Parishes of Barbados

The country of Barbados is currently subdivided into administrative sub-regions known as parishes. The areas are called "parishes" because of the island's religious Anglican history. The differing size and shape of each parish were primarily influenced by the mega plantation estates of cotton, sugar cane and tobacco that existed during the colonial years of Barbados.

By 1629, the English settlers after landing at James Town formed six original parishes on the island which were [cite web | title = The Barbados Parliamentndash Parliament History | publisher = Barbados Parliament website | url = http://www.barbadosparliament.com/history.php | accessdate =2007-05-01] :
*Christ Church,
*Saint James,
*Saint Lucy,
*Saint Michael,
*Saint Peter and
*Saint Thomas.

In 1645, the land holding of Barbados increased and the shape of the original six were reconfigured giving way to an additional five parishes [cite web | title = The Barbados Parliamentndash Parliament History | publisher = Barbados Parliament website | url = http://www.barbadosparliament.com/history.php | accessdate =2007-05-01] :
*Saint Andrew,
*Saint George,
*Saint John,
*Saint Joseph and
*Saint Philip.

Thus Barbados was converted into the current eleven parishes of today. As was common under the British system, each Parish had a single main parishional church or cathedral that acted as a sort of capital for each parish. Additionally, these areas held their own Local Government Councils until these councils were abolished in 1967.

Today

The nation's capital Bridgetown, which is located within the parish of Saint Michael, may one day be made into its own district. Within the country, travel is unrestricted to everyone in moving about from parish-to-parish. With the rise of urban sprawl and new construction projects across the country many neighbourhoods and even parishional border-lines today are ill defined. St. James was first named James Town after King James when they first discovered the island. They landed in that parish by the Cheffette.The eleven parishes are:
#Christ Church
#Saint Andrew
#Saint George
#Saint James
#Saint John
#Saint Joseph
#Saint Lucy
#Saint Michael
#Saint Peter
#Saint Philip
#Saint Thomas

For further information on the places of interest within each parish, see [http://www.accessbarbados.com/barbados_parishes.php accessbarbados.com]

References

ee also

* Civil parish
* Geography of Barbados
* History of Barbados
* Transportation in Barbados:* Barbadian vehicle registration plates
* List of cities in Barbados

External links

* [http://www.totallybarbados.com/barbados/About_Barbados/Local_Information/Barbados_Parishes Barbados Parishes]
* [http://empoweringcommunities.com.bb/ The Barbados Community Councils] - The Government sponsored Councils for each constituency in Barbados
* [http://www.barstats.gov.bb/ Barbados Statistical Service] (BSS)