Kingston, Jamaica

Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It is an important place because it is the largest English-speaking city south of the United States in the Western Hemisphere. The city faces a natural harbour that is protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit. This spit connects the town of Port Royal and Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island.

The local government for Kingston and nearby St. Andrew was combined in 1923 to form the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation. This area is called Greater Kingston or the "Corporate Area." In 2011, Kingston Parish had a population of 89,057, while St. Andrew Parish had a population of 573,369. Kingston is surrounded by St. Andrew on all sides except the south, where it meets the sea.

The city has two main parts: the historic Downtown and New Kingston. Both areas are served by Norman Manley International Airport and a smaller airport called Tinson Pen Aerodrome. Kingston is a busy and lively city with many neighborhoods, including Tivoli Gardens, Denham Town, Rae Town, and National Heroes Park.

History

See also: Timeline of Kingston, Jamaica

Kingston was founded on July 22, 1692, after a big earthquake that damaged the nearby town of Port Royal. Before this, Kingston was mainly used for farming. After the earthquake, people set up a camp near the sea. The town started to grow after another fire destroyed Port Royal in 1703. By 1716, Kingston became the largest town and the main trading place for Jamaica.

In 1755, government offices were moved from Spanish Town to Kingston. In 1882, a large fire happened in the city. In 1892, electricity first came to Jamaica in Kingston. In 1907, another earthquake caused many buildings to fall down. During the 1930s, workers formed groups to fight for better rights. In 1948, the University of the West Indies opened a campus in Kingston. In the 1960s, the city grew with the popularity of reggae music. Kingston hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1966.

During the 1990s, there were some problems with crime and unrest in Kingston.

Demographics

Kingston, Jamaica, has many people of African descent. There are also smaller groups like East Indians, Chinese, and Europeans. These groups came to Jamaica in the past and now help run shops and businesses. Some important leaders in Jamaica are from Syrian and Lebanese families. Many people in Kingston are also from mixed backgrounds, and there is a small Jewish community.

The people of Kingston look a bit different from each other:

• 79.2% Black
• 12.8% Multiracial
• 5.2% Asian
• 3.4% White

Religion

Kingston has many different places of worship, with most people belonging to Christian groups such as the Church of God, Baptist, Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh-day Adventist, and Pentecostal churches.

The city also has a strong group of people who follow the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, with the Holy Trinity Cathedral serving as an important center since 1911. There are also communities that follow other beliefs, including the Rastafari movement, Jewish traditions at the Shaare Shalom Synagogue, and smaller groups of Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Economy

Kingston is very important for Jamaica's economy. Most of the country's economic activities happen here, and many government offices that help manage money are located in the city. Because Kingston has many people, most of the money used in Jamaica is spent here, which helps the local economy grow. The city has the most schools, hospitals, and universities in Jamaica. It is also the main place for travel and the biggest port for ships.

Many big companies and banks have their main offices in and around Kingston. Air Jamaica used to have its headquarters there. There are ideas to make Kingston a place where many countries do their banking to help create more jobs. The city's main industries are tourism, making clothes, and shipping. Many things like bauxite, sugar, and coffee are sent out from Kingston's port to other countries. Tourism is also a big part of the city's economy, but Kingston, like the rest of Jamaica, has faced economic challenges. There are plans to improve downtown Kingston and attract more businesses to help grow the city's economy.

Geography

Kingston is surrounded by the Blue Mountains, Red Hills, Long Mountain and the Kingston Harbour, which is one of the largest natural harbours in the world. The city sits on the Liguanea plain next to the Hope River.

Kingston has a tropical climate with a wet season from May to November and a dry season from December to April. Even in the dry season, occasional heavy showers can occur. Because of the Blue Mountains, Kingston receives less rain than areas on the windward side. The city can get quite hot, with temperatures sometimes reaching up to 38.8 °C (102 °F).

Housing

In 1848, the Jamaican government built new homes in different parts of Kingston. By 1860, most wealthy people lived on the edges of the city.

As more people moved to Kingston, the city grew very crowded. By 1935, poor living conditions led to crowded neighborhoods that were later torn down. People were moved to a place called Denham Town, but many still had nowhere to live. Today, some people in Kingston live in areas without proper homes, while other parts of the city have very expensive houses.

Parks

Kingston has many lovely parks where people enjoy events and celebrations. Some of the most popular parks are Emancipation Park, Hope Gardens, Devon House, National Heroes' Park, St William Grant Park, and Mandela Park.

Emancipation Park

Main article: Emancipation Park (Kingston, Jamaica)

Emancipation Park was created when a club gave some land to the Jamaican government. The park is famous for a tall bronze sculpture made by artist Laura Facey. The sculpture shows two figures looking up, symbolizing freedom.

Hope Gardens

Hope Gardens is a big and beautiful garden that attracts many visitors. It was once used to test new plants and now has many interesting trees and plants from around the world. Visitors can see special places like the Coconut Museum, Sunken Gardens, and Orchid House. The gardens also have a small zoo that is being improved.

Transport

The St William Grant Park in downtown Kingston is the starting point for three major roads in Jamaica: the A1 to Lucea, the A3 to Saint Ann's Bay, and the A4 to Annotto Bay. The city also has Highway 2000, which passes through Portmore, Ocho Rios, and Mandeville. A new part of this highway, called “T3”, was recently opened, making the trip to Montego Bay much faster.

Kingston has a modern bus system run by the Jamaica Urban Transit Company, along with smaller buses and taxis. Major stops are at Parade, Cross Roads, and Half Way Tree.

In the past, Kingston had electric trams and later motor buses, but today it relies on its current bus and taxi services.

The city’s main international airport is the Norman Manley International Airport, with Tinson Pen Aerodrome offering domestic flights.

Historically, Kingston was Jamaica’s main port, but today freight shipping has moved to Newport West.

Emergency services

Kingston has many important places where people can get help if they need it. The police, called the Jamaica Constabulary Force, work from Old Hope Road near Liguanea. There are also smaller police stations in different parts of the city. Courts, where people solve problems, are also in Kingston.

The Jamaica Defence Force has its main office at Up Park Camp and a big naval base at Port Royal.

Fire service

The Jamaica Fire Brigade helps put out fires in Kingston. They have fire stations all over the city, including places like York Park, Half-Way-Tree, and near Norman Manley International Airport. They even have a fire boat at Kingston Harbour to help with fires on the water.

Media

Kingston is home to three big newspaper companies: The Gleaner Company, Jamaica Observer, and the Sunday Herald. The city also has many television and radio stations, including Television Jamaica (TVJ), CVM TV, RJR 94 FM, TBC Radio 88.5 FM, and others like Hitz 92 FM, FAME 95 FM, LOVE TV, ZIP 103, Kool 97 FM, and LOVE FM.

Sports

Kingston is a place where people love to play sports. You can watch cricket games, including big test matches, at Sabina Park. The city is also home to five football teams that play in Jamaica's National Premier League. These teams are Arnett Gardens, Boys' Town, Harbour View, Maverley Hughenden, and Waterhouse. Famous Olympic runner Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce grew up in the Waterhouse area of Kingston.

Telecommunications

Fixed voice and broadband services in Kingston are provided by FLOW and Digicel. FLOW uses a special network to offer internet, phone, and TV services with speeds up to 100 Mbit/s. They also have another network for slower internet speeds up to 12 Mbit/s. Digicel uses a fibre-optic network to provide fast internet, TV, and phone services with speeds up to 200 Mbit/s and even more capacity.

Mobile phone and internet services in Kingston are mainly provided by FLOW and Digicel. Both companies offer different types of fast internet connections in the city. FLOW can reach speeds up to 42 Mbit/s on certain frequencies, and Digicel was the first in Jamaica to offer a certain fast internet technology. Digicel’s network covers most of Kingston and nearby areas with speeds up to 75 Mbit/s. FLOW also offers this fast internet in Kingston, with plans to make it even faster. Caricel, a newer company, also provides these services in Kingston. Both companies have their main offices in the city.

Institutions

Kingston is Jamaica’s capital and plays a big role in the country’s money, culture, and jobs. Many important banks and other money-related groups are based here. The city also has the most hospitals, schools, and universities on the island, along with many places to learn about culture and history. Famous spots in Kingston include the University of the West Indies, the Jamaica Defence Force Museum, and the Bob Marley Museum. An office for the United Nations called the International Seabed Authority is also based in Kingston.

Twin towns – Sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Jamaica

Kingston is twinned with:

• Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
• Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States
• Topeka, Kansas, United States
• Gibraltar (United Kingdom)
• Coventry, Warwickshire, England
• Guadalajara, Mexico
• Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
• Panevėžys, Lithuania
• Windhoek, Namibia