Clarendon is the third largest of fourteen parishes that comprises the island of Jamaica. It is situated in the county of Middlesex and shares boundary lines with three other parishes. These are Manchester, Saint Ann, and Saint Catherine. Like Manchester, this parish is also sometimes referred to as central Jamaica but in the case of Clarendon it is geographically truly the center of Jamaica. The capital of Clarendon is May Pen, a bustling town believed to be among the fastest growing towns on the island.
While the parish does have a lot of mountainous terrain, plains also play a role in the composition of its topography. Prominent among these are the Bull Head Mountain, the Mocho Mountain, and the Vere plains. The landscape of the parish is also punctuated by a couple of rivers. These include the Milk River and the Rio Minho, which is the longest river in Jamaica. It is of interest to note that the country’s most southerly point, Portland Point, is to be found in Clarendon.
The parish of Clarendon plays host to some of the nations top high schools among which Clarendon College, Glenmuir High School, Knox College, and Edwin Allen High School stand out, especially for academic and sporting achievements. Health care services for the parish of Clarendon are provided in the main by the May Pen Hospital and the Lionel Town Hospital, which are both public hospitals. Clinics, as well as doctors who operate private practices throughout the parish, complement the service. Getting around the parish can be done via taxis, buses, and rental cars if visitors want to do so at their own leisure. Competitively priced accommodations are readily available in the parish at hotels and guesthouses. One of these hotels is the Versailles Hotel in May Pen.
The mining of bauxite, similar to a few of the other parishes in Jamaica, plays a vital role in the economy of Clarendon. This is currently being done via a joint venture between the Jamaican government and foreign interests. This operation provides income, both directly and indirectly, to a lot of persons in the parish. Another key player in the economy of Clarendon is sugar, which is mostly exported. Vast acreages of flat lands are taken up with sugar cane farming to facilitate this. There are three sugar factories being operated in the parish, namely the Moneymusk, New Yarmouth, and the Sevens Estate sugar factories. In the past Tobacco was farmed on a large scale but it is planted in much smaller quantities these days. Small farming is also done by a lot of the residents of Clarendon and some of the crops grown are banana, cotton, ginger, and pineapple. The parish is also renowned for its production of citrus and its famous brand of Trout Hall orange juice. The rearing of livestock too is done by some of the residents in the form of cattle, chickens, goats and pigs.
Clarendon is famous for its two racetracks, Vernamfield for car racing, and Woodleigh for dirtbike racing. For those with an interest in history the Halse Hall Great House is worth checking out. Also of interest is the oldest church in Jamaica. This is located at a place called Alley in the parish. If you have the good fortune of being on the island around the time Independence is celebrated in early August, a visit to the Denbigh Agricultural Show Grounds is in order. This is when and where the country’s biggest annual agricultural show, usually spanning approximately three days, is held. A major feature of the event is a stage show on the final night featuring top acts in the country. A visit to the parish would not be complete without a visit to the Milk River Mineral Bath and Spa. The waters of this facility have been recognized the world over for its therapeutic properties.