Mobay, as this city is affectionately called, is the second largest city in Jamaica and the second largest anglophone city in the Caribbean. The city’s history traces back to pre-Colombian days when the Tainos referred to the bay as ‘El Golfo de Buen Tiempo’, or Fair Weather Bay. When the Spaniards conquered the Tainos, they started to refer to the now Montego Bay as ‘Bahia de Mantega’ because the port was used for large-scale exportations of pig’s lard.
The parish of St. James was established in 1655 after Britain’s conquest of the Spanish, but Montego Bay remained a small town until it underwent significant growth in 1720, when Captain Jonathan Barrett subdivided portions of his sugarcane field and created Charles Town and Barnett Town.
The town’s expansion increased exponentially, and its waterfront was significantly developed to promote the active trading that was taking place in the city. Montego Bay is now a fully developed and operational tourist resort center, stretching 20 miles along the coast. Its waterfront activities have expanded, and the city now encompasses a port and an international airport (the largest in the English-speaking Caribbean). The airport was constructed after World War II, and Mobay has since become a mecca for tourists. In 1980, Montego Bay was re-proclaimed a city by the act of parliament.
The city has attracted billions in investment in recent years, including Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)/call centre operations, hotel construction and expansions, housing development projects, construction of a world-class health facility, development and expansion of the Sangster International Airport, and upgrades to roads and bridges. Montego Bay has a rich history, etched into its development and push as a fast-growing municipality with major investments and businesses.
References:
Montego Bay Cultural Centre 