Originally named "Puerto Santa Maria", it was the second town established by Spanish settlers in Jamaica.

Jamaica's first Prime minister Alexander Bustamante was put on trial for manslaughter with Frank Pixley at the courthouse in 1947.

[5] The Jamaica Heritage trail has Fort Haldane, The St. Mary Courthouse and Claude Stuart Park with marked signage.

Jamaica's first Prime minister Alexander Bustamante was tried in 1947 for manslaughter with Frank Pixley at the courthouse.

[3] After a fire gutted the building in 1988, it was rebuilt maintaining the original style and reopened as the Port Maria Civic Centre in 2000.