Saint Catherine Parish
Saint Catherine is a county ( parish ) in southeastern Jamaica. Capital is Spanish Town, under the Spanish name Sante Jago De La Vega she was the first capital of the island.
History
Shortly after the beginning of Spanish colonization was on the recommendation of the Treasurer Pedro de Mazuela the settlement Sante Jago De La Vega. Saint Catherine was born in 1534, it was later named after Catherine of Braganza, the English King Charles II woman.
1524 Sante Jago De La Vega was officially declared capital. Previously mills had been built for sugar cane in the area. Multiple saw attacks of English pirates. From 1655 the English conquered Jamaica. After five years of guerrilla war, the Spaniards gave up in 1670, the island was officially established by the Treaty of Madrid in England. Sante Jago De La Vega was renamed in Spanish Town, but remained the island's capital.
Since 1755 trying to move the capital to Kingston various groups. Officially, the assignment was only in 1872 by Governor Sir John Peter Grant. The current shape was Saint Catherine 1872, when it absorbed the former Parishes of Saint Dorothy, Saint John and Saint Thomas - in-the- Vale.
Geography
Saint Catherine is bordered to the east by Saint Andrew, in the west to Clarendon, and to the north by Saint Ann and Saint Mary. At 1192 km ², in 2001 about 500,000 people, most in Portmore and Spanish Town.
The south is flat while the middle and the north are mountainous. The highest point is 686 meters above the sea. The southern level includes approximately 230 km ². It is crossed by the Rio Cobre, which supplies the area with water and electricity.
Economy
Agriculture is the main source of income. Many small farmers grow bananas, coconuts, pineapples, citrus fruits, pumpkins and peppers. The larger farms produce mainly sugar cane, bananas and citrus fruits for export.
In addition to Kingston, Saint Catherine is the most important industrial center of Jamaica. In Spanish Town is the largest salt producer in the Caribbean, plus companies that process milk products. In addition, batteries, cigarettes, carpets, Palastikteile and pharmaceutical products are manufactured in larger quantities. This is made possible by the largest power station in Jamaica Old Harbour.
In addition, tourism plays an increasingly important role.