Belmont, Port of Spain

Belmont
District of Port of Spain
View of Belmont in Port of Spain.
View of Belmont in Port of Spain.
Map
CountryTrinidad and Tobago
CountySaint George County
CityPort of Spain
DistrictBelmont
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
9,035
Time zoneUTC-4 (AST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (DST)
Area code621

Belmont, in north-east Port of Spain, in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is located at the foot of the Laventille Hills; it was the city's first suburb. In the 1840s–'50s, parts of the area were settled by Africans rescued by the Royal Navy from illegal slaving ships. In the 1880s–'90s, the population swelled rapidly, and the characteristic Belmont street pattern of narrow, winding lanes developed. The black professional class built large homes in Belmont, as they were excluded from the more expensive neighbourhoods such as St. Clair and Maraval; Belmont became known as "the Black St. Clair". Many of these large homes have been renovated and converted to business use, but some remain in family hands. Belmont currently is a lower-middle to middle-class residential neighbourhood. It was the birthplace and early home of many important Carnival designers and bandleaders. Belmont has 9,035 inhabitants.[1]

  1. ^ Census 2011