Kingston (pop. 89,057; met. area pop. 584,627) is the capital and chief port of Jamaica, an island nation in the Caribbean Sea. It lies on the southeastern coast of Jamaica, at the northern end of a nearly landlocked harbor. Kingston serves as the cultural, commercial, and industrial heart of Jamaica. Principal industries include food processing, oil refining, and the production of cement and other building materials. Tourism is also an important source of income for the city.
Kingston was founded in 1693, after an earthquake destroyed the city of Port Royal. Kingston replaced Port Royal as the center of Jamaican business. In the mid-1700’s, the British rulers of Jamaica declared Kingston a free port, a place where ships of other countries could trade. The British West Indies had few such ports. Kingston became the capital of Jamaica in 1872.
Kingston has suffered many disasters, including hurricanes in 1880, 1951, 1980, and 1988; a fire in 1882; and an earthquake in 1907. Much of the city has been rebuilt over time. Today, the sprawling Kingston metropolitan region covers an area larger than many Caribbean islands.
See also Caribbean Islands ; Jamaica .
