Brown's Town is one of the principal towns in St. Ann Parish, Jamaica. In 1991, its population was 6,762. The town is a market and road center in an agricultural region. The town is about 12.87 km (8 mi) from the island's north coast.

One notable region is called Tobolski, which was once the site of bauxite mining.

History

The town was founded by Hamilton Brown (died 1843) who is buried in the local Anglican church. He owned much of the land in the area including Minard Estate. Surrounding estates were Huntley, New Hope, Orange Valley, Belleair, and Retreat.

Brown's Town became significant as a market centre in the mid-19th century following the abolition of slavery. Several free villages had been established around the town including Aberdeen, Buxton, Egypt, Goshen, Liberty Valley, Sturge Town, and Trysee. The market provided an outlet for the villagers' produce, which attracted buyers from other areas of the island. The influx of customers to the Friday and Saturday markets led to expansive commercial development. The Grand Market held on Christmas Eve was particularly well-supported. Missing notable historical content 1660_1818

Dr James Johnston who had been born in Scotland in 1851 arrived in Jamaica in 1874. He started his Jamaican Evangelical Mission in 1876. Johnston created nine churches but the base of his medical mission and his religious assemblies were in Brown's Town. Johnston became the political representative for St Ann's Parish before he left to explore Africa. In the 1890s he took a team of Afro-Caribbean Jamaicans to England where they were equipped themselves to complete a 20-month journey of 4,500 miles through south central Africa. Their journey was photographed and described by a book published in 1893. Many of the photographs became postcards which have since become collector's items.

Education, health, and recreation

Brown's Town is considered the educational capital of St. Ann.

  • Donald J. Harris, economist and father of former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris

References

  • Aerial view.