Portland Parish – the Maroon communities of Moore Town and Charles Town
Portland, on Jamaica's northeast coast, is home to the Maroon communities of Moore Town and Charles Town in the Blue Mountains. The Maroons, descendants of Africans who escaped slavery and built free communities in the mountains, have preserved their own traditions, music and history over generations, and Moore Town is especially associated with Nanny of the Maroons, a National Hero.
The parish's capital, Port Antonio, grew as a harbour town between green hills and the sea. Portland remains one of Jamaica's most rural parishes, with rivers, forests and small communities shaping everyday life. Do you know a story, a tradition or a family memory from Portland? Share it with the community!