Manchester Parish
| Manchester | |
|---|---|
| Parish | |
 Manchester in Jamaica |
|
| Country | Jamaica |
| County | Middlesex |
| Capital | Mandeville |
| Major towns |
Christiana Porus Williamsfield |
| Area | |
| • Total | 830 km2 (320 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 6 |
| Population (2012) | |
| • Total | 190,812 |
| • Density | 230/km2 (600/sq mi) |
The Parish of Manchester is an administrative civil parish located in west-central Jamaica, in the county of Middlesex. Its capital, Mandeville, is a major business centre, and the only parish capital not located on the coast or on a major river. Its St. Paul of the Cross Pro-Cathedral is the episcopal see of the Latin Catholic Diocese of Mandeville.
Taino/Arawak settlement in the parish was substantiated when in 1792, a surveyor found three carvings, believed to be Amerindian Zemi, in a cave in the Carpenter's Mountains. They are now at the British Museum.
Manchester was formed in 1814, by an Act of the House of Assembly, making it one of the newest parishes of Jamaica. It was formed as a result of the amalgamation of portions of the parishes St. Elizabeth, Clarendon and the entirety of Vere. The amalgamation was done in response to a petition from the inhabitants of Mile Gully, May Pen and Carpenters Mountain who complained that they were too far away from an administrative centre. Manchester was named in honour of the William Montagu, 5th Duke of Manchester, the then Governor of Jamaica. He was governor for 19 years, setting the record as the longest-serving governor of the island. The capital town, Mandeville, established in 1816, was named after his eldest son, Lord Mandeville.
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