Port Maria | |
|---|---|
Parish Capital | |
 Port Maria, 1825, engraving by James Hakewill | |
  Port Maria | |
| Coordinates: 18°22′13″N 76°53′25″W / 18.3702474°N 76.8903065°W | |
| Country | Jamaica |
| Parish | Saint Mary |
Port Maria is the capital town of the Jamaican parish of Saint Mary.
Originally named "Puerto Santa Maria", it was the second town established by Spanish settlers in Jamaica.[1] The ruins of Fort Haldane, built 1759, overlook the town.
It has a population of approximately 7,500 people. include St Mary's Parish Church, built in 1861, and the St Mary courthouse, a Georgian structure built in 1820 which now houses the Port Maria civic centre. Jamaica's first Prime minister Alexander Bustamante was put on trial for manslaughter with Frank Pixley at the courthouse in 1947. They were acquitted.[2]
Port Maria is the birthplace of Sports Illustrated model Georgianna Robertson.[3]
As of March 2012[update], the Mayor is Levan Ainsworth Freeman.[4]
The Jamaica Heritage trail has Fort Haldane, The St. Mary Courthouse and Claude Stuart Park with marked signage.
