Westmoreland Parish
Westmoreland
Wesmolan | |
---|---|
Country | Jamaica |
County | Cornwall |
Capital | Savanna-la-Mar |
Area | |
• Total | 807 km2 (312 sq mi) |
• Rank | 8 |
Population (2019)[2] | |
• Total | 149,857 |
• Density | 190/km2 (480/sq mi) |
Westmoreland is the westernmost
History
The earliest inhabitants of Westmoreland were the
Christopher Columbus stopped at what became Westmoreland on his second voyage when he landed in Jamaica. One of the first Spanish settlements was also built at present-day Bluefields in this parish.
The English took over the island from Spanish rule in 1655. Colonists named the parish Westmoreland in 1703, for it was the most westerly point of the island. In 1730, Savanna-la-Mar, a coastal port, was designated to replace Banbury as the capital of the parish. A fort was built in the 1700s to defend the port against pirates. Today it is one of the historic sites of the parish.
In the mid-18th century, Westmoreland was, acre for acre, one of the most profitable territories, not only in Jamaica, but throughout the British empire. The plains of Westmoreland were densely populated with sugar plantations, and by the time of
The name Westmoreland appears to stem from Dr
In 1938,
Geography
Westmoreland has an area of 807 square kilometres (312 sq mi), making it Jamaica's eighth-largest parish. Westmoreland's population of 144,817 is made up of a large percentage of ethnic East
There are over 40 square kilometres (10,000 acres) of morass land, the largest part of which is called the Great Morass. This contains plant and animal material collected over centuries. The morass can be mined as peat, an excellent source of energy. The marsh serves as a natural and unique sanctuary for a wide variety of Jamaican wildlife and birds. The remaining area consists of several hills of moderate elevation, and alluvial plains along the coast.
Numerous rivers run through the parish. The Cabaritta River, which is 39.7 km long, drains the George's Plain and can accommodate ships weighing up to eight tons. Other rivers include the Negril, New Savanna, Morgan's, Gut, Smithfield, Bowens, Bluefields, Robins, Roaring, Great and Dean.
The westernmost tip of the island,
Education
Westmoreland is home to several secondary schools include Manning's School, Frome Technical High School, Grange Hill High School, and others.
Commerce
As a result of the fertile plains, the parish thrives on
- Attractions
See also
Mount Charles, a large hill in Westmoreland Parish.
References and sources
- References
- ^ "Parish Profile: Westmoreland - Jamaica Information Service".
- ^ "Population by Parish". Statistical Institute of Jamaica. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ IIWINC. "Arawak and Taino in Jamaica - Caribya!". jamaica-guide.info.
- ISBN 9780761417859– via Google Books.
- ^ Vincent Brown, Tacky's Revolt: The Story of an Atlantic Slave War (Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 2020), pp. 164-5.
- ^ "Military Regiments locations in Jamaica - 1". www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com.
- ^ "Will and genealogy of Dr. John Drummond". www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com.
- Directorate of Overseas Surveys1:50,000 map of Jamaica sheet A, 1959
- ^ "Wikimapia - Let's describe the whole world!". www.wikimapia.org.
- Sources
External links
Media related to Westmoreland Parish at Wikimedia Commons