Parishes of Jamaica
| Parishes of Jamaica | |
|---|---|
  |
|
| Category | Unitary state |
| Location | Jamaica |
| Number | 14 Parishes |
| Populations | 68,000 (Hanover) – 541,000 (Saint Andrew) |
| Areas | 25 km2 (9.7 sq mi) (Kingston) – 1,213 km2 (468 sq mi) (Saint Ann) |
| Government | Parish government, National government |
| Subdivisions | Cities, Towns, Villages |
Administratively, Jamaica is divided into fourteen parishes (Jamaican Patois: parishdem). They are grouped into three historic counties (kounti), which have no administrative relevance. Every parish has a coast; none is landlocked.
The traditional county towns were Savanna-la-Mar for Cornwall County, Spanish Town for Middlesex County, and Kingston for Surrey County.
(1) The parishes of Kingston and Saint Andrew together form the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation.
(2) The parish of Kingston does not encompass all of the city of Kingston. Most of the city is in the parish of St. Andrew.
Parishes have been a feature of local administration in Jamaica since the island was captured by the English in 1655. The number has varied over time and some no longer exist having either been absorbed into or divided between neighbouring parishes. At the peak, 1841–1865, there were 22 (the current 14 plus those listed below).
The current set of parishes was established in 1866 with the elimination of the 8 listed below (roughly by county):
Surrey:
Middlesex:
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