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2011 Census of Population & Housing - Jamaica
viii
Table (v) presents the population changes of these centres between 1991 and 2001 and
2001 and 2011. Portmore the largest of the group which in 2011 accounted for one third
of the parish of St Catherine increased by 61 per cent between 1991 and 2001 while the
increase between 2001 and 2011 was less than 20 percent; 14 per cent. Portmore is one of
those areas which has undergone boundary changes as the previously named special
area of Hellshire has been reclassified urban and now included as a part of Portmore.
The table also shows that the 89 per cent increase in the population of Ocho Rios
between 1991 and 2001 was reduced considerably to only 5 per cent between 2001 and
2011. Santa Cruz actually saw a decline of 3 per cent compared to the 32 per cent
increase in the earlier period. The slowing of growth was not as marked for Old
Harbour which saw a rise of 18 per cent compared to 21 per cent between 2001 and 2011
and 1991-2001 respectively. There were declines in every other centre. Bog Walk which
saw an increase of 24 per cent in population size between 1991 and 2001 declined by 19
per cent between 2001 and 2011, almost reversing the gains of the earlier period.
Between 1991 and 2001, Ewarton and Linstead increased by 19 per cent and 7 per cent
respectively. Between 2001 and 2011, the declines were 11 per cent and 3 per cent
respectively.
Table (v) Population Changes for specified Urban Centres: 1991-2011
Urban Centre
Percentage change in
Population 2001-2011
Percentage change in
Population 1991-2001
Portmore
14.10
61.27
Old Harbour
17.60
19.51
Linstead
-2.82
7.04
Bog Walk
-19.19
23.58
Ewarton
-10.81
18.80
Ocho Rios
5.41
89.42
Santa Cruz
-3.47
31.70
The 2011 data show that a number of other towns have seen considerable growth.
Spalding on the border of Manchester and Clarendon, Runaway Bay in St Ann, Negril
on the border of Hanover and Westmoreland and Duncans in Trelawny are the main
ones, both having undergone boundary changes to include adjoining areas of growth,
previously classified as rural. The population of Spalding increased by approximately
36 percent from 3,225 to 4,373 while the increase for Runaway Bay was by 32 per cent,
from 5,840 to 8,640. The population of Negril moved up by 26 per cent from 5,854 in
2001 to 7,832 in 2011. It should be noted that all the growth occurred in the parish of
Westmoreland as the small area in Hanover actually declined. For Duncans the change
was by 21 per cent from 2,132 to 2,686 between 2001 and 2011. It is of interest that while
Duncans saw increases, Clark’s Town declined.