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What Is Kingston Jamaica Known For?
 6 Reasons Kingston Is So Popular

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jamaican_photos_emancipation_park_statuesWhat Is Kingston Jamaica Known For | Emancipation Park

by Sheree-Anita Shearer | Associate Writer

What is Kingston Jamaica Known For? The capital city of Jamaica is very popular all over the world, these are the reasons for Kingston’s popularity.

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The history of Kingston is quite interesting. After the earthquake and fire which destroyed Port Royal, the people needed a new city to call home, thus Kingston was created. The land was purchased to form the new town, and some persons bought the land.

But, it did not begin to grow rapidly until after the fire of 1703 in Port Royal. Eventually, the city outgrew the then capital of Jamaica, Spanish Town, in both its population and significance to the Jamaican economy which was heavily dependent on shipping and commerce.

Kingston proved to be beneficial since it was the best place for ships to load and unload cargo. Jamaica also benefited from ships that would dock in the harbour on their way to other locations. Spanish ships would stop to replenish stock to take them on the next leg of their journey.

Merchants in Kingston benefitted greatly from this and lobbied for the city to be made the capital. This was met with great defiance from residents in western parishes and Spanish Town especially since they wanted the main town to remain where they lived.

There was even a bill sent to England to have the chief town changed to Kingston but it was shut down. Merchants continued to lobby for nearly 100 years before the title of capital was given to Kingston.

History

The history of Kingston is quite interesting. After the earthquake and fire which destroyed Port Royal, the people needed a new city to call home, thus Kingston was created. The land was purchased to form the new town, and some persons bought the land.

But, it did not begin to grow rapidly until after the fire of 1703 in Port Royal. Eventually, the city outgrew the then capital of Jamaica, Spanish Town, in both its population and significance to the Jamaican economy which was heavily dependent on shipping and commerce.

Kingston proved to be beneficial since it was the best place for ships to load and unload cargo. Jamaica also benefited from ships that would dock in the harbour on their way to other locations.

Spanish ships would stop to replenish stock to take them on the next leg of their journey. Merchants in Kingston benefitted greatly from this and lobbied for the city to be made the capital.

This was met with great defiance from residents in western parishes and Spanish Town especially since they wanted the main town to remain where they lived.

There was even a bill sent to England to have the chief town changed to Kingston but it was shut down. Merchants continued to lobby for nearly 100 years before the title of capital was given to Kingston.

Reasons Kingston Is So Popular

  1. The Harbour - Remember I said before that Kingston was made important because of how convenient it was for ships to dock, load and unload cargo? This is because Kingston harbour is larger than all other ports of Jamaica combined. Kingston Harbour is the seventh largest natural harbour in the world.

    The almost landlocked area is deep enough to accommodate large ships very close to the shore. The harbour is protected by the long Palisadoes strip which leads to the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) and Port Royal. It is approximately 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) long by 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) wide.

  2. Music - Kingston is world-renowned as the home of Reggae music a culturally significant genre and of the many things which made Jamaica famous. Jamaica produces the most music per square mile and the majority of this is done in Kingston.

    Studios in Jamaica are responsible for some of the most legendary songs in the world and Jamaican parties are where we met some of the most legendary performers for the first time.

  3. Museum - Kingston has the majority of our local museums, the National Gallery, Bob Marley Museum, Peter Tosh Museum, The Institute of Jamaica, Trench Town Culture Yard Museum, Liberty Hall: The Legacy of Marcus Garvey and National Museum Jamaica are all in Kingston Jamaica.

    Here is where you will learn of Jamaica’s history through arts, pictures and artefacts. You will also learn of world art and see the creations of local, regional and international artists which are often focused on Jamaica and African history and culture.

  4. Nightlife - As the birthplace of Reggae music, it is only fitting that Kingston is the place of exceptional nightlife as well. Everything from vibrant nightly jam sessions to nightclubs and other nighttime activities can be found in and around Kingston. There is a new hangout spot every few blocks to keep the residents happy and entertained.

  5. Business - For those in business, it doesn’t matter what kind or how niche, there is a market for you in Kingston. Many businesses are headquartered in the capital and so are government agencies as well.

    If there is a single location it is most likely in Kingston and international businesses looking to expand to Jamaica often start in Kingston case and point, Uber, Popeyes, Krispy Kreme, Little Ceaser’s, Subway and many others had locations in Kingston for years before expanding to other towns, some have yet to do so.

    Also, many of the hotels in Kingston cater to businesspersons and will have multiple meeting spaces and conference rooms to accommodate the many meetings that are held in Kingston daily both between local businesspeople and those looking to invest or expand in Jamaica.

  6. Food - One thing that no other part of Jamaica can rival Kingston for, is the variety of food there. No matter the dietary restrictions or budget, chances are there is a restaurant that aligns with your needs. While the rest of Jamaica is catching up when it comes to a variety it places to eat. Kingston has long been like this and has established itself as the best.

    Devon House was designated the first gastronomic centre on the island since it is a collection of some of the tastiest restaurants, eateries and bakeries. These are some of the many reasons Kingston Jamaica, is well known which makes it a great place to visit, but is it a good place to live?

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References & Sources For What Is Kingston Jamaica Known For?

  1. Gastronomy network (no date) Tourism Enhancement Fund. Available at: https://tef.gov.jm/gastronomy-network/ (Accessed: January 24, 2023).
  2. Khouri, N. (2015) The 10 top things to see and do in Kingston, Jamaica, Culture Trip. The Culture Trip. Available at: https://theculturetrip.com/caribbean/jamaica/articles/10-things-to-do-in-kingston/ (Accessed: January 24, 2023).

What Is Kingston Jamaica Known For | Written: January 24, 2023

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