May Pen is the capital and largest town in the parish of Clarendon in Middlesex County, Jamaica. It is located on the Rio Minho river, and is a major market centre for the parish. The population was 61,548 at the 2011 census increasing from 59,550 in 2001,[1] including the surrounding suburbs of Sandy Bay, Mineral Heights, Hazard, Palmers Cross, Denbigh, Race Track, and Four Paths among others. The town has a mayor.
May Pen
Town
May Pen town centre; the large open-air market is just behind the buildings on the left
May Pen, originally May's Pen, was established as a pen (cattle farm)[2] settlement by the British between 1660 and 1683 on a crossing point of the Rio Minho river. It became part of an estate named after its owner, slave trader Reverend William May, who was born in England in 1695 but in his later years resided in Jamaica. He oversaw 27 slaves on this estate and was rector of the Kingston Parish Church but was later transferred to Clarendon, where he served for 32 years.[citation needed]
May Pen is well located from an administrative point of view in the centre of a largely agricultural parish, and as a midpoint on the Kingston to Manchester road. Boasting a large open air market and transportation centre along Main Street and Sevens Road, the town's centre is often chaotic with activities of shoppers, vendors daily and motorized traffic. May Pen also has many banks, hardware stores, pharmacies and eateries. The town also has a large post office, headquarters for local government, and court house.
The clock tower in the town centre was erected in 1908 after the death of a doctor Robert Glaister Samuel Bell who drowned while attempting to cross the Rio Minho river in 1904.[3] As well as having a memorial plaque to Bell, it has another dedicated to World War I (1914-1918). The first bridge over the Rio Minho was built by 1874 for the local railway company,[4] and rebuilt in the 1920s, it was demolished in 1950 after floods and rebuilt downstream.[5]
May Pen is also an important citrus packing centre, including oranges and a hybrid citrus fruit called an ugli. The Denbigh Agricultural Showground is located approximately three miles west of the centre of the town. May Pen's geographical position is situated near the centre of the entire island. May Pen has long been viewed as one of Jamaica's most important agriculture towns. During its heyday of Jamaican bauxite mining, citrus and sugar production, Clarendon was among Jamaica's leading parishes in terms of economic activity. With the now defunct Jamaica Railway Corporation, May Pen then served as the crossroads of Jamaica natural resources, connecting Frankfield and its citrus plantations in the north of the parish, with Lionel Town and its sugar production in the South.[clarification needed] The Alcoa mining and refinery in partnership with the Jamaican government (Jamalco), located south of the town, is the single largest employer of the town,[citation needed] along with the Trout Hall citrus business. The Denbigh Agricultural Show Ground is the largest in the English-speaking Caribbean, and has served to promote regional farmers agriculture, textile and livestock production. Held annually during Jamaica's Independence Celebration weekend, Denbigh often attracted large crowds from all parts of the island to see Jamaica's best in agricultural output, and enjoy festive activities.
While May Pen has no universities, it does have several public and private schools, including Central High School, Denbigh High School, Glenmuir High School (Anglican), Glenmuir Preparatory School (Anglican primary), May Pen High School (Adventist private), May Pen Primary School, Foundation Preparatory School, and St. Thomas Moore Preparatory School (Catholic primary).
^"Kingston Gleaner Newspaper Archives, Jun 29, 1950, p. 13". 29 June 1950.
External linksedit
Statistical Institute of Jamaica
Political Geography
October 30, 2023
settlement, belize, belize, capital, largest, town, parish, clarendon, middlesex, county, jamaica, located, minho, river, major, market, centre, parish, population, 2011, census, increasing, from, 2001, including, surrounding, suburbs, sandy, mineral, heights,. For the settlement in Belize see May Pen Belize May Pen is the capital and largest town in the parish of Clarendon in Middlesex County Jamaica It is located on the Rio Minho river and is a major market centre for the parish The population was 61 548 at the 2011 census increasing from 59 550 in 2001 1 including the surrounding suburbs of Sandy Bay Mineral Heights Hazard Palmers Cross Denbigh Race Track and Four Paths among others The town has a mayor May PenTownMay Pen town centre the large open air market is just behind the buildings on the leftMay PenLocation in JamaicaCoordinates 17 57 54 N 77 14 42 W 17 965 N 77 245 W 17 965 77 245CountryJamaicaCountyMiddlesexParishClarendonPopulation Total61 548 2011 census Time zoneUTC 5 EST Area code876 Contents 1 Description 2 Notable people 3 Suburbs 4 References 5 External linksDescription edit nbsp Railway Train at May Pen StationMay Pen originally May s Pen was established as a pen cattle farm 2 settlement by the British between 1660 and 1683 on a crossing point of the Rio Minho river It became part of an estate named after its owner slave trader Reverend William May who was born in England in 1695 but in his later years resided in Jamaica He oversaw 27 slaves on this estate and was rector of the Kingston Parish Church but was later transferred to Clarendon where he served for 32 years citation needed May Pen is well located from an administrative point of view in the centre of a largely agricultural parish and as a midpoint on the Kingston to Manchester road Boasting a large open air market and transportation centre along Main Street and Sevens Road the town s centre is often chaotic with activities of shoppers vendors daily and motorized traffic May Pen also has many banks hardware stores pharmacies and eateries The town also has a large post office headquarters for local government and court house The clock tower in the town centre was erected in 1908 after the death of a doctor Robert Glaister Samuel Bell who drowned while attempting to cross the Rio Minho river in 1904 3 As well as having a memorial plaque to Bell it has another dedicated to World War I 1914 1918 The first bridge over the Rio Minho was built by 1874 for the local railway company 4 and rebuilt in the 1920s it was demolished in 1950 after floods and rebuilt downstream 5 May Pen is also an important citrus packing centre including oranges and a hybrid citrus fruit called an ugli The Denbigh Agricultural Showground is located approximately three miles west of the centre of the town May Pen s geographical position is situated near the centre of the entire island May Pen has long been viewed as one of Jamaica s most important agriculture towns During its heyday of Jamaican bauxite mining citrus and sugar production Clarendon was among Jamaica s leading parishes in terms of economic activity With the now defunct Jamaica Railway Corporation May Pen then served as the crossroads of Jamaica natural resources connecting Frankfield and its citrus plantations in the north of the parish with Lionel Town and its sugar production in the South clarification needed The Alcoa mining and refinery in partnership with the Jamaican government Jamalco located south of the town is the single largest employer of the town citation needed along with the Trout Hall citrus business The Denbigh Agricultural Show Ground is the largest in the English speaking Caribbean and has served to promote regional farmers agriculture textile and livestock production Held annually during Jamaica s Independence Celebration weekend Denbigh often attracted large crowds from all parts of the island to see Jamaica s best in agricultural output and enjoy festive activities While May Pen has no universities it does have several public and private schools including Central High School Denbigh High School Glenmuir High School Anglican Glenmuir Preparatory School Anglican primary May Pen High School Adventist private May Pen Primary School Foundation Preparatory School and St Thomas Moore Preparatory School Catholic primary Notable people editFrederick Toots Hibbert reggae and ska singer and frontman for Toots amp the Maytals was born in May Pen Andre Blake footballer for Philadelphia Union and Jamaica Camaal Reid footballer for Scarborough SC and JamaicaSuburbs edit nbsp Map of May Pen Clarendon Jamaica showing suburbs and boundariesMay Pen consists of 16 communities City Centre Main St City Centre Manchester Av Bushy Park Buckshaven Curatoe Hill Denbigh Four Paths Glenmuir Mineral Heights Paisley Palmers Cross Oliver Gardens Effortville Race Track Sevens Road Farm Pen Trenton Hazard Weston ParkReferences edit Population and Housing Census 2011 General Report Volume 1 page vi Higman B W Hudson B J 2009 Jamaican Place Names Mona Jamaica University of the West Indies Press ISBN 978 976 640 306 5 May Pen Clarendon Jamaica Heritage Foundation Retrieved 15 July 2019 Jamaica Observer Limited Kingston Gleaner Newspaper Archives Jun 29 1950 p 13 29 June 1950 External links editStatistical Institute of Jamaica Statistics Political Geography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title May Pen amp oldid 1170719951, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
