On November 29, 1814 at the beginning of the 19th Century, coffee farmers in the hill districts of Clarendon, St. Elizabeth and the then parish of Vere petitioned to have a separate parish established. They asked for a new parish, with a capital which would meet their religious, civic, judicial and administrative needs. On December 13, 1814 the new parish was formed and named after the Duke of Manchester who was then serving as the Governor of the island. The capital was named Mandeville, after his son and heir.
In the days prior to the abolition of slavery, Manchester’s population was never as large as that of the surrounding parishes because the hilly terrain was not suited for the cultivation of sugar which was then the island’s most lucrative crop. However, after emancipation many of the newly-freed slaves moved into the area to grow coffee and other crops on hillside farms. In the old colonial regime, Manchester had the prestigious distinction of being the most English of Jamaica’s parishes.
MANCHESTER, JAMAICA
Historical Information
Manchester is located in south-central Jamaica. It boasts the highest mountain range in all of Jamaica, the Carpenters Mountains, which reaches as high as 2, 770 feet above sea level. Mandeville, the parish capital of Manchester, sits atop this mountain range and has spectacular views of surrounding areas. Located at an elevation of 1, 000 feet above sea level, Mandeville enjoys a cool climate that makes it a popular place for British expatriates to settle. In 1887 Manchester became one of the first parishes to be established by a Church Missionary Society (CMS) missionary missionary. In recent years Manchester has become known as one of Jamaica's premier tourist destinations with its mountainous landscapes offering many recreational opportunities for tourists and locals alike.
Porus is a thriving business centre with coconuts, coffee, citrus and other fruits being the main crops. It is also the location of the country’s largest livestock breeding research station. Mile Gully is home to some of the best pasture lands in the parish, Mile Gully is a prime location for cattle farming.
Mile Gully is located in the parish of Manchester, Jamaica. It is one of the most populated townships in Manchester with a population of approximately 10,000 people. Mile Gully is known for its primary school and its business centre which is located on its outskirts.One of the main industries in the parish is cattle farming with milk, meat and eggs being other products that are produced.
Geographical Information
