Counties and parishes

Why is Jamaica divided into Parishes and Counties?



  • Parishes
       Before the parishes came about the Spaniards divided Jamaica into two ranches; 
Yallahs and Morant. They were the largest ranches at the time, therefore they were used as border markers. When the English took over in 1655, they realized that these ranches were not only too large to have one name and boundary, but it was in desperate need for an administrative structure. As such, the English adapted the administrative structure from England, giving birth to the first parishes. 

The island was divided into parishes and most places from then had the designation of "St. (Saint)" added to its name.

       Each parish was given the name of wealthy and distinguished persons in the English regime. The first parishes were:

  1. Clarendon
  2. St. John's
  3. St. Andrew's
  4. St. Katherine's
  5. Port Royal
  6. St. David's
  7. St. Thomas

  Throughout the years, the island had many parishes, at one point, the island had 21 parishes! Some of these parishes were later eliminated or merged resulting in the 14 parishes present today since 1866. 


  • Counties
The English wanted to ensure that each parish had clear and vivid parish boundaries, as such, they grouped the parishes and categorized them into three counties: Cornwall, Middlesex and Surrey. 




References

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