Mandeville, Jamaica has been a favorite destination for returning residents and expats for years. The city is popular with PeaceCorp volunteers and tourists due to its low crime rate, business-friendly environment, and first-class services.

Mandeville was founded in 1814 and is named after Lord Mandeville, the son of a former Governor of Jamaica. Some of the original buildings still stand today, such as the parish church, the town square, and the courthouse. The city is the capital of the Manchester parish and is the fifth largest urban center in Jamaica. Mandeville’s altitude is over 2000 feet and the city has a nearly temperate climate which is one of the attractions that has drawn visitors to the city since the days of sugar plantations.

Once compared to an English town, Mandeville has transformed over the years into an American-style town with numerous fast-food franchises, first-class services, and an orderly public system. Mandeville has numerous upscale suburbs and housing is in high demand, making lodging expensive. Apartments are quickly sold or rented as soon as they hit the market.

It is worth mentioning that Mandeville is the pioneer of community tourism in Jamaica. The concept is popular with tourists who prefer an alternative to all-inclusive sun and beach tourism. Visitors pay to stay with the locals where they are provided with food, lodging, tours, and souvenirs.

There are three universities in Jamaica and Mandeville is home to Northern Caribbean University, the only one located outside of the capital, Kingston. Its programs have attracted thousands of students both locally and internationally, leading some to call for Mandeville to be designated a college town.

Mandeville is the economic capital of Central Jamaica and many prominent companies, banks and government institutions are based in the city. It owes its economic progress to the bauxite industry which began with the opening of Jamaica’s first bauxite plant in nearby Kirkvine in 1952. The success of the industry allowed Mandeville to develop rapidly in the 1960s and 1970s.

Mandeville, Jamaica, has the distinction of being one of the first urban centers in the Caribbean to have a comprehensive electronic surveillance system. An initiative between the business community and the government, the system has contributed to the maintenance of public order and the reduction of criminal activities in the city. A reserve army base is located on the perimeter of the city and there is also a regional police headquarters in the heart of the city.

The development of modern highways has reduced travel time to Kingston and Montego Bay, Jamaica’s two main cities. Mandeville has been plagued with water problems for years due to its elevation making it difficult to pump water. This has been a matter of concern for developers when they are planning large housing developments.

© Nicholas Dixon