Clarendon Parish, Jamaica facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clarendon
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Parish
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May Pen town centre
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Clarendon in Jamaica
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| Country | Jamaica |
| County | Middlesex |
| Named for | Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon |
| Parish capital | May Pen |
| Largest city | May Pen |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,196 km2 (462 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 246,322 |
Clarendon is a special area in Jamaica called a parish. It's on the south side of the island, about halfway between the east and west ends. Clarendon is part of the Middlesex county. It shares borders with Manchester to the west, Saint Catherine to the east, and Saint Ann to the north. The main town and capital of Clarendon is May Pen.
Contents
History of Clarendon
Clarendon was named after Sir Edward Hyde, who was an important government official called the Lord Chancellor. The parish we know today was made by combining three older parishes: St. Dorothy's, Vere, and the original Clarendon. Before they joined, the capital was Chapelton.
Clarendon Parish was one of the first seven parishes in Jamaica, set up in 1664. It has changed its shape and size many times since then. Old records from the parish church, like those for baptisms, marriages, and burials, still exist from as far back as 1666.
Geography and People
Clarendon is Jamaica's third largest parish, covering an area of 1,196 square kilometers. Much of the parish is a wide, flat area with several rivers. The Rio Minho is one of the most important rivers, running through the entire parish.
In the northern part of Clarendon, you'll find the Mocho Mountains, which are about 600 meters (2,000 feet) high. There's also the Bull Head Mountain range, which is about 850 meters (2,800 feet) high. This mountain range is thought to be the very center of the island! The Vere plain is another important flat area in the parish.
Portland Point, the southernmost tip of Jamaica, is on a piece of land that sticks out into the sea in Clarendon. This area also has the Portland Point Lighthouse. Nearby, you can find Jackson Bay beach, the community of Portland Cottage, and two places called Rocky Point. One Rocky Point is a place where people live, and the other is a port used for shipping out a material called alumina.
Clarendon is home to many people, with an estimated population of 246,322. This makes it one of the most populated parishes in Jamaica. May Pen, the capital, has about 60,000 people living there.
Main Towns in Clarendon
- Chapelton
- Hayes
- Frankfield
- Lionel Town
- May Pen
- Palmers Cross
- Race Course
- Rocky Point
Economy and Industries
Clarendon is rich in Bauxite, which is a major mineral in Jamaica. Companies like JAMALCO and ALCOA mine bauxite here. Many different crops are grown in Clarendon, including most of Jamaica's tobacco, cotton, allspice (also known as pimento), ginger, and cocoa. Farmers also raise livestock like cattle.
May Pen is a key place for packing citrus fruits, especially famous for 'Trout Hall' oranges. Other important activities include dairy farming (raising cows for milk), fish farming, and sometimes copper mining. The parish also produces a lot of sugar-cane, which is used to make sugar for export.
The Denbigh agricultural showground, located near May Pen, hosts a big national farming show once a year.
Clarendon is also home to the Milk River Bath, a special spa with mineral waters. People visit it because the waters are believed to help with healing. The oldest church on the island is in Alley, which was the old capital of Vere.
Halse Hall Great House is a historic building in Clarendon. The land was given to an English officer in 1655. This house has a long history and was important during the Maroon Wars, which were conflicts between the Maroons (groups of formerly enslaved Africans) and the British.
Vernamfield was the first place in Jamaica where car races were held. It's on an old American air base called Vernam Field. Today, it's known for drag racing, which is a type of car race where two cars race side-by-side over a short, straight distance. There's also the Woodleigh racetrack outside May Pen, which is popular for dirtbike racing.
Clarendon also has several large sugar factories, including New Yarmouth, Sevens Estate, and Moneymusk.
Fun Places to Visit
- Halse Hall Great House
- Milk River Bath
- Rio Minho
- Vernam Field
Famous People from Clarendon
Many talented people come from Clarendon! Here are a few:
- Dennis Alcapone (born 1947), a reggae DJ and producer
- Rodolph Austin (born 1985), a footballer
- Davina Bennett (born 1996), a model who was in the top 3 at Miss Universe 2017
- Cocoa Tea, born Calvin George Scott (born 1959), a reggae singer
- Rohan Davey (born 1978), an American football quarterback
- Dalton Harris (born 1993), a singer
- Toots Hibbert (1942–2020), lead singer of Toots & The Maytals
- Leonard Howell (1898–1981), who started the Rastafari movement
- Glen Johnson (born 1969), a boxer
- Linton Kwesi Johnson (born 1952), a poet
- Barrington Levy (born 1964), a singer
- Freddie McGregor (born 1956), a singer
- Claude McKay (1890–1948), a famous writer from the Harlem Renaissance
- Liz Mitchell, from the music group Boney M. (born 1952), a singer
- Derrick Morgan (born 1940), a musical artist
- OMI (born 1986), a reggae singer
- Levi Roots (born 1958), a singer and chef
- Millie Small (1947–2020), a singer and songwriter, known for "My Boy Lollipop"
- Super Cat (born 1963), a DJ
See also
In Spanish: Parroquia de Clarendon para niños
