Currently, there are over 2.8 million individuals living in Jamaica. The island used to be inhabited only by a few families. Some say that there were a few thousand residents years before the island was discovered by Christopher Columbus. The earliest dwellers were allegedly the Taino and Arawak groups, who settled in the island between 4000 B.C. and 1000 B.C. Columbus landed on Jamaica in 1494 when he explored the West for the second time. When he reached the island, Columbus and his men were welcomed by the Tainos and Arawaks. However, the two groups are no longer present in many parts of the island. At present, majority of the people living in Jamaica is African. The Europeans were actually the ones who shipped Africans to the island for slavery purposes. Some of them ran away and proceeded to hide and survive in the hills. These people were never found again and are known as the Maroons. Later on, the Maroons developed into a thriving group and created traditions that are still practiced until today. After Africans, most of the people living in Jamaica come from various races, such as Indian or Chinese.
The Europeans like the English, Germans, Spanish, Irish and Scottish are also present in Jamaica. Other races like the Lebanese, Syrians, Scots and Jews are also present on the island. The look and language may differ but these individuals claim that they are indeed Jamaican when asked. The motto of the country states, “Out of many, one people”.