In 1872 the actual capital of the island-state of Jamaica became the city of Kingston (Kingston). It is located on the shore of the eponymous harbor, separated from the Caribbean by a narrow sandy palisade Palisadoes. Despite such an advantageous geographical position, the city did not immediately emerge on this site. Once the main outlet of Jamaica was Port Royal, located closer to the edge of the harbor. But at the end of the 17th century, the city was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake and fires.

After these cataclysms the survivors moved to Kingston, there from the middle of the 18th century all kinds of state services began to move from the official capital of the country, Spanish Town. The process of transferring the main city of the state was delayed until 1872. But officially the status of Kingston's capital was confirmed in 1962 when Jamaica gained independence