Porus, Jamaica

For other uses, see Porus.

Porus
Community
An alley in Porus, Jamaica
An alley in Porus, Jamaica
Porus is located in Jamaica
Porus
Porus
Coordinates: 18°01′56″N 77°24′46″W / 18.0321582°N 77.412715°W / 18.0321582; -77.412715
CountryJamaica
ParishManchester
Founded1840
Founded byJames Phillippo
Elevation
143 m (469 ft)
Population
.[1]
 • Estimate 
(2009)
6,003
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)

Porous is a village in Manchester, Jamaica that overlooks a plain to the south, with hills behind it to the north.[2] A tributary of the Rio Minho runs parallel to the main road, helping to keep the atmosphere cool.[2]

History

Porus was founded in 1840 by the missionary James Phillippo as a free village for ex-slaves following emancipation.[2] It was his sixth such village.[2] It was originally called Vale Lionel after the then Governor of Jamaica, Sir Lionel Smith,[2] but was soon renamed "Porous" most probably after the porous soil in the vicinity.[2] It was described as a “small estate” on the journey from Savanna-la-Mar to Kingston taken by M.G. Lewis, a plantation owner, in 1817.[3]

In its early days, its population was very small although it boasted a large coffee market.[2] It is now a thriving community of predominantly small farmers and artisans.[2]

Thomas Albert Samuel Manley, father of Norman Washington Manley, one of Jamaica’s National Heroes, was born in Porus in 1852.[4][5]

Transport

Road

Porus is on the A2 road which runs from Spanish Town in south central Jamaica to Savanna-la-Mar on the south west coast.[6]

Rail

From 1895 to 1992 Porus was served by Porus railway station on the Kingston to Montego Bay line. Although all services on the line have ceased, the extensive (for Jamaica) station buildings remain. Future generations are hoping to rebuild these services better than ever. [7]

Public amenities

There are seven schools, (Porus District of churches) churches, a post office, a police station, a comprehensive health clinic, and various small retail outlets.[2][6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "World Gazetteer, Jamaica: Largest cities and towns with statistics of their population". Archived from the original on 9 February 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Dewar, Rose (21 March 2003). "The story of Porus Manchester". Kingston, Jamaica: Jamaica Gleaner. Archived from the original on 30 October 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  3. ^ Lewis, M.G., Journal of a Residence Among the Negroes in the West Indies (J. Murray, 1845), p. 163
  4. ^ Ranston, J., From We Were Boys: The Story Of The Magnificent Cousins, The Rt. Excellent Sir William Alexander Bustamante And The Rt. Excellent Norman Washington Manley (1999), p. 14
  5. ^ Manley Family Tree – Geni
  6. ^ a b UK Directorate of Overseas Surveys 1:50,000 map of Jamaica Sheet G, 1973.
  7. ^ Aerial view of the station.