Hanover Parish, Jamaica

Hanover (capital Lucea), is a parish located on the northwestern tip of the island of Jamaica. It is a part of the county of Cornwall, bordered by St. James in the east, and Westmoreland in the south. With the exception of Kingston, it is the smallest parish on the island. Hanover is the birth parish of The Right Excellent Sir Alexander Bustamante, one of Jamaica's seven National Heroes.

Brief history

Hanover was established on November 12, 1723, and given the family name of the English monarch, George I who was from the House of Hanover in Germany. In the early colonial days, Lucea, the main town, was an even busier town than Montego Bay. By the mid-18th century, Lucea was the hub of an important sugar growing region and the town was prosperous as a sugar port and market centre. Jews from Europe settled in the parish as merchants, store keepers, haberdasher, shoe makers and goldsmiths, and it became a free port.

After emancipation in 1834, the free people prospered and supplied produce to much of the rest of Jamaica. The harbour was used to export bananas until after the 1960s. A deep-water pier was built, but this was restricted to the shipping of molasses and is no longer in use. In 1983, the port was closed, but the old Fort Charlotte still stands at one side of the entrance to the harbour. It was never used.

Geography and demography

The capital town, Lucea is located at latitude 18°25'N, longitude 78°08'W. The parish has a mountainous terrain, with the coastline marked by coves and bays. Hanover covers an area of 430 km². The highest point in the parish is the Dolphin's Head, which serves as a landmark for ships at sea. The parish has three small waterfalls, several coves along its coastline and large caves. In the centre of Lucea stands a clock tower. Though it was installed in 1817, it is still fully functional.

The parish had an estimated 67,176 inhabitants in 1999, 5,739 of which live in its capital town with its Mayor. The majority of the population is black which has a percent of 92.1%, 0.8% whites, 3.7% of asians, 2.3% of latins and 2.1% of other.

Commerce

Agriculture

production of yams, sugar cane, ginger, rice, pimento, turmeric, breadfruit and arrowroot. Hanover is celebrated for its fine breeds of cattle. There is also the rearing of pigs and goats.

Tourism

Although Hanover is not one of Jamaica's major tourist areas, a tourist resort is situated in the village of Hopewell, about 24 km (15 miles) east of Lucea. This area has large hotels — Round Hill, Tryall (noted for its golf course) - Eastern Hanover. Sharing the Negril strip with Westmoreland - Grand Lido, Couples, Sandals, Negril Cabins and Beaches.

Attractions

*Waterfalls - Paradise, Kempshot, Dry Hill
*The Old Lucea Court House is an important attraction, situated in the centre of town.
*Blenheim - is the birthplace of Sir Alexander Bustamante, one of Jamaica's National Heroes and a former Prime Minister of Jamaica.
*Lucea Parish Church – dates back to the 1700s. Legend has it that a tunnel leads from the Church to the nearby Fort Charlotte.
*Fort Charlotte – was built in 1761 for the defence of the Lucea which, at that time, was in danger of attack by French raiders. The fort stands on a peninsula overlooking the bay.
*Tryall Waterwheel – is found on a property which was once a sugar estate.

References

* [http://www.jamlib.org.jm/hanover_history.htm Parish information]
* [http://www.statinja.com/ Statistical Institute of Jamaica]
* [http://www.mfaft.gov.jm/Country_Profile/hanover.htm Profile of Hanover]
* [http://reference.allrefer.com/gazetteer/H/H01044-hanover.html Geography of Hanover]
* [http://www.discoverjamaica.com/gleaner/discover/geography/polgol.htm Political Geography]