Porus, Jamaica
Porus | |
|---|---|
Village | |
| Country | Jamaica |
| Parish | Manchester |
| Founded | 1840 |
| Founded by | James Phillipo |
| Elevation | 143 m (469 ft) |
| Population [2]. | |
• Estimate (2009) | 6,003 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
Porus is a village in Manchester, Jamaica. It overlooks a plain to the south with hills behind it to the north.[3] A tributary of the Rio Minho runs parallel to the main road, helping to keep the atmosphere cool.[3]
History
Porus was founded 1840 by the missionary James Phillipo as a free village for ex-slaves following emancipation.[3] It was his sixth such village.[3] It was originally called Vale Lionel after the then Governor of Jamaica, Sir Lionel Smith,[3] but was soon renamed "Porus" most probably after the porous soil in the vicinity.[3]
In its early days its population was very small although it boasted a large coffee market.[3] It is now a thriving community of predominantly small farmers and artisans.[3]
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.[4]
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.[5]
Public amenities
There are two schools, churches, a post office, a police station, a comprehensive health clinic, and various small retail outlets.[4][3]
See also
External links
- Aerial view.
- Photos: Fruit stall Downtown Bar Fruit stall Fruit stall Police station Community centre Methodist church United church School Station Train []
References
- ^ FallingRain map and data.
- ^ World Gazetteer, Jamaica: Largest cities and towns with statistics of their population
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Dewar, Rose (2003-03-21). "The story of Porus Manchester". Kingston, Jamaica: Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
- ^ a b UK Directorate of Overseas Surveys 1:50,000 map of Jamaica Sheet G, 1973.
- ^ Aerial view of the station.
