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World > North America > Jamaica
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Jamaica |
Introduction:
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The island - discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1494 - was settled by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The native Taino Indians, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually exterminated, replaced by African slaves. England seized the island in 1655 and a plantation economy - based on sugar, cocoa, and coffee - was established. The abolition of slavery in 1834 freed a quarter million slaves, many of whom became small farmers. Jamaica gradually obtained increasing independence from Britain, and in 1958 it joined other British Caribbean colonies in forming the Federation of the West Indies. Jamaica gained full independence when it withdrew from the Federation in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent violence as rival gangs affiliated with the major political parties evolved into powerful organized crime networks involved in international drug smuggling and money laundering. The cycle of violence, drugs, and poverty has served to impoverish large sectors of the populace. Nonetheless, many rural and resort areas remain relatively safe and contribute substantially to the economy.
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| Official name: |
Jamaica |
| Capital: |
name: Kingston
geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 76 48 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Government type: |
constitutional parliamentary democracy |
| Population: |
2,780,132 (July 2007 est.) |
| Languages: |
English, English patois |
| Official Currency: |
Jamaican Dollar (JMD)
Current Jamaican Dollar Exchange Rates
Historical Jamaican Dollar Exchange Rates
Chart Jamaican Dollar Exchange Rates |
| Currency code: |
JMD |
| Area: |
total: 10,991 sq km
land: 10,831 sq km
water: 160 sq km |
| Climate: |
tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior |
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Map of Jamaica
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