Tour Jamaica

St. Elizabeth

St. Elizabeth, also called St. Bess, is the second largest parish in Jamaica. It is usually referred to a the "bread basket" of Jamaica, because it provides most of the Agricultural produce for the Island. The parish was created in 1814 and was named after the wife of Sir Thomas Modyford, the first English Governor of Jamaica.

St Elizabeth became a prosperous parish; and Black River, its capital, an important seaport. In addition to shipping sugar and molasses, Black River became the centre of the logging trade. Large quantities of logwood were exported to Europe to make a Prussian-blue dye which was very popular in the 18th and 19th centuries.

St. Elizabeth is known for a number of "firsts" in Jamaica. These include; the first house with electricty (electric power was first introduced in Jamaica in a house called Waterloo in Black River in 1893), the first imported motor car and the first horse race track.

OVERVIEW OF PARISH

1. Name Orign : The Parish was named after the wife of Sir Thoma Modyford, the first English Governor of Jamaica
2. Capital : Black River
3. Size : 1,212.4 sq km - or 468.1 sq. miles
4. Population : Approx. 148K
5. Main Commercial Activities : Agriculture, Tourism and Bauxite Mining
6. Main Towns : Balck River, Junction, Santa Cruz, Balaclava and Maggoty 
7. Attractions/Places of Interest : Black River Safari, Little Ochie, Font Hill Beach Park, Treasure Beach Accompong Town, YS Falls, Holland Bamboo, Appleton Estate Tours and Lovers Leap