Westmoreland Parish

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Westmoreland
Capital Savanna-la-Mar
county Cornwall
Big cities Grange Hill , Negril ,
surface 807  km²
population 145,335 (2009)
Population density 180.1 / km²
economy Tourism, agriculture, industry, fishing
The Parish Westmoreland in Jamaica

Westmoreland is a district ( Parish ) in southwest Jamaica . The capital is Savanna-la-Mar . The well-known reggae musician Peter Tosh came from Westmoreland .

history

Christopher Columbus reached Westmoreland on his second voyage. Today's Bluefields is one of the three oldest Spanish settlements in Jamaica. The area was called Oristan.

Numerous pirates used the coast of West Moreland as a hideout, including Henry Morgan , who later became Jamaica's lieutenant governor. In 1694 a French attempt to land at Bluefield was thwarted.

Westmoreland was given its current name in 1703 because it is the westernmost of the parishes. In 1730 the coastal city of Savanna-la-Mar Banbur was declared the capital.

A riot broke out on the Frome sugar estate in 1938, forcing universal suffrage and a new constitution on the island. It was an important step on the way to Jamaica's independence.

geography

Westmoreland is south of Hanover , southwest of Saint James and northwest of Saint Elizabeth . In 2001 around 141,000 people lived on 807 km².

More than 40 km² is covered by peat , which is partially broken down to be used as an energy source for fertilizers. The rest of the area is characterized by inland hills and large fertile plains on the coast.

Of the many rivers in the Parish, the Cabaritta River is the longest at 39.7 km. It can be used by boats weighing up to eight tons.

economy

In addition to sugar cane, bananas, ginger, coffee, cocoa, allspice , rice and breadfruit are grown on the plains . Cattle, horses and mules are raised in the hilly areas. Around 90 fishing boats are used from 19 beaches.

Industry is the third largest branch of the economy. In addition to processing the food produced in Westmoreland, the tobacco and textile industries in particular have settled here.

Tourism has been developing since the 1950s. Negril is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Jamaica.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Statistical Institute of Jamaica: Demographic Statistics - Population by Parish 2009 ( Memento of November 13, 2010 in the Internet Archive ). Retrieved November 15, 2010.