Portmore, located approximately 24 km from Jamaica’s capital, Kingston, is a major urban settlement in St. Catherine. It consists of northern plains and the limestone hills of Hellshire to the south. Portmore’s boundaries stretch from Passage Fort Drive in the north to Port Henderson Road in the south. Its history is marked by various groups and events that have shaped its development
Early History and Spanish Occupation
Portmore’s history dates back to 900 AD when the Tainos were its first known inhabitants. Evidence of their presence has been found at Port Henderson Hill, Hellshire, and Naggo Head. With Spanish colonization in 1494, the Tainos were decimated. When the Spanish capital moved to Spanish Town, Passage Fort became an important port. The Spanish built haciendas in Port Henderson and Hellshire, leaving remnants of their occupation.
Passage Fort and Attacks
Passage Fort served as a vital port, though its shallow waters limited its capacity for large ships. It was a crucial link for communication and trade but faced frequent attacks from European rivals. In 1597, English adventurer Sir Anthony Shirley attacked Spanish Town via Passage Fort, looting and burning the city. Christopher Newport attempted another attack but was repelled by Spanish defenses.
English Rule and Development
In 1655, the English successfully invaded Jamaica, landing at Passage Fort and ending Spanish rule. The English distributed land and established agricultural properties, with Portmore hosting numerous pens such as Reid’s Pen, Salt Pond Pen, and Cumberland Pen, primarily used for supplying goods to larger estates.
Port Henderson’s Emergence
After the 1692 Port Royal earthquake, Passage Fort’s importance declined due to silting from the Rio Cobre. By the mid-1700s, a new port, New Brighton (later Port Henderson), was established. Named after Colonel John Henderson, the port had deeper waters, making it more suitable for trade. Henderson developed warehouses and a spa-like mineral spring, which briefly flourished as a tourist attraction before drying up. By the 1770s, Port Henderson became a key military defense site, housing Fort Augusta and Fort Clarence. Despite fluctuations in significance, it remained essential into the 19th century, later serving as a banana export hub.
Agriculture and the Banana Industry
By the 1880s, banana exports from Port Henderson were booming. Irrigation projects transformed the region’s dry plains, leading to large-scale banana cultivation. The United Fruit Company invested heavily, acquiring lands, including Portmore Pen, to expand production. By the early 20th century, Port Henderson had become a major banana pier, helping drive economic growth.
Modern Portmore’s Development
Most of modern Portmore was built on Portmore Pen, originally known as Salt Pond Pen and later renamed by the Dawkins family in honor of the Earl of Portmore. In the early 20th century, Colonel Dawkins sold the property to the United Fruit Company, but large portions remained undeveloped. Eventually, the Caymanas Estates acquired the land before selling it to the Portmore Land Development Company, which aimed to establish a housing community.
With Kingston’s limited space for expansion, Portmore became a solution for housing shortages. A dyke was constructed to contain the Rio Cobre, and a causeway was built to connect Portmore to Kingston. The land was filled using materials dredged from the harbor and marl from Port Henderson Hills, enabling large-scale development.
Housing Developments and Population Growth
In 1969, the first housing scheme, Independent City, was developed by West Indies Home Contractors (WIHCON), consisting of 1,000–1,200 homes. Subsequent developments included Edgewater Villas, Bridgeport (Phase 1 in 1972, Phase 2 in 1974), Passage Fort (1974), and Waterford (1975). More communities emerged, including Portsmouth and Southborough in the late 1970s.
Portmore’s population surged with development. From fewer than 2,000 residents in the 1960s, the population grew to 5,000 by 1970 and 77,000 by the 1980s. New schemes such as Cumberland and Westchester contributed to this expansion, and by the 1990s, the population reached 93,838. The construction of Greater Portmore in the mid-1990s nearly doubled the population to approximately 160,000. Alongside residential developments, infrastructure such as schools, churches, and commercial centers emerged.
Recognizing its rapid growth, Portmore gained municipal status in 2003, allowing for local governance, including the election of a mayor. Today, Portmore is the largest residential community in the Caribbean, with a population exceeding 200,000.
Notable Landmarks
Fort Augusta – Built in the 1740s and named after King George III’s mother, Fort Augusta played a key defensive role. It later became a women’s prison, the only one of its kind in Jamaica.
Fort Clarence – Constructed in 1782 to protect the bay between Port Henderson and Hellshire Hills, named in honor of Prince William, Duke of Clarence.
Two Sisters Cave – Located in Hellshire Hills, these caves contain fresh water sinkholes and a petroglyph carving believed to be around 700 years old.
Rodney’s Lookout – A military signaling station built by Admiral George Rodney between 1780 and 1782 atop Port Henderson Hills.
Conclusion
Portmore’s transformation from Taino settlements, Spanish and English occupation, to agricultural and residential development reflects a rich historical journey. With a growing population and ongoing expansion, Portmore remains a dynamic and significant urban center in Jamaica.
Sources
Cundall, Frank. Historic Jamaica. 1915.
Jamaica Information Service. St. Catherine: A Series of Parish Profiles. 1991.
Jamaica National Heritage Trust. St. Catherine Heritage Sites.
National Library of Jamaica. Historical Notes Collection: St. Catherine – Portmore.
Reid, Kennedy. The Story of Portmore: An Illustrated History of Jamaica’s Sunshine City. 2010.