).

BIUST (Botswana International University of Science and Technology) began construction of its campus in December 2009.

Palapye lies on the main A1 Highway, which connects Botswana's two major cities, Gaborone and Francistown.

A proposed rail link to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe has been touted to operate, but such plans are still to be considered by the government.

In 2008, proposals were made to build a new Trans-Kalahari Railway to a port in Namibia, but this is expected to begin construction in 2025.