St Elizabeth

Area: 1,210.7 sq km Population: 150,993

St. Elizabeth is one of the oldest parishes in Jamaica and Black River is its capital. St. Elizabeth lies to the southwest end of Jamaica, bordered on the north by St. James and Trelawny, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, on the west by the parish of Westmoreland and on the east by Manchester. The northern and north-eastern sections of the parish are mountainous, while an extensive plain occupies the central and southern districts

St Elizabeth provides the bulk of Jamaica’s vegetable and fruit provisions and the Black River supports an important shrimp and freshwater fishery. Main towns include Santa Cruz, Malvern, Junction and Balaclava. Other organised towns within the parish are Maggoty, Lacovia, Bull Savanna, Southfield, Newell, New Market, Siloah and Middle Quarters.

The Cockpit Country vegetation is the largest and most intact example of wet limestone forest in Jamaica. Its flora exemplifies the outstanding endemism of the West Indies. And, most of Jamaica’s 550 native ferns grow in this area.