During the Spanish occupation Montego Bay had a unique industry. They exported lard. In the forests were many wild hogs and they became the source of supply. An amusing part of the folklore of the area is that Montego was once known as "Bahia de Manteca" which sounds exotic to the reader of the English language, but the joke is on us. The name is interpreted to English as "Lard Bay." When the English began their rule of Jamaica, this was said to be one of the island's poorest parishes. As it prospered, so did the naming of places, towns, etc. after the British. King James II. was given respect by naming the St. James Parish after him. He was honored by Sir Thomas Modyford, first Governor. This entire area grew and flourished as it moved into the growing of sugar cane.

Along with the plantations came the advent of slavery, a dishonorable part of Jamaica's history. Fire destroyed parts of Montego Bay through the seventeen hundreds and the early eighteen hundreds. Then in eighteen thirty-one a rebellion against slavery was initiated by Samuel Sharpe. As you recall he is a National Hero of St. James. It was through his efforts and that of the English in general that slavery was ended. Many fought and died to achieve this. As is usually the case, the slave-holders protested them being freed. Samuel Sharpe was hanged for his achievements of planning the rebellion. He would be proud to know that Emancipation was achieved in eighteen thirty-four.

Covering 594.9 square kilometers with 1524 meters being above sea level. Two rivers run through it. One appropriately named the Montego River the other the Great River. There are smaller ones but these are the main ones. There is a lot of limestone in two-thirds of the parish. In Montego Bay are the commercial (industrial) section and the tourist section. It is divided in half. Can you guess which half is located along the shore.

The citizens of Montego Bay work mainly in the tourist industry. Jamaica is a popular honeymoon destination. Some people who are able to afford it will fly their entire wedding party and guests to the island for their ceremony. No wonder one in four people work in the tourist industry.

One major attraction is Rose Hall Great House. Built in seventeen-seventy, it has a total of over 100,000 visitors per year. There is a fascinating ghost story attached to this home. A woman named Annie had lived in the house with her then husband John Rose Palmer. The Legend (short version) is that Annie murdered all three of her husbands. Her slaves later killed her by strangulation. As in every chilling ghost story, her spirit is reputed to inhabit the house to this very day.

BRIEF HISTORY

Jamaica is sometimes thought of as a primitive place with modern conveniences provided only to tourists. However, electricity was operable as far back as 1893. Black River was the location and the house it was introduced in was named Waterloo. Although St. Elizabeth covered, before 1703, most of the Southwestern portion of Jamaica, as happens all over the world as a result of "progress" boundaries change.

St. Elizabeth was diminished in size in 1703. In that year, Manchester was taken. Again in 1814 it was decreased in size by losing a part of Manchester. The Governor at the time named the resulting combined areas after his wife. We can now see the influence of England on the island with its governing body consisting of the English titled class.

There was diversity in the population however. Tainos/Arawaks lived there. The influence of the Spaniards who settled in Jamaica can still be seen in the Saint Elizabeth area. Tourists can still find the old buildings with "Spanish wall masonry." It is quite amazing that portions of these walls with their limestone and sand between wood construction are still standing.

As previously mentioned the British came to rule Jamaica. In 1655 they immigrated and began to establish sugar cane plantations. St. Elizabeth with its conveniently located seaport in Black River, prospered along with the planters. Another industry that proliferated was the logging. There was a market for the log wood and it was used to make Prussian-blue dye a popular commodity in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

GEOGRAPHY

St. Elizabeth Parish has a latitude of 18°15'N, a longitude of 77°56'W. It is located west of Manchester, east of Westmoreland and south of Trelawny and St. James. Jamaica's second largest parish it is right behind Saint Ann's which covers 1212.6. Three of its four constituencies, also called electoral districts are controlled by the majority voting block of the People's National Party. The Jamaica Labour Party is predominate in only one of these four electoral districts. This information was last documented in October of 2002.

DEMOGRAPHY

Presenting information estimated in 2001 we find 148,000 in the entire parish with 4000 in the capital town of Black River. A large number of folks with different ethnic background provide St. Elizabeth with an interesting racial mixture in the population. It is said to be the largest variety in all of Jamaica. Lets see, among them are the Miskito Indians, the Maroons, the Irish (who immigrated in the nineteenth century. Also German, Scots and Portuguese found Jamaica a desirable place to migrate to.

ECONOMY

Jamaica is a tourist magnet. Who wouldn't be delighted to visit a place with sun, sand, friendly people and those beautiful sunsets. There are other spots that are also very interesting to explore. It includes forty-four caves, a cliff enticingly named "Lovers' Leap", and no self-respecting tourist would leave the island without visiting the famous "Treasure Beach" a gorgeous scenic spot. No wonder tourism has been thriving since 1993.

With mining, agriculture (which consists mostly of sugar cane), and fishing predominating the prosperity of Jamaica and St. Elizabeth Parish are sure to continue.

The large hotels may be increasing the wages paid to workers due to the increasing focus on education. St. Elizabeth Parish is proud to have St. Elizabeth Technical High School in Santa Cruz. Rivals include Hampton School, and Munro College.

Combined with Black River High, Lacovia and Maggotty High (not a type) and the Bethlehem Moravian College there are many educational opportunities for the citizens. It seems that many students from all over the world might find this location a wonderful place to get their higher education degrees. While, naturally, taking advantage of all the things the tourists travel to Jamaica to enjoy.