As of February 12, 2025, Buff Bay remains a coastal town in western Portland Parish, Jamaica, bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Charles Town and Belvedere to the south, Orange Bay to the east, and Windsor Castle to the west. The town includes districts such as Buff Bay Proper, Craig Mill, Mount Vernon, Kildare, White River, and Diamond Ridge.
Historical Background
Buff Bay has a rich history dating back to the Spanish colonial era, when the area was home to indigenous Taíno settlements. Following the British conquest of Jamaica in 1655, Buff Bay became an important center for sugar plantations and coffee cultivation, with enslaved Africans providing much of the labor. By the 18th and 19th centuries, the town was a key player in Jamaica’s plantation economy, benefiting from its proximity to the Caribbean Sea, which facilitated trade and export.
Following the abolition of slavery in 1838, many formerly enslaved individuals established free villages in and around Buff Bay, contrib…
