Westmoreland Parish

Westmoreland is a district ( Parish ) in the southwest of Jamaica. The capital is Savanna- la -Mar. From Westmoreland where famous reggae musician Peter Tosh.

History

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

Many pirates seized the coastal Westmoreland's hideout, including Henry Morgan, who later became Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. 1694 a French landing attempt was foiled in Bluefield.

The present name was Westmoreland in 1703, as it is the westernmost of the Parishes. 1730 the coastal town of Savanna- la -Mar Banbur was declared the capital.

On the Frome sugar estate collapsed in 1938 an uprising that forced a universal suffrage and a new constitution on the island. It was an important step on the road to independence Jamaica.

Geography

Westmoreland is located south of Hanover, southwest of Saint James and northwest of Saint Elizabeth. At 807 km ², in 2001 about 141,000 people.

More than 40 km ² are covered by peat, which is partially degraded to be used as energy source of fertilizer. The remaining area is characterized by hills inland and large fertile plains along the coast.

Among the many rivers in the Parish of Cabaritta River is 39.7 kilometers the longest. It can be navigated by boats with up to eight tons.

Economy

In the plains bananas, ginger, coffee, cocoa, pimento, rice and breadfruit are grown next to sugar cane. In the hilly areas, cattle, horses and mules are bred. About 90 fishing boats are used by 19 beaches from.

The industry is the third largest industry. In addition to the processing of the food produced in Westmoreland especially the tobacco and textile industries have settled here.

Since the 1950s, tourism has evolved. Negril is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Jamaica.