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Trelawny

Trilaani
Parish
Trelawny in Jamaica
Trelawny in Jamaica
Country Jamaica
County Cornwall
Capital Falmouth
Major towns Clarks Town, Duncans, Wakefield, Albert Town
Area
 • Total 874 km2 (337 sq mi)
Area rank 5
Population
 (2012)
 • Total 75,558
 • Density 86.45/km2 (223.91/sq mi)
Website Parish Profile: Trelawny

Trelawny (also known as Trilaani or Chrilaani in Jamaican Patois) is a parish located in the northwest part of Jamaica. It is part of the county of Cornwall. The main town and capital of Trelawny is Falmouth. Trelawny shares its borders with other parishes: Saint Ann to the east, Saint James to the west, and Saint Elizabeth and Manchester to the south. This parish is famous for being the home of many Olympic sprinters.

Exploring Trelawny's Past

In 1770, wealthy plantation owners from nearby St James and St Ann wanted a new parish. They were too far from the main government offices. So, parts of their parishes were combined to create Trelawny. The parish was named after Sir William Trelawny, 6th Baronet, who was the Governor of Jamaica at that time. His family came from a place called Trelawny in Cornwall, England. The first capital of Trelawny was Martha Brae, which is about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) inland from Rock Bay.

Sugar Plantations and Trade

Trelawny was well-known for its many sugar estates and sugar cane mills. It had more sugar estates than any other parish in Jamaica. Because of all this sugar, there was a great need for a coastal town to export it. Falmouth became a very busy seaport and a lively social center. The town even had its own newspapers, called The Falmouth Post and The Falmouth Gazette.

The Maroons of Trelawny

Trelawny was also home to the largest group of Jamaican Maroons. The Maroons were groups of people who had escaped slavery and formed their own communities. In 1739, the Maroons and the English signed a treaty. This agreement gave the Maroons freedom and land. It also stopped their raids on the plantations. However, a second Maroon uprising happened in 1795. After this, about 600 Maroons were sent away to Nova Scotia, Canada. Later, in 1800, they were moved to Sierra Leone in Africa.

Hosting the Cricket World Cup

In 2007, Trelawny Parish hosted a big international event. The opening ceremony for the ICC Cricket World Cup was held right here.

Discovering Trelawny's Landscape

Trelawny is located at 18°15'N latitude and 77°46'W longitude. It covers an area of 874 square kilometers (337 square miles). This makes it the fifth largest parish on the island. In 2012, its population was 75,558 people.

Flat Plains and High Peaks

Most of Trelawny is flat land, with wide plains. Examples include Queen of Spain's Valley, which is about 229 meters (750 feet) above sea level. Windsor is another plain, about 177 meters (580 feet) above sea level. Most of the southern part of Trelawny is around 229 meters (750 feet) above sea level. The highest point in the parish is Mount Ayr, which reaches about 914 meters (3,000 feet) above sea level.

The Cockpit Country's Natural Wonders

The southern part of Trelawny is a section of the Cockpit Country. This area is not suitable for people to live in. Because of this, it has become a natural home for many plants and animals. Most of Jamaica's 27 unique bird species can be found here. You might also see yellow snakes and the giant swallowtail butterfly. This butterfly is the largest in the western hemisphere.

Caves and Rivers

Much of Trelawny has features typical of limestone areas. These include sinkholes, caves, and underground passages. There are about 48 caves in the parish. Many of them contain phosphate deposits. Famous caves include Windsor Cave and Carambi Cave, known for their beauty and phosphate. Several other caves have Taino carvings on their walls. There are also many underground waterways. The longest one runs for about 24 kilometers (15 miles). The main rivers in Trelawny are the Martha Brae, Rio Bueno, Cane, and Quashie Rivers.

Trelawny's Economy and Jobs

The main ways people earn a living in Trelawny are through agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism.

Farm Products

Rum and sugar are the most important products from Trelawny. Other crops grown here include bananas, yams, strawberries, vegetables, pimento, coffee, ginger, papaya, and coconut. While the fishing industry is getting smaller, Trelawny still catches a lot of fish. There are ten beaches along the coast, with more than 30 boats each. The parish also has 27 fish ponds.

Factories and Production

There are 25 factories in Trelawny. These factories produce things like sugar, rum, and clothing. Two of the eight sugar factories left in Jamaica are located in Trelawny. These are Hampden Sugar Factory and Trelawny Sugar, which used to be called Long Pond Sugar Factory.

Trelawny's Government and Leaders

Trelawny Parish has two Members of Parliament (MPs). These MPs represent two different areas, or constituencies. They are called Trelawny Northern and Trelawny Southern.

Famous People from Trelawny

Trelawny Parish is the birthplace of many well-known people, especially track and field athletes.

Olympic Sprinters and Athletes

Some of the famous athletes from Trelawny include:

Other Notable Citizens

  • Violet Brown (1900–2017) was born and lived in Trelawny. For a time, she was the oldest living person in the world.
  • Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, a Jamaican-American politician who served in the Maryland State Senate, was also born here.
  • DJ Kamau Preston
  • Dancehall artist Charly Black
  • Rex Nettleford

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Parroquia de Trelawny para niños

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