Jamestown, Saint Helena

Jamestown is the capital city of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, located on the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. It sits on the island's north-western coast and was founded in 1659 when colonists from the English East India Company settled there. For a time, it was the only port on the island until the port at Rupert's Bay was developed.

Many of the buildings from the 18th century still stand, giving the town a special historic feel. The city briefly hosted Napoleon in 1815 during his exile on the island. It also served as a base for the Royal Navy in efforts to stop the slave trade. Jamestown had no important role in the First World War and only a small part in the Second World War.

History

See also: History of Saint Helena

Jamestown was founded in 1659 by the East India Company and is named after James, Duke of York, the future King James II of England. A fort was built there and later renamed James Fort. The town has been lived in continuously since then under English and British rule.

After his defeat in the Battle of Waterloo, the Emperor of the French, Napoleon, stayed in Jamestown for a short time before moving to a more remote place on the island. Jamestown also became a place where ships carrying people against their will were brought, and many were saved there.

During the Second World War, an oil ship was sunk in James Bay by a German submarine. Only a few crew members survived. The ship leaked oil for many years until it was cleaned up in 2015.

Geography and description

Jamestown is built on special rock in a valley called James Valley, squeezed between tall cliffs. The city is long and narrow because of this. A small stream called the Run flows through the valley. Jamestown is the main place for visitors to arrive, even though a new airport opened in 2017.

The city has many old buildings, mostly from a time called the Georgian era. Main Street is famous for its beautiful old architecture. Many buildings are made from the island’s own volcanic rock. St James' Church, from 1772, is the oldest Anglican church in the Southern Hemisphere. Jacob's Ladder is a popular spot with 699 steps connecting Jamestown to an old fort. The Museum of Saint Helena is also located here.

Formal status

Jamestown is officially called a city. This special title was given by Queen Victoria in 1859, and its full name is the "City of James Town". It is one of the 8 districts and serves as the capital of the island of Saint Helena and the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. The Castle, one of the oldest buildings in the city, is an important government building.

Climate

Jamestown has a tropical hot desert climate, which means the temperatures stay fairly steady all year. Even though it is a desert climate, the nearby ocean and cold currents keep the temperatures from getting too hot. The city is about 5 °C (9 °F) warmer than the rest of the island because of its lower altitude. Jamestown gets very little rain—less than 5 inches (13 cm) each year. However, the higher parts of the island get much more rain, up to 39 inches (99 cm) a year, and are covered in green plants. The waters around Jamestown can get rough, but a sea wall helps protect the city.

Population

In 2016, Jamestown had 629 people living there. This was fewer than in 2008, when there were 714 people. Now, Jamestown is not the biggest place on the island. It has fewer people than Half Tree Hollow, Saint Paul's, and Longwood. Jamestown is the smallest city in the area that is ruled by Britain.

Education

As a British territory, the island uses the British education system. In Jamestown, there is one primary school for children ages four to eleven, called Pilling Primary School. It was formed by combining Jamestown First School and Pilling Middle School in September 2007. The island's only secondary school is St Helena Secondary School in Saint Paul's.

Religion

The Anglican Parish of St. James is one of the three parishes of the Diocese of St Helena on the island. St James' Church is the main church in the parish and is the oldest Anglican Church in the southern hemisphere; the current building was built in 1772. There are three smaller churches: St John's in Upper Jamestown, St Mary's at the Briars, and St Michael's in Rupert's Valley. The only Catholic Church in St Helena, Sacred Heart Church, is located in Jamestown, along with a Baptist church.