Portland is a parish on the noth east coast of Jamaica. It has an area of roughly 300 square miles. Its considered the hidden parish because of its slow development. Its main town is Port Antonio, smallerr towns like Buff Bay and Manchioneal serve as community towns. Other towns are Hectors River,Hope Bay, Windsor Castle and Fellowship to just name a few.
The parish 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 this parish is mountains in the south and the Caribbean sea in the north. Therefore the populus areas are situated east to west along the coastline. The exceptions to the rule are the smaller towns situated in the larger river valleys.
Portland is by far the rainiest parish in Jamaica which results in lush green vegetation througout its hills and valleys.
There are two established Maroon commu- nities that still exist in Portland. The Charles Town community, situated just north of Buff Bay and the Moore Town community a few miles north east of Port Antonio. The Mroon activity in this area was what promted the then governor, Duke of Portland, to establish this parish.
Hoping that a strong European presence would deter Maroon activities, he made strong inducements the law for anyone who would 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 Winsor?
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Placing directory in random order on page in an effort to get amore attractive home page.
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Port Antonio is the Government center and chief town for the parish of Portland. It is situated just about in the middle of the parish and serve as the hub for shopping, supplies, entertainment and culture. Port Antonio's name was originally Puerto Anton seeing that it was named by the Spaniards who originally settled the town.
The history of Port Antonio is long and exciting. From being a sleepy Fort town to becoming a Jet Setting hang out, its seen a lot of changes.
Port Antonio was among the early leaders in the tourism industry, with its then famous Titchfield hotel and unique "rafting on the Rio Grande." Alas, the famousTitchfield hotel burnt to the ground and was never replaced.
Just like the Titchfield, the Capitol theatre bunt to the ground and the newer Delmar theatre was razed to accomodate a shopping center. Note - Investing in a multi purpose theatre could be a winner for some smart investor.
The late nineteen forties to the early seventies was a boom time for the town of Port Antonio. The banana and sugar industies were still highly functional and the railroad with its "train" and "diesel" still plied daily between the town and the capital city Kingston, Bringing sugar, bananas, and new settlers, drawn by the availability of jobs. The population doubled within twenty five years, and new suburbs rose out of uninhabited areas.
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