Monday, August 27, 2007

The Jamaican Culture - Our 14 Parishes

Map of Jamaica



Please click on map of Jamaica above to enlarge


Jamaica has 14 parishes which are divided into 3 Counties as follows:

Cornwall has 5 – St. Elizabeth, Trelawny, St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland.

Middlesex has 5 – St. Catherine, St. Mary, Clarendon, St. Ann and Manchester.

Surrey has 4 – Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Thomas and Portland.

Each parish has its own parish council which is given limited powers. Each parish has a capital town.

St. Elizabeth:
Named in honour of Elizabeth, wife of a former Governor. St. Elizabeth is known for its farming activities and is called the “feeding basket” of Jamaica. It is Jamaica’s second largest parish. St. Elizabeth is a major producer of bauxite. There are two sugar factories in the parish and a number of crops (among them cassava, peas, pimento, tobacco). This parish is also the producer of livestock. The capital town is Black River.

Trelawny:
Named after a former Governor, St. William Trelawny. Trelawny is known for its sugar estates. Rum and sugar are Trelawny's main products. The capital town is Falmouth.

St. James:
Named after the Duke of York who became James II. St. James is known as the second city of Jamaica. It is the birthplace of our National Hero, The Rt. Excellent Samuel Sharpe. Montego Bay is the capital town. Popularly known as “Mo Bay”, it is one of the most famous tourist destinations internationally.

Hanover:
Named after the English Monarch, George I, from the House of Hanover in Germany. Hanover is the smallest parish in the island and is the birthplace of one of Jamaica’s National Heroes – The Right Excellent Sir Alexander Bustamante. Agriculture is its main product. The capital Town is Lucea.

Westmoreland:
Possibly named because it is the most westernmost parish in the Island. Westmoreland is Jamaica’s eighth largest parish. The parish depends on sugar cane for employment.

Negril has some of the world’s best beaches and is noted for its white sands. Negril is one of Jamaica’s main tourist destinations. The capital town is Savanna-la-mar.

St. Catherine:
Named after Queen Katherine, Charles II’s Queen, the name was changed to “Catherine”. St. Catherine is one of Jamaica’s largest parishes and is next to Kingston as an industrial center. The largest salt producing plant in the Caribbean and the Caymanas Park horse-racing track are located in this parish. The capital town is Spanish Town.

St. Mary:
One of Jamaica’s smallest parishes. Scott's Hall is known to be the home of the St. Mary Maroons. St. Mary has the largest number of (East) Indians in Jamaica. It is the parish with the most historic buildings, monuments and ruins. St. Mary has several Great Houses. It was named after its capital Puerto Santa Maria. It was one of the first sections of the island to be occupied by the Spanish. It produces a large variety of agricultural produce such as bananas, coconut, coffee and breadfruit. The capital town is Port Maria.

Clarendon:
Clarendon was named in honour of St. Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon. An extensive amount of bauxite can be found in Clarendon. It is the location of the famous Milk River Bath and is Jamaica’s 3rd largest parish. The capital town is May Pen.

St. Ann:
Named after Ann Hyde, Wife of King James II of England. It is the largest parish in Jamaica and is also known as the “Garden Parish” because of its beautiful flowers. It is the birthplace of our National Hero, The Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey and Reggae singer Bob Marley. St. Ann is one of the major tourist destinations in Jamaica. The famous Dunn’s River Falls and a number of popular beaches are situated in St. Ann. Ocho Rios, popularly known as “Ochie”, is a town in St. Ann. Ocho Rios is the second major tourist town on the north coast. The capital town is St. Ann’s Bay.

Manchester:
Our National Hero, The Right Excellent Norman Washington Manley was born in this Parish. It is Jamaica's sixth largest parish. The area is mostly mountainous and the climate is usually cool. A number of Jamaica's businesses were started in Mandeville and it is the hub of the bauxite mining industry. One of the oldest hotels in the Caribbean, the Mandeville Hotel, is located in this parish. Citrus (oranges, ortaniques and grapefruit) are grown here in abundance. Manchester was named in honour of the Duke of Manchester, the then Governor of Jamaica. The capital town is Mandeville.

Kingston:
This is the capital of Jamaica and also the largest city in Jamaica. It is the centre of commerce for the Island. One of Jamaica’s National Heroes, The Right Excellent George William Gordon was born in Kingston. Two airports, The Norman Manley International Airport and Tinson Pen (smaller and more domestic) are located in Kingston. The capital town is Kingston.

St. Andrew:
The University of the West Indies and The College of Arts, Science and Technology (now known as The University of Technology) are located in this parish. The capital town is Half-Way-Tree.

The local government for the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew were merged to form the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC).

Important places that are located in St. Andrew are the Governor General’s residence at King’s House, the Prime Minister’s residence at Jamaica House, the National Stadium, Sabina Park (cricket) and the Bob Marley Museum.

St. Thomas:
Might be named after Thomas, Lord Windsor, Governor of Jamaica in 1662. Our National Hero, The Right Excellent Paul Bogle was born in that Parish. The famous Morant Bay Rebellion took place in that parish. There are many factories in St. Thomas and sugar and bananas are their main export crops. The capital town is Morant Bay.

Portland:
Named after the Duke of Portland, Governor of Jamaica in 1723, Portland is known for its agricultural products. Breadfruits, bananas, coffee, coconuts and ackees are among some of the products. Portland has been known to be the host for the rich and famous many of whom own property there. The world famous Blue Lagoon is located in this parish. There is also rafting on the River Grande. Portland is also famous for its jerked food - especially its jerk pork! (Note: ‘Jerk’ food means spicy food. ) Port Antonio is the capital town.

48 comments:

iriegal said...

Thank you for this post. Very good information. I forgot most of this when I left high school.

Anonymous said...

hey thanx 4 this well informed piece of litriture.It is nice to see some one take pride and have so much knowledge of there homeland.....Gemma U.K

Anonymous said...

what parish is woodshall in

Karl said...

Someone was asking what Parish was Woodshall in. I do not know if the person meant Wood Hall. Wood Hall is in the Parish of St. Catherine and the past Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller was born there in 1945.

Anonymous said...

Very good information.it would be nice to see some pictures of some of the things mentioned about these fourteen beautiful parishes of Jamaica.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this information. I can share it with my husband who is from Nigeria and my children who are born in in America.

Christina said...

Thank u Karl thats a very usefull peice of information. Its great to kno that someone stand proud for their country so to sit n write and share such great piece of info. big up to u and continue to stand out for ur country.

Anonymous said...

Excellent source of information, Thank You!

Anonymous said...

this is valid information my daughter , thanks!

TussahSilk said...

Thanks for that information: it was succint, but just enough to whet my appetite to find more.

It's lovely to see Jamaican pride online. I'll be reading this blog regularly.

Anonymous said...

Very informative. It is my birthplace and I have very little knowledge of it due to migration at a young age. The older I get, the more I appreciate how beatiful a place. No matter where you have now planted your seeds it's important to remember and know your roots. It's the foundation of which you will build on. "No wey no betta dan yaad". JJ, Toronto, Canada

Anonymous said...

Great info i remember from back in my high school days. I am now sharing this with my wife and kids born in the US. Much thanks for broadening so many horizons.

Anonymous said...

This was very useful information. It was also short, sweet, and spicy. The only thing is, I now feel home sick. SWEET, SWEET, JAMAICA, NAH LEF YAH!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the information, after leaving Jamaica at age 13 I forgot allot. I will be sharing this info with my family.

Anonymous said...

My beautiful lady from Mo Bay and I (From Wisconsin, USA)are moving to JA soon. Your information is just what this new resident to be was looking for. I am trying to learn all I can about my new country. Thank you

Anonymous said...

Thaks for the wonderful info on Jamaica. There is alot that I dont know about my birth land. Thank you. JH from, Ont. Canada.

Anonymous said...

my name is menen nice information on jamaica its really nice. you might know me for coming 2nd in spelling bee

Anonymous said...

i love jamaica its the best place to live. i also came 2nd in spelling bee

Anonymous said...

jamaica is the land of wood and water its the best place to live.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for the information, I left there when I was very young, I am doing some research and this is very helpful, putting this information together, to see how we can benefit the country in the long run.
Dee from US

Anonymous said...

which parish is old harbour in

Karl said...

Old Harbour is in the Parish of St. Catherine.... Karl

Marva S said...

What can I say but BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL - no where else like JA - Marva S

Marva S said...

What can I say but BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL - there is no where else like JA

Karl said...

Hi Marva S... I could not agree with you more! There is no where like the ROCK!... Jamaica! We little but we tallawah! Yeh man! Karl

Anonymous said...

Forgot a lot... this was really helpful and it made me home sick.
Jamaica Land We Love!! No better place!!

MS

Paula said...

Great info of Jamaica. It brings back lots of memories of the school days teachings. I went back in August/11 and I did not want to leave. My children went to Jamaica for the first a few years ago and did not want to come back. They did not call to let me know how they were doing they were having such a good time, I had to be the one calling them. Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica land we love. God keep on blessing Jamaica.

Karl said...

Hi Paula,

I could not agree with you more! God bless our Island Jamaica land we love!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the info, will share it with a couple of my Jamaicans co-workers who are completely out of touch with their roots.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this post. This post gave me the information I needed to help my daughter in her school assignment.

Jennifer said...

SANTA GLORIA ! - LAND OF WOOD AND WATER (I got this on my history exam)many years ago. (Christopher Columbus was engulfed by the beauty of this Island. He had no choice, but marvel at it's beauty. Has anyone ever stop to take a good look at the shape of this Island - none other looks like it. It stands alone - it is so BEAUTIFUL and so UNIQUE, It has become the envy of all others. My birth place, JAMAICA LAND WE LOVE. Proud to be. (Go ahead, call me selfish. I bet you can't because u know its the truth. One love mi breddas an mi sistas.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this info, it has certainly enlighten my darkness because i did not get most of this information in high school. We should be proud of our country.

cali as in califonia said...

i love jamacia ive been to all the places youve stated

anton said...

the new parish will be portmore

Anonymous said...

Beautiful beautiful blessed island Jamaica land of my birth. GOD BLESS JAMAICA !!!!! Thanks for the info.

Anonymous said...

Usefull info just use it to my daughter home work.

Hugh said...

this information was very informative, and up lifting these are thing I didn't remember since I left high school, continue posting these information as I continue to refresh my memory of our beautiful island Jamaica

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this. I was quizzing my niece and asked her to name the 14 parishes and I couldnt remember all of them lol. Thank you.

empress s outta St Bess said...

Yes definitely really interesting I learnt do much as I have forgotten some over the years.. I will b edifying my 7 year old son with your accurate knowledge of the parishes. Thank u I was actually looking for a place called Kimano in not far from Black River in St Beds to get some further info and came across your post. Thanks again my interest I'd now peaked l continue scouting more info

maugize said...

cant believe I was born and raised in this country and never know any of the information I jus read at the age of 18,this was valuable information for me also very inspiring for me.it encourages me to appreciate my country even more than I have. thanks to you who gathered the information.

Unknown said...

Very informative - i really like what you have done

Paulette said...

Great useful information for students on Jamaica. St Elizabeth is also known as the breadbasket parish.

Look forward to more.

Anonymous said...

I would like to commend you and say thanks for these reminders and for the information that I didn't know about as well. I will definitely share this with my children.

cjm said...

I use your post to do my daughter's social studies homework it had everything I needed plus more so thanks again oh and she got 92% and when the teacher saw that she included who each parish was name after she received an additional 4 marks do thanks Karl

Anonymous said...

What a lot of valuable info. I remembered Cornwall, Middlesex and Surrey but not the parishes and did not know all the other info. At almost 70 this is invaluable.
I was there this year, but do not know Ja. at all.
Thanks, and blessings.

Anonymous said...

just starting to get to know the place I was born all over again, this is very helpful information

Anonymous said...

Thank you for such great information. I am in the process of putting ideas for a new restaurant I am opening and need to know the 14 Parishes and what they are famous for. thanks again I was able to find all the information I needed here. Keep up the good work. I appreciate it. MAXX

Anonymous said...

I sincerely thank you for this information , because I was born in canada lived in jamaica for the first twelve years of my life. I went to three different schools starting at four years old , my final three years there was at a prep school and to be honest they seem to be busy teaching about overseas and did not teach enough about my beautiful country. So this is not just great for me to know but also being able to teach my children about their grandparents wonderful heritage and country . Blessings