Manchester, Jamaica

The parish of Manchester is 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. The Right Excellent Norman Washington Manley (d. 1969), one of Jamaica's seven National Heroes, was born in this parish.

Geography

Mandeville is located at latitude 17°51'N, longitude 77°38'W. It is bordered by St. Elizabeth in the west, Clarendon in the east and by Trelawny in the north. Manchester covers an area of 830 sq km, making it Jamaica's sixth largest praish. It has three mountain ranges — the Carpenters Mountains, the May Day Mountains and the Don Figuerero Mountains. The highest point is 2770 feet above sea level in the Carpenters Mountains.

Related Topics:
Latitude - Longitude - St. Elizabeth - West - Clarendon - East - Trelawny - North - Sq km - Sea level

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Over 90% of the parish's surface is limestone so there is an abundance of cockpits, sinkholes, caves and underground passages. The Oxford Cave in upper Manchester is the largest of 20 known caves in the parish. Manchester also has large bauxite deposits.

Related Topics:
Sinkholes - Caves - Bauxite

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The parish offers a variety of climate, vegetation and scenery. The capital, Mandeville, is situated at an elevation of 626 metres (2,061 ft). The town is noted for its natural beauty and salubrious climate as temperatures range from a low of 12.7°C (55°F) in December and January, to a high of 31°C (88°F) in July and August. There are very few rivers in the parish, and the existing ones are rather small; Alligator Hole River, Alligator Pond River, Hector's River, Two Rivers and Swift River. Hector's River runs along the border of Manchester and Trelawny, sinks at Troy where it flows underground for approximately six kilometres

Related Topics:
Climate - Vegetation - Scenery - Elevation - Metre - Temperature - December - January - July - August - Rivers - Trelawny - Underground

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and rises below Oxford Cave as One Eye River. Despite this, water supply is generally scarce; the southern districts often suffer drought.

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The population of Manchester is 190,000. Mandeville, the capital and chief town of the parish, now has a Mayor. It has a population of over 30,485.

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