Learn about the counties, parishes and different Regions in Jamaica with these visual maps.
Jamaica is divided in to three counties with 14 parishes. The 3 counties are: Surrey, Middlesex and Cornwall
Below are the names of the parishes with their capitals in parentheses:
- Clarendon (May Pen)
- Hanover (Lucea)
- Kingston (Kingston)
- Manchester (Mandeville)
- Portland (Port Antonio)
- Saint Andrew (Half Way Tree)
- Saint Ann (Saint Ann’s Bay)
- Saint Catherine (Spanish Town)
- Saint Elizabeth (Black River)
- Saint James (Montego Bay)
- Saint Mary (Port Maria)
- Saint Thomas (Morant Bay)
- Trelawny (Falmouth)
- Westmoreland (Savanna-la-Mar)
Origins of names some parish names:
- Clarendon: after Edward Hude, Earl of Clarendon
- Hanover: for the House of Hanover, ruling dynasty of Great Britain
- Manchester: after William, Duke of Manchester, governor of Jamaica when it was created in 1814
- Portland: after the Duke of Portland, governor of Jamaica when it was created in 1723
- Saint Ann: translation of Santa Ana, name given by Columbus
- Saint Elizabeth: in honor of Lady Elizabeth Modyford, wife of the governor of Jamaica in 1670
- Saint James: in honor of James, Duke of York, later King James II of England
- Saint Mary: after the capital, Puerto Santa Maria under Spanish rule (now Port Maria)
- Trelawny: after Sir William Trelawny, governer of Jamaica when it was created in 1771
- Westmoreland: after the county in England, because this county contains the westernmost point in Jamaica
The scenery and weather are similar across the island.
The North and West Coasts of Jamaica is where most of the tourist to Jamaica vacation. These coasts have a fairly flat coastline with long sandy beaches. This region is very popular for these beaches. There are also fishing villages all over the coasts of Jamaica
The middle of the island is mainly Mountainous. Farms are prevalent in the interior of Jamaica.
