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What was Jamaica’s first permanent European settlement?
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Jamaica’s first permanent European settlement was Sevilla la Nueva (New Seville), founded on the island's north coast in 1509 by Juan de Esquivel.12
While the Spanish later moved their capital to the south coast in 1534—establishing Villa de la Vega, which later became known as Spanish Town—Sevilla la Nueva holds the distinction of being the initial site of permanent European habitation on the island.312