According to abbreviationfinder, Kingston is the capital of Jamaica, founded in 1693 by the British after an earthquake struck which almost destroyed the old capital, Port Royal. It is located in the southeast of the island and has an approximate Population of 577,774 residents 2010 It is located within the Parish of Kingston, County of Surrey. It has a natural port protected by the Palisadoes, a name given to a long sandbar that connects Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport. with the rest of the island.
In addition to being the seat of the government of Jamaica, the city is also home to the Mona campus of the ” University of the West Indies “, founded in 1948. Kingston is also the site of several annual festivals. The central area of Kingston is made up of two parts: the historic but troubled downtown and New Kingston where most of the tourist attractions such as the ” Bob Marley Museum ” are located. built in his old residence.
Demography
Most of the population has African heritage. East Indians are the second largest racial group, followed by Chinese, those of Raza white and Arab, mainly Lebanese. A small number of Hispanics, mostly from Latin America, also reside in the city. The majority of the white residents come from Cuba, the United Kingdom and Christians from Syria and Lebanon. See population of Jamaica.
Climate
Because it is located in the Caribbean, the climate is tropical maritime, where the nights are colder than during the day, the winds from the sea that blow throughout the year make the temperatures pleasant on the island.
The areas near the coasts are cool product of the sea breeze, because the nights are cooler, and in the mountainous regions, and the hills that cross the island from east to west, are colder as it rises the height. It is estimated that for every one hundred meters that is climbed, the temperature drops one degree centigrade.
Due to the effect of the sea breezes, there is little variation in temperature between summer and winter in Jamaica, with the coldest months being between December and March and August is the hottest month of the year and February the coldest, however the differences most extreme temperatures do not go beyond ten degrees.
The moisture is usually quite high, although not as much as close to the Ecuador countries. In the capital, it remains at around 63% in February and 5% percent in October. Montego Bay is slightly more humid, ranging from 71% to 77%.
Jamaica’s rainiest months are May and June, and then it rains again in September and October, although it sometimes lasts until December. Hurricane season begins June 1 and ends November 30.
Religion
There is a great variety of Christian Churches in the city. Most are Protestants, a legacy of the British colonization of the island. The major denominations are Baptist, Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh -day Adventist]] and Pentecostal.
There is a Jewish Synagogue in the city, as well as a small number of Buddhists and Muslims. The main one is not the Christian religion but the Rastafarian Movement.
Aspects of interest
It has places of tourist and commercial interest, among which the following stand out:
- Norman Manley International Airport
- National Gallery
- Ward Theater
- Bank of Jamaica
- Devon House
- Coronation Market
- Hellshire Beach
- Lime Cay
- Reggae stars like Buju Banton and Beenie Man Bob Marley
- Bob Marley Museum, where are the Memories of the father of reggae and singer, released through Movies, Books, Videos and posters as the last tribute to Jamaica.
- National Gallery of Jamaica,
- Ruins of Port Royal
- Devon House mansion, with an adjacent park that once belonged to Jamaica’s first black millionaire.
Twinned cities
- Miami, United States
- Kalamazoo, United States
- Coventry, UK
- Guadalajara, Mexico
- Shenzhen, China
History
Kingston was founded in 1693 by some survivors of the disastrous earthquake that destroyed much of the port city of Port Royal, capital of the colony of Jamaica at that time, on June 7, 1692. Initially, the refugees lived in a tent camp on Colonel Barry’s Hog Crawle. The city did not begin to grow until after the major destruction of Port Royal by Catania Nick’s pirate fleet in 1703. Surveyor John Goffe drew up a plan for the city based on a grid bounded by North, East, West, and Port Streets. In 1716 it had become the largest city and the center of commerce in Jamaica.
Gradually wealthy merchants began to move their corporate residences above their farmland north of the Liguanea plains. The first free school, Wolmer’s, was founded in 1729 and is a theater, first on Harbor Street and then moved in 1774 to North Parade. Both are still in existence.
As a center of commerce and fashion, Kingston quickly distanced itself from the sleepy former official capital, Spanish Town, as it continued to grow despite ensuing calamities: a devastating hurricane in 1784, a great fire in 1843, an epidemic of cholera in 1850, and additional in the fires 1862 and 1882.
In 1755 the governor had decided to transfer the Spanish government offices from the city of Kingston. Some thought it might be an inappropriate location for the Assembly, in close proximity to the morale of the Kingston distractions, and the next governor repealed the law. However, in 1780 Kingston’s population was 11,000, and merchants began lobbying for the administrative capital which was transferred from Spanish Town, which by then was overshadowed by commercial activity in Kingston. This campaign was to continue for a century as Kingston grew further, as a major trading port during the Napoleonic Wars. The city finally became the administrative capital of Jamaica in 1872. This condition was maintained when the island was granted independence in 1962.
On 14 January as as 1907, an earthquake in Kingston destroyed about 75% of the buildings. A widespread fire increased the death toll which eventually reached about 800, and no less than some initial reports. The damage is estimated to be over £ 2m. Brick and stone buildings suffered the most severe damage. Reinforced concrete is used extensively in rebuilding the city, and building heights is limited to 60 feet. These building codes were considered progressive over time.
The city became home to the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies, founded in 1948 with 24 medical students. The years 1960 they saw the expansion of business activity to the north. The old Knutsford regattas became New Kingston, and uptown shopping plazas developed causing the decline of the shopping malls and shops on King Street and Harbor Street. An area of 95 hectares along the coast was rebuilt with wide landscaped avenues and multi-story buildings including the Bank of Jamaica, Scotia Bank Center, Jamaica Conference Center, and Kingston Mall. Later, from the early 1980, there have been continuing efforts by the Urban Development Corporation to improve roads systems and trading conditions in the center.
In 1966 Kingston was the host city for the Commonwealth of Nations Games.
The city of Port Royal was the capital of the Spanish Empire in the Americas in the 17th century.
