Saint Elizabeth Parish – Black River, a historic seaport on Jamaica's widest river
Saint Elizabeth once covered most of southwest Jamaica, until Westmoreland was taken from it in 1703 and part of Manchester in 1814. The parish was named after the wife of Sir Thomas Modyford, the first English governor. Its capital, Black River, grew into an important seaport at the mouth of the island's widest river, shipping sugar and other goods.
The parish holds archaeological traces of the Taíno and of 17th-century Spanish settlement, and in some areas buildings with traditional 'Spanish wall' construction can still be seen. After 1655, large sugar plantations worked by enslaved Africans shaped the parish's economy and society. Today Saint Elizabeth is one of Jamaica's largest parishes. Have a Saint Elizabeth story? Share it with the community!