Kingston, Jamaica
Categories: Parishes of Jamaica | Capitals in North America | Coastal cities | Cities and towns in Jamaica
Kingston (population 600,000) is the capital of Jamaica. It is located on the southeastern coast of the island country at 17°59′ N 76°48′ W. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sandspit which connects Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island.
Note that Kingston the city (often called Greater Kingston or the "Corporate Area") is much larger than the Parish of Kingston (that includes only the old Downtown and Port Royal). Much of the "Corporate Area" is situated in the Parish of St. Andrew, the two parishes having been amalgamated by the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation Act of 1923.
Founded in 1693 by the English after a disastrous earthquake destroyed much of the previous main port city of Port Royal (French for King's Port), the city became the seat of administration for Jamaica in 1872. It kept this status when the island was granted independence in 1962. On January 14, 1907, an earthquake in Kingston killed more than 1,000 people.
Apart from being the seat of the Jamaican government, the city is also home to the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies founded in 1948. Several annual and well-visited festivals are held in Kingston.
Two parts comprise the central area of Kingston: the historic but troubled Downtown, and New Kingston, which is home to the city's most visited attraction, the Bob Marley Museum (built at his former residence). Several other reggae stars, including Buju Banton and Beenie Man, also hail from Kingston. Other attractions include the nearby Hellshire and Lime Cay beaches, the National Gallery of Jamaica, the ruins of Port Royal, and Devon House, a mansion with adjoining park that once belonged to Jamaica's first black millionaire.
Kingston is served by Norman Manley International Airport and also by the smaller and primarily domestic Tinson Pen Airport.
Demographics
Despite the fact that the majority of the population are Blacks, Kingston, Jamaica has a large number of non-Blacks. The largest groups are those who are mixed race. Moderate numbers of Hispanics mostly from Latin America are also to be found in the city.
East Indians and Chinese are the next largest groups and this is evident from the many Asian restaurants that dot Kingston's streets. There is also a modest number of Whites, mostly from Cuba, and Great Britain, including a number of Christian Syrians and Lebanese.
Religion
There is a wide variety of Christianity practiced in the city. Most are Protestant due to British colonisation of the island. The chief denominations are Church of God, Baptist, Anglican, Seventh-Day Adventist and Pentecostal. Afro-Christian syncretic cults are also widespread.
There is a Jewish synagogue in the city as well as a small number of Buddhists. The major non-Christian religion is the Rastafari movement.
Courtney Walsh (1962-) is a world famous cricketer who was born in Kingston.
External links
| Parishes of Jamaica | Image:Jamaica flag large.png |
|---|---|
| Clarendon | Hanover | Kingston | Manchester | Portland | Saint Andrew | Saint Ann | Saint Catherine | Saint Elizabeth | Saint James | Saint Mary | Saint Thomas | Trelawny | Westmoreland | |