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Jamaica
Jamaica is the third largest island among the Greater Antilles, and the largest region whose inhabitants speak the English language. This country is located specifically in the northwestern part of the Caribbean Sea, specifically west of Haiti and southern Cuba, and extends 80 km from north to The south, and about 235 km from east to west, follows the country’s borders around 66 islands, and thus was considered an archipelago according to the Maritime Areas Act. And inhabited by about 2,955,013 people according to statistics in 2020,
Jamaica is divided administratively into three provinces: Cornwall, Middlesex and Surrey, and these provinces are divided into 14 parishes: the city of Kingston in the southeast of the country and its capital is represented by St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland and Hanover, St. James, Trelawney, St. Ann, St. Mary, Portland, St. Thomas. It is mentioned that Jamaicia is relatively far from the rest of the European countries, but despite this it follows in its rule of the British constitutional monarchy, as Queen Elizabeth II takes over the country, it is one of the countries The sixteen Commonwealth of Nations , Which it is at the same time is an independent state, and part of the North American continent.
Kingston is the capital of Jamaica
Kingston is the capital of Jamaica, which is the smallest and most populated diocese in the country, and is located in the corner overlooking the southeastern coast of the country, and is characterized by the presence of a picturesque natural port surrounded by natural geographic formation, and Kingston has received the attention of the competent authorities being the capital of the country; The main port of the state, and an important recreational and tourist resort, and the establishment of this city dates back to the year 1692 AD, after the Royal Port was destroyed by earthquakes, and in 1703 AD it was chosen as the commercial capital of the country, then it was chosen as the political capital in 1872 AD, and She remained on that to this day despite experiencing a violent earthquake in January 1907 AD.
The reason for choosing Kingston as the capital
It is noteworthy that the first person who proposed the idea of becoming Kingston as the capital of the State of Jamaica is the former governor of the country, Admiral Charles Knowles. He sought during the mid-eighteenth century AD to transfer the capital of the country from the city of Spanish Town to Kingston, and perhaps the most important reasons that prompted the admiral to transfer the capital The large carrying capacity of Kingston City port equal to the capacity of the rest of the country’s combined ports, in addition to that the city’s distinct location helped it to improve the trade sector with the Spanish colonies in the Caribbean, where the continuous pressure by traders has made Kingston the capital Official to the country, and Kingston’s population is growing exponentially and has better contact with the outside world than other cities in the country.
A brief history of Kingston
There was no city called Kingston until the year 1692 AD. This ancient city was founded on the twenty-second of July in the year 1692 AD, as a refuge for the survivors of the earthquake that struck the Royal Port on the seventh of June of the same year and led to the destruction of about two thirds of the city.
The original style of Kingston city planning is the presence of Harpo Street along the southern border, and some adjustments have been made to city planning from its founding to this day, as Sir John Peter Grant was tasked with the task of re-planning the city, and moving the capital from Spanish Town, and since that time it has evolved Kingston significantly increased, and its population grew, and expanded to extend to the northern parts of the St. Andrew’s area. The city currently includes many government buildings, the official seat of the country’s governor, as well as the house of George William Gordon, which is the headquarters of the Jamaican Parliament meeting.
Geography of Kingston
Location
Kingston is located on the southeast coast of Jamaica, close to the “Hope River.” It sits on a placer surrounded by natural terrain, such as “Long Mountain”, “Blue Mountains”, and “Red Hills”. Astronomically, Kingston It is located at a latitude of 18.0179 ° north, and longitude 76.8099 ° west.
Kingston is located near St. Andrew’s Parish, which was established in 1867 AD as one of the first established parishes, with St. Andrew’s geographical area of 430.7 km2, while Kingston occupies an area of 22 km2, and both cities occupy together an area of 452.4 km², and Kingston and St. Andrew are administered or what is known In the partnership area of Kingston and St. Andrew (KSAC) by one parish council, this region is divided into 15 political districts and 1354 polling districts. The most important districts of the capital are the “Constant Spring” district, the “Half-Way-Tree” district, the “Parade” district, and the “District” “New Kingston.”
the climate
Kingston, Jamaica, has a tropical climate according to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. It rains intermittently because it is located in the arid region of the island. Tropical storms and hurricanes may occur between July and November.
Rainy conditions prevail in Kingston during the summer, and the chance of precipitation during the winter decreases, as the general average temperature during the year reaches 26.3 °, and the average rainfall during the year is about 896 mm during the year, but the difference is visible and noticeable in the rainfall rates between the dry months And rainy months, this variation may reach 158 mm, and temperatures vary by 2.9 ° throughout the year. Given the hottest and coldest months of the year, January is the coldest month of the year with an average temperature of 24.8 °, and the warmest month During the year, it is August. Temperatures may reach Laleh to 27.7 °.
Kingston Demography
Kingston has a population of 589,849 people, according to statistics in 2020. Twenty years ago, its population grew significantly, as a result of the natural increase in the number of births and the increase in immigration rates from rural areas, where population growth extended to the western and eastern regions of the city, and the highest population densities are represented in Kingston in the coastal areas extending from the southwestern borders towards the eastern parts of the city, and with the trend towards the northern parts, the population density begins to decline gradually with the presence of some areas with a high population density.
The origins of the vast majority of the population of Kingston come to Africa, then the population of Indian origin comes second in the list of the largest ethnic groups, and in the third place comes the ethnic groups of Chinese, European, and Arab origins from which the Lebanese constitute the majority, in addition to minorities from Hispanics, especially from Latin American regions, and from a religious point of view the city includes a large number of followers of a new religion launched by the former Ethiopian Emperor Heil Selassie I, in addition to the Jews, and large numbers of Buddhists and Muslims.
Economy in Kingston
Kingston occupies a distinguished place in the Jamaican economy, as it represents the main port in the country, and one of the best ports in the West India region, where many products and goods are exported through them, such as: sugar, black honey, and bananas, and the city’s economy is based on the tourism sector , Food processing, and oil refining; Kingston is the main oil refining center in the country.
Tourism in Kingston
Kingston is considered one of the important tourist centers on the island of Jamaica, as it represents the cultural and economic center of the country, and it has the seventh largest natural port in the world, and it is the city that UNESCO called the Creative City of Music in 2015. There are also many museums, banks, markets, courts, and historic buildings in the city, as well as restaurants, hotels, and high-rise buildings in the new neighborhoods of the city. The most important tourist attractions in Kingston are the following:
- Devon house: It is an ancient antique building built in 1881 AD, and it is distinguished for its architectural design in the Jamaican Georgian style, and its representation of the rich cultural diversity of the country. Visitors can take exploratory tours and see the furniture and properties of the house dating back to the nineteenth century AD. In the areas around the house.
- Jamaica National Gallery: This exhibition was opened in 1974, and is thus considered the oldest general art exhibition in the English-speaking Caribbean, in addition to that it is the largest exhibition among them, and visitors to the exhibition can see the wonderful collections of modern, contemporary, and early art for Jamaica artists, and a region The Caribbean Sea, and other surrounding countries, such as artist Edna Manley and Mallika Reynolds.
- Lime Caye Island: It is a small island off the coast of Kingston’s mainland, close to Norman Manley International Airport, and can be reached by boat, and is characterized by its white sandy beaches, calm waters, and recreational areas.
- Bob Marley Museum: This museum is attributed to Bob Marley, who is considered a national hero who greatly contributed to supporting the country’s culture and its representation on the world stage. The museum was built in the past and is still owned by the Marley family, and includes within it many groups that express the life of the musician from his inception until He reaches global.
Art and literature in Kingston
Kingston has a great artistic diversity. Music is part of the culture of the people, as it is the origin of six types of famous music: Minato, ska, reggae, dancinghall, rocksteady and dub. In addition, Kingston has the largest number Among the recording studios worldwide, there are many live international music festivals, and there are many theaters and international research centers, and Edna Manly College of Visual and Performing Arts is considered a leading institution for the arts, and many other cultural centers that are interested in art, culture, Music was paid The cultural creativity and artistic competent authorities in the country to support this sector and developed to be one of the essential elements of the national economy.
