Porus, Jamaica
Community in Manchester, Jamaica
Porus
|
|
---|---|
Community
|
|
Coordinates: 18°01′56″N 77°24′46″W / 18.0321582°N 77.412715°W / 18.0321582; -77.412715 | |
Country | Jamaica |
Parish | Manchester |
Founded | 1840 |
Founded by | James Phillippo |
Elevation
|
143 m (469 ft) |
Population
.
[1]
|
|
•
Estimate
(2009)
|
6,003 |
Time zone | UTC-5 ( EST ) |
Porous is a village in Manchester , Jamaica that overlooks a plain to the south, with hills behind it to the north. [2] A tributary of the Rio Minho runs parallel to the main road, helping to keep the atmosphere cool. [2]
History
Porus was founded in 1840 by the missionary James Phillippo as a free village for ex-slaves following emancipation . [2] It was his sixth such village. [2] It was originally called Vale Lionel after the then Governor of Jamaica , Sir Lionel Smith , [2] but was soon renamed "Porous" most probably after the porous soil in the vicinity. [2] It was described as a “small estate” on the journey from Savanna-la-Mar to Kingston taken by M.G. Lewis, a plantation owner, in 1817. [3]
In its early days, its population was very small although it boasted a large coffee market. [2] It is now a thriving community of predominantly small farmers and artisans . [2]
Thomas Albert Samuel Manley, father of Norman Washington Manley , one of Jamaica’s National Heroes, was born in Porus in 1852. [4] [5]
Transport
Road
Porus is on the A2 road which runs from Spanish Town in south central Jamaica to Savanna-la-Mar on the south west coast. [6]
Rail
From 1895 to 1992 Porus was served by Porus railway station on the Kingston to Montego Bay line . Although all services on the line have ceased, the extensive (for Jamaica) station buildings remain. Future generations are hoping to rebuild these services better than ever. [7]
Public amenities
There are seven schools, (Porus District of churches) churches, a post office, a police station, a comprehensive health clinic, and various small retail outlets. [2] [6]
See also
References
- ↑ "World Gazetteer, Jamaica: Largest cities and towns with statistics of their population" . Archived from the original on 9 February 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Dewar, Rose (21 March 2003). "The story of Porus Manchester" . Kingston, Jamaica : Jamaica Gleaner . Archived from the original on 30 October 2010 . Retrieved 5 October 2009 .
- ↑ Lewis, M.G., Journal of a Residence Among the Negroes in the West Indies (J. Murray, 1845), p. 163
- ↑ Ranston, J., From We Were Boys: The Story Of The Magnificent Cousins, The Rt. Excellent Sir William Alexander Bustamante And The Rt. Excellent Norman Washington Manley (1999), p. 14
- ↑ Manley Family Tree – Geni
- 1 2 UK Directorate of Overseas Surveys 1:50,000 map of Jamaica Sheet G, 1973.
- ↑ Aerial view of the station .
External links
- Photos: Fruit stall Downtown [ permanent dead link ] Bar Fruit stall Fruit stall Police station Community centre Methodist church [ permanent dead link ] United church School Station Train []