Saint Catherine Parish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Saint Catherine
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Parish
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Saint Catherine in Jamaica
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| Country | Jamaica |
| County | Middlesex |
| Capital | Spanish Town |
| Other towns | Portmore, Old Harbour, Ewarton, Linstead |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,192 km2 (460 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 2 |
| Population
(2012)
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| • Total | 518,345 |
| • Density | 434.85/km2 (1,126.3/sq mi) |
Saint Catherine is a large and important area, called a parish, located in the southeast part of Jamaica. Its main city and capital is Spanish Town. This parish is special because it was once home to Jamaica's very first capital city. That city was originally known by a Spanish name, San Jago de la Vega.
Contents
History of Saint Catherine
The current borders of Saint Catherine were set in 1867. This happened when four smaller parishes joined together. These old parishes were Saint Dorothy, Saint John, and Saint Thomas in the Vale. They all merged with the historic parish of Saint Catherine.
Geography and People
Saint Catherine is located in the middle of Jamaica's southern coast. It shares borders with St Andrew to the east and Clarendon to the west. To the north, it borders St Mary and St Ann.
This parish covers an area of 1,192 square kilometers. This makes it one of Jamaica's biggest parishes. It is also one of the fastest-growing areas in the country. Saint Catherine has the largest economy among all fourteen parishes.
Most of the southern part of the parish is flat, except for the Hellshire Hills near the coast. However, the central and northern areas are very mountainous. The northern border is on Mount Rosser, which also goes into St Ann. The highest point in the parish is 686 meters (2,251 feet) high.
A large flat area of about 57 square kilometers (22 square miles) is in the southern part of the Rio Cobre river basin. The Rio Cobre is the only river that flows across this southern plain. It helps to water over 18,000 acres (73 square kilometers) of farmland on the plain.
Economy and Development
Future Growth
Saint Catherine has a lot of potential for city growth. It has good water sources and mostly flat land. It is also close to the main capital city of Jamaica. Because of these things, Saint Catherine could become one of the Caribbean's major city areas in the coming years.
Farming and Agriculture
Farming is still the main way people earn a living in Saint Catherine. Many small farmers grow different types of crops. They plant things like bananas, coconuts, pineapple, citrus fruits, pumpkins, and coffee. These crops are grown for both local use and for selling.
Larger farms in the parish mainly grow sugar cane, bananas, and citrus for export to other countries. There are also dairy farms in the parish. One large dairy farm in Old Harbour covers 1,000 acres (4 square kilometers). The Salt Ponds District is known for its good fish, especially a type called calipera.
Manufacturing and Industry
Saint Catherine is the second-biggest industrial area in Jamaica, after Kingston. Factories and industrial plants are some of the largest employers here. Spanish Town has the biggest salt-producing plant in the Caribbean. Jamaica Milk Products, which is part of the Nestlé company, has a factory in Bog Walk.
The largest power plant on the island is in Old Harbour, along with several other factories. Twickenham Park, near Spanish Town, is another industrial area. It has lighter industries that make things like cigarettes, carpets, batteries, plastic items, and medical products.
Fun Places to Visit
- Emancipation Square: You can find Jamaica's Emancipation Square in Spanish Town. This is the only Georgian-style square in Jamaica. Buildings like Kings House and the House of Assembly were built here in 1762. The Courthouse was built in 1819.
- Rio Cobre River and Gorge: The Rio Cobre River and its Gorge are among the largest on the island. The river flows underground for almost six kilometers before coming back up at River Head Grand Cave. A road was opened through the gorge in the 1770s. The Flat Bridge was first made of logs, but these were washed away by a flood. The current bridge has survived many floods. There's a marker showing that the water rose over 25 feet (7.6 meters) above the bridge in 1933.
- Caymanas Race Track: Jamaica's most famous horse race track, Caymanas Race Track, is located in Saint Catherine.
- St Clair Cave: This is one of Jamaica's well-known caves. It is a large and complex cave system. It is home to one of the most important bat roosts on the island. It is also one of the few places where a possibly extinct bat, Phyllonycteris aphylla, was once found. Because of the cave's importance for animals and the dangers of exploring it, casual visits are not encouraged.
Government and Politics
The Rio Cobre Correctional Centre, which is part of Jamaica's Department of Correctional Services, is located in Spanish Town, Saint Catherine Parish.
Saint Catherine Parish is represented in the Parliament of Jamaica by eleven members. Each member represents a different area, called a constituency. These areas include:
- Saint Catherine Central
- Saint Catherine East Central
- Saint Catherine Eastern
- Saint Catherine North Central
- Saint Catherine North Eastern
- Saint Catherine North Western
- Saint Catherine South Central
- Saint Catherine South Eastern
- Saint Catherine South Western
- Saint Catherine Southern
- Saint Catherine West Central
See also
In Spanish: Parroquia de Saint Catherine para niños
- Spaniard
- Jamaicans of Spanish descent
- Charles II of England
- Above Rocks
- Linstead
- Spanish Town
