| Kingston
(population 600,000) is the capital of Jamaica. It is located
on the southeastern coast of the island country at 17°59'N
76°48'W. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes,
a long sandspit which connects Port Royal and the Norman Manley
International Airport to the rest of the island.
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Note that Kingston the city (often called Greater Kingston
or the "Corporate Area") is much larger than the
parish of Kingston that includes only the old Downtown and
Port Royal. Much of the "Corporate Area" is situated
in the Parish of St. Andrew, the two parishes having been
amalgamated by the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation Act
of 1923.
Founded in 1693 by the English after a disastrous earthquake destroyed much
of  the
previous main port city of Port Royal (French for King's Port), the city became
the seat of administration for Jamaica in 1872. It kept this status when the island
was granted independence in 1962. On January 14, 1907, an earthquake in Kingston
killed more than 1,000 people.
Apart from being the seat of the Jamaican government, the
city is also home to the Mona campus of the University of
the West Indies founded in 1948. Several annual and well-visited
festivals are held in Kingston.
Two parts comprise the central area of Kingston: the historic
but troubled Downtown, and New Kingston, which is home to
the city's most visited attraction, the Bob Marley Museum
(built at his former residence). Several other reggae stars,
including Buju Banton and Beenie Man, also hail from Kingston.
Other attractions include the nearby Hellshire and Lime Cay
beaches, the National Gallery of Jamaica, the ruins of Port
Royal, and Devon House, a mansion with adjoining park that
once belonged to Jamaica's first black millionaire.
Kingston is served by Norman Manley International Airport
and also by the smaller and primarily domestic Tinson Pen
Airport.
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