Taino/Arawak settlement in the parish was substantiated when in 1792, a surveyor found three carvings, believed to be Amerindian Zemi, in a cave in the Carpenter's Mountains.

The amalgamation was done in response to a petition from the inhabitants of Mile Gully, May Pen and Carpenters Mountain who complained that they were too far away from an administrative centre.

Mandeville continues to grow rapidly due to it being considered one of the most attractive towns in Jamaica and the cleanest of them all.

[citation needed] Over 90% of the parish's surface is limestone so there is an abundance of cockpits, sinkholes, caves and underground passages.

[5] Manchester also has large bauxite deposits, with parts of the parish having been strip-mined as a result, notably in William's Field, Hope, and Blue Mountain.

The town is noted for its climate, and temperatures range from a low of 12.7 °C (55 °F) in December and January, to a high of 33 °C (91 °F) in July and August.

Bananas, coffee and pimento, annatto, ginger are grown, and the parish is noted for its citrus; oranges, ortaniques and grapefruit, much of which are exported.

Irish potato is grown considerably in the Christiana area and it is the centre of a large banana and ginger-growing district.

Alcan, a large world-renowned Canadian company, had a strong presence in the town and was one of the main employers.

It is still in operation in Nain St Elizabeth parish; however, it is now jointly owned by UC Rusal of Russia and Hydro Aluminum of Norway.

The parish created the Manchester Local Sustainable Development Plan in 2007 to improve the community over the next 20 years.

[6] Roxborough Estate is the birthplace of Jamaican National Hero and its first premier, Norman Washington Manley.