Saint James Parish, Jamaica
Saint James | |
|---|---|
 Saint James in Jamaica | |
| Country |  Jamaica |
| County | Cornwall |
| Capital | Montego Bay |
| Major towns | Adelphi, Cambridge, Montpelier, Catadupa, Fairfield, Somerton, Irwin, Granville, Dumfries, Bogue |
| Area | |
| • Total | 595 km2 (230 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 11 |
| Population (2012)[1] | |
| • Total | 184,662 |
| • Density | 310/km2 (800/sq mi) |
St. James is a suburban
History
When the Spanish occupied
Fire, in 1795 and again in 1811, destroyed much of Montego Bay. After being rebuilt, it was again destroyed in 1831 by a
After
Geography
The parish is bordered by Trelawny in the east, St. Elizabeth in the south and Hanover and Westmoreland in the west. It covers an area of 594.9 km2, making it one of the smallest parishes in Jamaica. The population was 184,662 in 2012.[1]
About two-thirds of the parish consists of limestone. The Nassau Mountains, which rise from St. Elizabeth, south of the parish, extend diagonally across St. James. The range then declines to a point just south of Montego Bay. Its highest point is approximately 1524 metres above sea level.
Great River, which serves as the boundary between St. James and its neighboring parishes Hanover and Westmoreland, and the Montego River, which rises in central St. James and flows north, then west to Montego Bay, are the two main rivers.
The city of Montego Bay may be roughly divided into two sections: the tourist area, which occupies the northern section of the
Politics
Saint James Parish has five MPs based in five constituencies; Saint James Central, Saint James East Central, Saint James North Western Saint James Southern and Saint James West Central.
Commerce
Today, Saint James is one of the fastest growing parishes on the island with large credits going to Montego Bay, because it is seen as an alternative to the overpopulated Kingston and Saint Andrew Corporate Area.
Agricultural activities include
Tourism is the main source of employment in the parish; one in four persons are employed in tourism. The major forms of employment in tourism are:
- craft vending in one of the three craft markets in the parish, Harbour Street Craft Market, Old Fort Craft Market and Success Craft Market;
- tour bus operating for such companies as JUTA and JCAL tours; and,
- various positions in the many hotels located in the parish. Over 500,000 tourists annually visit St. James, and this accounts for one-third of the revenue generated by tourism islandwide; Montego Bay is often called the Mecca of tourism in Jamaica.
Hotels
There are many famous hotels located in the parish of St. James, most of them in the Rose Hall area, including Doctors Cave Beach Hotel, Riu Hotels, Wyndham Rose Hall, Sandals and Beaches Resorts, the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Hyatt Ziva, Riu, Holiday Inn, Half Moon Hotel and the Iberostar Hotel located in Lilliput.
Sites
- strangled by her slaves. The story that her ghoststill haunts the property is still promoted. John Rollins, a wealthy American, bought the property in 1966, and restored the house to its former grandeur.
- Sam Sharpe Square is located in the centre of town. It displays a life-sized Sam Sharpe and his men during the Christmas rebellionin 1831.
- The Creek Dome, or ‘the Dome’ is located at the corner of Creek Street and Dome Street in downtown Montego Bay. Built in 1836, the Dome was built to protect the head of el Rio de Camarones (The River of Crabs) which served as the only source of Montego Bay’s water supply until 1894. Up to the late 1960s, the dome was utilized as an emergency resource of water in times of drought. Today, there is no longer water underneath the Dome. The Jamaica National Heritage Trust declared the Creek Dome a national historic monument.[2] [3] [4]
- Old Fort was built in 1774 to protect the town. The old cannon is still pointing out to sea.
- The Cage was a jail for recaptured runaway slaves. It is now used as a tourist information centre and museum.
- St. James is noted for its fine beaches, which include Greenwood, Rose Hall, Ironshore, Mahoe Bay, Aquasol Theme Park, Doctor's Cave, Cornwall Beach, Montego Freeport and Spring Gardens.
Notable people
- Alia Atkinson, multiple time Olympian in swimming.[5]
- Kenneth Baugh, Jamaican politician and surgeon, who served as Jamaica's Minister of Health.
- Yohan Blake, Jamaican sprinter (as of September 2011) the second fastest man over 200 metres in history behind fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt.
- Jimmy Cliff, ska and reggae singer, musician and actor; inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.
- Howard Cooke, former Governor-General of Jamaica.
- Abdullah el-Faisal, Muslim cleric who preached in the UK until imprisoned for stirring up hatred; deported to Jamaica in 2007.
- Tony Hart, Jamaican businessman, philanthropist, and politician.
- Andre Haughton, Jamaican economist and politician.
- Minister of Health
- Vincent HoSang, Businessman and Philanthropist.
- Rowland Phillips, Jamaican judge, former Chief Justice of Jamaica from 1963 to 1968.
- Max Romeo, Jamaican reggae musician.
- Garth Taylor, Jamaican ophthalmologist, professor, and humanitarian.
- Donnette Zacca (1957), Jamaican photographer, lecturer, and artist.[6]
- Jourdaine Fletcher, Jamaican professional footballer.
References
- ^ a b "Population by Parish". Statistical Institute of Jamaica. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ Jamaica Information Service, St. James. Kingston: Jamaica Information Service, (Parish Profiles), 1991. Map of Jamaica, 1895
- ^ https://www.nlj.gov.jm/history-notes/History%20of%20St.%20James.pdf
- ^ https://www.parishhistoriesofjamaica.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/The-Parish-History-of-St-James.pdf
- FINA. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ^ "Donnette Zacca: Jamaica's First Lady of Photography". Antillean News Group. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
External links
| Authority control databases: Geographic |
|---|
