Population: 185,900 (1999)
Capital: Mandeville
Major Towns: Christiana, Devon, Mile Gully, Newport, Porus, Williamsfield
Situated in southwestern Jamaica, Manchester Parish spans 831 square kilometers (320.5 square miles), making it the island’s sixth-largest parish. The area is defined by three mountain ranges—the Carpenters Mountains, the May Day Mountains, and the Don Figuerero Mountains—with its highest point rising to 2,770 feet above sea level in the Carpenters Mountains.
With over 90% of its surface made up of limestone, Manchester’s terrain is rich in cockpits, sinkholes, caves, and underground passages. Among its 20 known caves, Oxford Cave is the largest, exemplifying the parish’s distinctive geological features. Despite the limestone-dominated landscape, several rivers traverse the parish, including the Alligator Hole River, Alligator Pond River, Crambie River, Gut River, Hector's River, Two Rivers, and Swift River. Remarkably, Hector's River flows along the border between Manchester and Trelawny, disappears at Troy, and re-emerges below Oxford Cave as One Eye River after running underground for about six kilometers.
Manchester also has significant bauxite deposits that contribute to its economic development.
Evidence of Taino/Arawak settlement surfaced in 1792 when two Amerindian zemes were discovered in a cave in the Carpenters Mountains; these artifacts are now housed in the British Museum.
Manchester Parish was officially formed in 1814 from parts of St. Elizabeth, Clarendon, and Vere, largely due to residents who felt the administrative centers were too distant. The parish was named for the Duke of Manchester, then Governor of Jamaica, who served for 19 years—longer than any other governor. Mandeville, established in 1816 as the parish’s chief town, was named in honor of his eldest son, Lord Mandeville.
Historically, Manchester’s economy was centered on coffee plantations rather than sugar estates, resulting in a somewhat less severe system for the enslaved population. After emancipation, many of the newly freed people became independent coffee farmers. Manchester is credited with being the first parish in Jamaica to cultivate Irish potatoes, at Bethany. In 1920, Charles Jackson developed the ortanique—a hybrid of orange and tangerine—which remains a notable export.
Several important institutions originated in Manchester. The Manchester Horticultural Society, founded in 1865, is among the oldest in the world. The Manchester Golf Club, established in 1868, is the Caribbean’s oldest sports club, and the Mandeville Hotel, opened in 1875, is one of the region’s oldest hotels. Jamaica’s first “Free Library” was also established here in 1938.
Today, Mandeville continues to attract many returning residents, drawn by its cool climate. The town expanded further with the arrival of the Alcan Bauxite Company, whose relatively high wages and housing developments attracted a skilled workforce.
Agriculture: Key crops include bananas, Irish potatoes, coffee, cocoa, citrus, and various other cash crops.
Main Industries:
Mandeville Court House (1820):
An impressive cut-limestone building known for its horseshoe staircase and raised portico supported by Doric columns.
Kirkvine Works:
Alcan Jamaica, a partnership between the Jamaican Government and the Aluminium Company of Canada Ltd., operates the largest bauxite processing facility in Jamaica here. Mined lands are reclaimed and often used for citrus cultivation and livestock.
The Rectory (1820):
The oldest residence in Mandeville, it has served numerous purposes, including as a hotel, and is now a private home.
Marshall's Pen Great House and Bird Sanctuary:
An 18th-century great house on a former coffee plantation, now used for cattle rearing. Its beautiful garden hosts more than 100 bird species.
Martin Hill Orchid Sanctuary:
Located south of Christiana, this sanctuary is home to over 100 orchid species, many of them endemic to Jamaica.
Gourie State Park:
A forest reserve situated about a mile northwest of Coleyville, featuring hiking trails and home to Jamaica’s longest cave system.
Roxborough:
The birthplace of National Hero Norman Washington Manley. Although the original house was destroyed by fire, the estate remains historically significant.
Overall, Manchester Parish combines a rich historical heritage with abundant natural resources, making it a unique and important region within Jamaica.