Geography and Parishes of Jamaica

Geography

Jamaica is located 145 kilometers south of Cuba and 190 kilometers west of Haiti. Its capital city, Kingston, is approximately 920 kilometers southeast of Miami. The island measures 235 kilometers at its longest point and varies between 35 and 82 kilometers in width. Covering an area of 10,911 square kilometers, Jamaica is the largest island of the Commonwealth Caribbean and the third largest of the Greater Antilles, following Cuba and Hispaniola.

Pedro Bank, a shallow sea area with numerous cays (low islands or reefs), extends generally east to west for over 160 kilometers southwest of Jamaica. To the southeast lie the Morant Cays, situated 51 kilometers from Morant Point, the easternmost point of mainland Jamaica.

Jamaica is home to 22 main rivers, with the Rio Minho being the longest at 92.5 kilometers.

Counties and Parishes

Jamaica is divided into three counties: Cornwall, Middlesex, and Surrey. The island is further subdivided into 14 parishes:

Clarendon

Clarendon, with its capital at May Pen, is located on the south of the island, roughly halfway between the island's eastern and western tips.

Hanover

Hanover, the third smallest parish, is situated at the northwestern end of the island. It covers an area of 450.4 square kilometers.

Kingston and St. Andrew

Kingston is the smallest parish, encompassing an area of 21.8 square kilometers (8.4 square miles), including the Palisadoes strip. St. Andrew, the second smallest parish, spans 430.7 square kilometers (166.3 square miles).

Manchester

Manchester is in the southwestern section of the island, covering an area of 831.0 square kilometers.

Portland

Portland is the most northeastern parish, covering an area of 814 square kilometers.

St. Ann

St. Ann is the largest parish, centrally located on the north coast with a land area of 1,212.6 square kilometers (468.2 square miles).

St. Catherine

St. Catherine is the third largest parish, covering 1,192.4 square kilometers (460.4 square miles).

St. Elizabeth

St. Elizabeth is in the southwestern section of the island, spanning 1,212.4 square kilometers (468.1 square miles).

St. James

St. James is located in the northwestern section of the island, covering an area of 595 square kilometers.

St. Mary

St. Mary is situated in the northeastern section of the island, encompassing 657.86 square kilometers (254 square miles).

St. Thomas

St. Thomas is located at the southeastern end of the island, covering an area of 742.8 square kilometers (286.8 square miles).

Westmoreland

Westmoreland is the westernmost parish, located on the south side of the island. It covers an area of 807 square kilometers.

Trelawny

Trelawy is located on North coast of the island, west of St. Ann and east of St. James. covering an Area: 874 square kilometers.