Communities of Westmoreland
(Apr-23-2003)
SAVANNA-LA-MAR
Savanna-la-mar , 33 miles from Montego Bay, is the chief town of Westmoreland Parish of which was formed in 1730, about a quarter of the parish consists of the alluvial plains which have always been the principal area of sugar cultivation, and next to sugar is most important industry is cattle-raising, both dairy products and beef.
Great George Street - Savanna-la-mar
Savanna-la-mar was founded about 1730, before which time the principal settlement was at Queens Town, a few miles inland at the crossroads now called Cross Path, or Banbury Savanna-la-Mar, "the plain by the sea", is hardly appropriate to the town itself, which is built on a strip of land running down to the sea between mangrove swamps which hem it on both sides. The town has suffered disastrously from hurricanes, notably in 1749, 1780 and 1912. In 1748, says Bryan Edwards, " the sea bursting its ancients limits overwhelmed the unhappy town and swept it to instant destruction, leaving not a vestige of man, beast or habitation behind. So sudden and comprehensive was the stroke that I think the catastrophe of Savanna-la-Mar was even more terrible, in many respects than that of Port Royal". I790 the town was completely destroyed again, with much loss of life, when :the sea rose a mighty wave swept up the beach for nearly a mile………..Famine and pestilence followed.
DARLISTON
Darliston is a rural town located in East Westmoreland. The community cluster to which it gives its name and of which it is the central town consist of Enfield, Lennox Bigwoods, Caledonia, and Holly Hill.
The physical infrastructure of the town is fairly satisfactory, however the water supply is irregular. The population of the town is 1435 equally divided between male and female.
The family, church and friends are the linchpins of the community support network. The principal institutions to which community residents belong are the church, youth club and community association. The person who the residents recognize as leader and relate to most for advice is the parson, police and teacher. The community also has a health centre.
BLUEFIELDS
Bluefields is a small fishing village in Westmoreland. This was the site of Oristan, one of the three principal towns founded by the Spaniards; and named after a town in Sardinia, then under the Spanish rule. It was connected by road to two other towns – one at Martha Brae and the other at Esquivel on the south coast.
The Hut in the sea
The area comprises of the seventeen (17) districts: Ferris, Cave, Kentucky, Mearnsville, Auldayr, Retirement, Bluefields, Brighten, Robbins River, Belmont, Mt.Airy, Farm, McAlpine, Culloden, Whitehouse and South Sea park.
Whitehouse
Bluefields is also famous for its beach.
BETEL TOWN
The Bethel Town Community consists of seven major districts and one principal rural town. The districts are Galloway, York , Argyle Mountain, Kew Park and Ratrap. The rural town is Bethel Town. The cluster' s economy is predominately domestic agriculture. The major employer of labor is Kew Park Farms. Bethel Town s the service center for several community clusters because of its location, accessibility and facilities. It is a location of one of the major police divisions, agricultural zones and health district in the parish. it is also a special area of census data collection purposes.
FROME
Frome is the principal community in the community cluster which consists of Georges Plain and Banbury. The major economic activity is exporting agriculture, specifically, the sugar manufacturing industry.
Frome Sugar Factory
This industry employs about 705 of the Parish's labor force. Historically the industry has dominated and continues to dominate the economic and social life of the communities and even the physical landscape. The latter are dominated by houses clustered together which were constructed by the Estate and extensive hectares of lands utilized in the production of Sugar Cane.
GRANGE
Grange is part of what can be described as the WilliamsField Community cluster, a cluster which is comprised of Porters Mountains, Friendship, Fort Williams, Glenislay and Friendship district and communities. The community is a farming community which produces crops for the domestic market. Its residents share major services such as health and education with other communities.
Grange Hill
Grange Hill located in the Grange Hill is the principal community in the Community Cluster which consist of Mint, Belle Isle, Top Lincoln and Kings Valley.
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