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History

Main article: History of Jamaica

The Arawak and Taino indigenous people originating from South America settled on the island between 4000 and 1000 BC  hen Christopher Columbus arrived in 1494 there was already an established government with a Cacique or chief as the head who was supported by a group of noblesn addition the island was divided into districts and regional chiefdoms. The Taino population was largely increasing when the Spanish arrived  Although some claim they became virtually extinct following contact with Europeans, others claimthat they survived for a while.  It has been proposed that the Taino bloodline has been absorbed into the population. The Jamaican National Heritage Trust is attempting to locate and document any evidence of the Taino/Arawaks. Christopher Columbus claimed Jamaica for Spain after landing there in 1494.Columbus' probable landing point was Dry Harbour, now called Discovery Bay. St. Ann's Bay was the "Saint Gloria" of Columbus who first sighted Jamaica at this point. One mile west of St. Ann's Bay is the site of the first Spanish settlement on the island, Sevilla, which was abandoned in 1554 because of numerous pirate raids.

The capital was moved to Spanish Town, now located in the parish of St. Catherine, as early as 1534. It was then called "Santiago de la Vega". Spanish Town has the oldest Cathedral in the British colonies. The Spanish were forcibly evicted by the English at Ocho Rios in St. Ann. However, it was not until 1655 that, at Tower Isle, the English took over the last Spanish fort in Jamaica. The Spaniard Don Arnoldo de Yassi kept Tower Hill (the site of Tower Isle) from the English for five years, before escaping to Cuba. The site of his departure was fittingly called "Runaway Bay", which is also in St. Ann. The name of Montego Bay, the capital of the parish of St. James, was derived from the Spanish name manteca bahía (or Bay of Lard) for the large quantity of boar used for the lard-making industry.[5]

Jamaica slowly gained increasing independence from the United Kingdom and in 1958, it became a province in the Federation of the West Indies, a federation among the British West Indies. Jamaica attained full independence by leaving the federation in 1962.

Parishes

Main article: Parishes of Jamaica

Jamaica is divided into 14 parishes, which are grouped into three historic counties that have no administrative relevance.