Yallahs

Yallahs is a town on the southeastern coast of Jamaica in the parish of St Thomas, home to 10,274 residents. The city, which was documented as “Yealoth” in a 1662 census, may have derived its name from Captain Yallahs, a privateer from 1671, or vice versa. Another theory suggests that the name Yallahs could have originated from the Spanish word ‘yalos’, meaning ‘frost’, as the high white cliffs in the area might give the impression of frost.

In 1822, Yallahs was chosen as the site for the first Baptist church in Jamaica. Despite initial setbacks, Rev. Joshua Tinson established both a church and a school in 1828. The Yallahs River, a vital source of fresh water for the neighboring City of Kingston and Saint Andrew Parish, supplies residents via the Yallahs Pipeline. The city, which hosts a variety of Christian denominations, also contributes to the mining industry through gravel extraction along the Yallahs River bank. The St. Thomas Parish Council, located in the parish’s capital town, Morant Bay, governs the town.