Saint Catherine Parish

Saint Catherine
Saint Catherine in Jamaica
Saint Catherine in Jamaica
CountryJamaica
CountyMiddlesex
CapitalSpanish Town
Other townsPortmore, Old Harbour,
Ewarton, Linstead
Area
 • Total1,192 km2 (460 sq mi)
 • Rank2[1]
Population
 (2012)[2]
 • Total518,345
 • Density430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)

Saint Catherine (Jamaican Creole: Sin Kiachrin) is a parish in the south east of Jamaica. It is located in the county of Middlesex, and is one of the island's largest and most economically valued parishes because of its many resources. It includes the first capital of Jamaica, Spanish Town, originally known as San Jago de la Vega or Santiago de la Vega (St. James of the Plain).

  1. ^ a b The title of largest parish in Jamaica has caused some confusion. The parishes of St. Catherine, Saint Elizabeth or St. Ann are usually ranked as the largest, depending on the source. The Gleaner, one of the nations most reputable newspapers, lists St. Catherine as the largest with an area of 1,260 sq km, St. Ann as the second largest with 1200 sq km, and St. Elizabeth third with 1,185 sq km (Geography and History of Jamaica. The Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 9 April 2009). However, The Jamaica Library Service database ranks St Ann the largest with an area of 1212.6 sq km (Saint Ann Archived 4 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Jamaica Library Services. Retrieved 9 April 2009), St. Elizabeth second with 1212.4 sq km (St. Elizabeth Archived 4 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Jamaica Library Services. Retrieved 9 April 2009), and St. Catherine third with 1192.4 sq km (Saint Catherine Archived 4 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Jamaica Library Services. Retrieved 9 April 2009).
  2. ^ "Population by Parish". Statistical Institute of Jamaica. Retrieved 16 September 2015.