• Ever heard of Portland the hilly parish? 
• Well here is your chance to discover it.  

 

Once you've found it you may not want to leave it

Portland is a hilly parish occupying the north eastern section of the island of Jamaica.   Portland has an area of roughly 300 square miles and is considered the hilly parish because of its sparse flatlands and hilly terrain.    Its main town is Port Antonio, and smaller towns like Buff Bay and Manchioneal serve as community towns.      Other towns are Hectors River,Hope Bay, Windsor Castle and Priestmans River to just name a few.

The parish of Portland, just like the other thirteen parishes, is governed locally by a Mayor and Councillors, elected from the different prescribed territories. This form of governing allows for direct represntation to all parishoners. The parish is also divded in two, east and west, for the purpose of electing representatives to the House of Parliament or the central governing body.

The topographical make up of Portland is mountainous. The mountains to the southern border sometimes runs to the Caribbean sea in the north. The populus areas are mostly east to west along the coastline, where there is occasionally flat land. The exceptions to the rule are the smaller towns precariously situated in the larger river valleys. Portland is by far the rainiest parish in Jamaica, which results in its lush green vegetation througout the entire parish all year round and its relatively large rivers.

                                                                                                 Rio Grande bridge construction.

There are two established Maroon communities that still exist in Portland. The Charles Town community, situated just south of Buff Bay and the Moore Town community a few miles south east of Port Antonio. The Maroon activity in Portland was what promted the then governor, Duke of Portland, to establish this parish.

Hoping that a strong European presence would deter Maroon activities in Portland, he made strong inducements in the law, for anyone who would dare to settle there. He also gave this area his name. Incidentally there are three places with the name "Windsor". Windsor Castle, Windsor Forrest and just plain Windsor, was there a Duke of Winsdor living in Portland?