(Redirected from US Virgin Islands)
The 'United States Virgin Islands' are a group of
islands in the
Caribbean that are an
insular area of the
United States. The islands are geographically part of the
Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the
Leeward Islands of the
Lesser Antilles.
The U.S. Virgin Islands consist of the main islands of
Saint Croix,
Saint John and
Saint Thomas, along with the much smaller but historically distinct
Water Island, and many other surrounding
minor islands. The total land area of the territory is 346.36 km² (133.73 sq mi). As of the
2000 census the population was 108,612.
[1]
In
Denmark, the U.S. Virgin Islands are referred to as the 'Danish West Indian Islands' (''De dansk-vestindiske øer''); see
Danish West Indies. Three of the main islands have nicknames often used by locals: "Rock City" (St. Thomas), "Love City" (St. John), and "Twin City" (St. Croix).
History
Main articles: History of the United States Virgin Islands
The
Virgin Islands were originally settled by the
Ciboney,
Carib, and
Arawaks. The islands were named by
Christopher Columbus on his second voyage in
1493 for
Saint Ursula and her virgin followers. Over the next three hundred years, the islands were held by many
European powers, including
Spain,
Britain, the
Netherlands,
France, and
Denmark.
The
Danish West India Company settled on
Saint Thomas in
1672, on
Saint John in
1694, and purchased
Saint Croix from
France in
1733. The islands became royal Danish colonies in
1754, their name translating to ''Jomfruøerne'' in Danish.
Sugarcane, produced by
slave labor, drove the islands'
economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries, until the
abolition of slavery by Governor
Peter von Scholten on
July 3,
1848.
For the remainder of the period of Danish rule, the islands were not economically viable and significant transfers were made from the Danish state budgets to the authorities in the islands. In 1867 a treaty to sell Saint Thomas and Saint John to the United States was agreed, but the sale was never effected.
[2] A number of reforms aimed at reviving the islands' economy were attempted, but none had great success. A second draft treaty to sell the islands to the United States was negotiated in 1902, but was narrowly defeated in the Danish parliament.
The onset of
World War I brought the reforms to a close, and again left the islands isolated and exposed. During the
submarine warfare phases of the First World War, the
United States, fearing that the islands might be seized by
Germany as a submarine base, again approached
Denmark with a view to buying them. After a few months of negotiations, a selling price of $25 million was agreed. The Danish
Crown may have felt some pressure to accept the sale, thinking that the
United States would seize the islands if Denmark was invaded by Germany. At the same time the economics of continued possession weighed heavily on the minds of Danish decision makers, and a bipartisan consensus in favor of selling emerged in the Danish parliament. A
subsequent referendum held in late
1916 confirmed the decision to sell by a wide margin. The deal was thus finalized on
January 17,
1917, when the United States and Denmark exchanged their respective treaty ratifications. The U.S. took
possession of the islands on
March 31,
1917 and the territory was renamed the Virgin Islands of the United States.
U.S.
citizenship was granted to the inhabitants of the islands in
1927.
Water Island, a small island to the south of Saint Thomas, was not included in the original sale. It remained in the possession of the Danish West India Company until 1944, when it too was bought by the USA for $10,000.
[3] It was initially administered by the U.S. Federal government and did not become a part of the U.S. Virgin Islands territory until 1996, when 50 acres of land was transferred to the territorial government. The remaining 200 acres of the island were purchased from the US Department of the Interior in May 2005 for $10, a transaction which marked the official change in jurisdiction.
[4]
Geography
Map of the U.S. Virgin Islands
The U.S. Virgin Islands are located in the
Caribbean Sea and the
Atlantic Ocean, about 50 miles east of
Puerto Rico. The territory consists of four main islands:
Saint Thomas,
Saint John,
Saint Croix, and
Water Island, as well as several dozen smaller islands. The combined land area of the islands is roughly twice the size of
Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Virgin Islands are known for their white sand
beaches, including
Magens Bay and
Trunk Bay, and strategic harbors, including
Charlotte Amalie and
Christiansted. Most of the islands, including Saint Thomas, are volcanic in origin and hilly. The highest point is
Crown Mountain, Saint Thomas (474m). Saint Croix, the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, lies to the south and has a flatter terrain. The
National Park Service owns more than half of Saint John, nearly all of
Hassel Island, and many acres of
coral reef. (''See also''
Virgin Islands National Park,
Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument,
Buck Island Reef National Monument,
Christiansted National Historic Site, and
Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve.)
The Virgin Islands lie on the boundary of the
North American plate and the
Caribbean Plate. Natural hazards include
earthquakes,
tropical cyclones, and
tsunamis.
Politics
Main articles: Politics of the United States Virgin Islands
The U.S. Virgin Islands are an organized, unincorporated
territory of the United States. Even though they are U.S. citizens, Virgin Island residents cannot vote in
U.S. presidential elections (although, being citizens, this franchise is extended to them should they become residents of one of the fifty states.)
The main political parties in the U.S. Virgin Islands are the
Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands, the
Independent Citizens Movement (ICM), and the
Republican Party of the Virgin Islands. Additional candidates run as independents.
At the national level, the U.S. Virgin Islands elects a
delegate to Congress from its at large . However, the elected delegate, while able to vote in committee, cannot participate in floor votes. The current House of Representatives delegate is
Donna Christensen (D).
At the territorial level, fifteen
senators—seven from the district of Saint Croix, seven from the district of Saint Thomas and Saint John, and one senator at-large who must be a resident of Saint John—are elected for two-year terms to the
unicameral Virgin Islands Legislature.
The U.S. Virgin Islands has elected a
territorial governor every four years since
1970. Previous governors were appointed by the President of the United States.
The U.S. Virgin Islands has a District Court, Supreme Court and Superior Court. The District Court is responsible for federal law, while the Superior Court is responsible for Virgin Islands law at the trial level and the Supreme Court is responsible for appeals from the Superior Court for all appeals filed on or after January 29, 2007. Appeals filed prior to that date are heard by the Appellate Division of the District Court. Judges are appointed by the President and the governor respectively.
The United States Congress has organized several local referendums to aid in the self-determination. As with
Puerto Rico, the residents have been given the choice of independence, status quo, or statehood; however, these measures have failed to attract sufficient civic interest or voter turn-out to produce even a noteworthy plurality, much less a majority, and thus the islands will retain their current territorial status for the foreseeable future. It is theorized that Puerto Rican requests for political self-determination might serve as a catalyst for political interest in the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as in other American territories.
With much controversy, these efforts by the federal government to normalize the unincorporated territory's status are completely discounted by the
United Nations Committee on Decolonization, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are currently in the
United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.
Economy
Main articles: Economy of the United States Virgin Islands
Tourism is the primary economic activity. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year, many of whom visit on
cruise ships. Public access to beaches is considered a civil right. (Public access over land, however, is not.)
The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textile, electronics,
rum distilling, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly plants. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy.
Hovensa, one of the world's largest
petroleum refineries, is located on
Saint Croix.
The U.S. Virgin Islands are permanently on Atlantic Standard Time and do not participate in
Daylight Saving Time. When the U.S. is on Standard Time, the U.S. Virgin Islands are one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time. When the U.S. is on Daylight Saving Time, Eastern Daylight Time is the same as Atlantic Standard Time.
The islands are subject to tropical storms and
hurricanes. In recent history, substantial damage was caused by
Hurricane Hugo in
1989 and
Hurricane Marilyn in
1995. The islands were also struck by
Hurricane Bertha in
1996,
Hurricane Georges in
1998 and
Hurricane Lenny in
1999, but damage was not as severe in those hurricanes.
The U.S. Virgin Islands is the only part of the United States where traffic
drives on the left, though almost all vehicles are left hand drive (as they are imported from the United States). See
Right Hand Driving: Caribbean.
In the context of
global warming, the Virgin Islands are by far the worst emitter of
carbon dioxide per capita (see
List of countries by carbon dioxide emissions per capita).
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 108,612 people, 40,648 households, and 26,636 families residing in the territory. The racial makeup of the territory was 76.19% Black or African Descent, 13.09% White, 7.23% from other races, and 3.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.99% of the population.
There were 40,648 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.2% were married couples living together, 24.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.34.
In the territory the population was spread out with 31.6% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males. The annual population growth is -0.12%.
The median income for a household in the territory was $24,704, and the median income for a family was $28,553. Males had a median income of $28,309 versus $22,601 for females. The per capita income for the territory was $13,139. About 28.7% of families and 32.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.7% of those under age 18 and 29.8% of those age 65 or over.
Districts and sub-districts
Main articles: Districts and sub-districts of the United States Virgin Islands
Districts and Sub-districts of the U.S. Virgin Islands
The U.S.
Virgin Islands are administratively divided into two
districts and subdivided into 20
sub-districts.
The
districts are:
★
St. Croix
★
St. Thomas/
St. John/
Water Island
The fourth U.S. Virgin Island is
Water Island, formerly a district of St. Thomas.
See also
★
Communications in the United States Virgin Islands
★
Demographics of the United States Virgin Islands
★
Government of the United States Virgin Islands
★
Transportation in the United States Virgin Islands
★
Music of the Virgin Islands
★
Virgin Islands Creole
★
List of United States Virgin Islands Governors
★
United States Congressional Delegations from U.S. Virgin Islands
★
List of United States Virgin Islands highways
★
Scouting in the United States Virgin Islands
★
Danish colonization of the Americas
★
Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport
★
Cyril E. King Airport
★
List of Reggae Bands from the Virgin Islands
★
United States Virgin Islands Police Department
★
University of the Virgin Islands
★
British Virgin Islands
References
★
Virgin Islands of the United States, United States Census Bureau
1. 2000 Population Counts for the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. Census Bureau.
2. A Brief History of the Danish West Indies, 1666-1917, Danish National Archives
3. Anderson, David G. Archaeology in the Caribbean: The Water Island Archaeological Project. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Archaeological Conference, Greenville, S.C., 12 November 1998. Online publication by National Park Service, US Dep of the Interior. Retrieved 6 September 2007.
4. Poinski, Megan. "Water Island appears frozen in time, but big plans run under the surface - V.I. says land acquired from the feds is about to undergo large-scale improvements". The Virgin Islands Daily News, 18 November 2005, online edition. Retrieved 6 September 2007.
External links
Official sites
★
Convention between the United States and Denmark for cession of the Danish West Indies - Document signed in New York, August 4, 1916
★
US Virgin Islands - Official site for United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism
★
Transfer Day - Denmark's consulate in the U.S. Virgin Islands
★
Virgin Islands - The World Factbook, CIA Publications
★
"Scholten and the emancipation of Danish Slaves in the Danish West Indies"
★
USVI Governor's Website - Governor John P. deJongh's Website
★
USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Virgin Islands
News and media
★
The Virgin Islands Daily News - Daily newspaper in St. Thomas
★
St. Croix Source - Daily online news source from St. Croix
★
St. John Tradewinds - Weekly newspaper in St. John
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