About one-fifth of the total land area is farmland, most of it on St. Croix. The plant had been one of the world’s largest such facilities and had produced most of the islands’ fuel supply. After the closure of the refinery, exports contracted sharply, although losses were later offset by growth in the tourist sector. If you’ve ever shipped to a US territory, you know how difficult the process can be. Full- and low-power television stations are split between St. Thomas and St. Croix. Corrections? [6][better source needed] During the 17th–18th centuries, a sizable Jewish community also began to settle on the islands. US Virgin Islands Travel Trends and Updates. The United States Virgin Islands enjoy a tropical climate, with little seasonal change throughout the year. Tourism and related categories are the primary economic activities. The U.S. Virgin Islands constitute an unincorporated organized territory of the United States of America between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico.It was formerly known as the Danish West Indies.Together with the British Virgin Islands, to the northeast, the territory forms the Virgin Islands archipelago.The islands' natural resources are sun, sand, sea, and surf. Their total area is 59 square miles, and they lie to the north and east of the U.S. islands. Due to the location, the islands are prone to damage from hurricanes and storms. The U.S. Virgin Islands are located in the Atlantic Standard Time zone and do not participate in daylight saving time. The U.S. Virgin Islands are an unincorporated territory of the United States, meaning that only select parts of the U.S. Constitution apply to its residents. [96] Even during Danish ownership, Dutch, another Germanic language like Danish, was more common, at least during some of those 245 years, specifically on St. Thomas and St. John, where the majority of the European settlers are Dutch. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The British Virgin Islands and the other two U.S. Virgin Islands, St. John and St. Thomas, were far enough northeast to avoid the worst from Maria, but were still massively impacted, with great destruction everywhere. Tourism, based on the pleasant tropical climate, attractive scenery, good fishing, proximity to the U.S. mainland, and free-port status, dominates the economy. In the late 20th century agricultural production underwent a transition from the traditional reliance on sugarcane to more-diversified crops. The U.S. Virgin Islands consists of the main islands of Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas, and 50 other surrounding minor islands and cays. [8] Instead of allowing themselves to be recaptured, more than a dozen of the ringleaders shot themselves before the French forces could capture them. U.S. citizens thus do not have to clear customs when arriving in the U.S. Virgin Islands, but do when traveling to the mainland. Although the U.S. Virgin Islands was a Danish possession during most of its colonial history, Danish never was a spoken language among the populace, black or non-Danish white, as the majority of plantation and slave owners were of Dutch, English, Scottish, Irish, or Spanish descent. The infant mortality rate is relatively low for the region, and life expectancy—in years, in the mid-70s for males and the low 80s for females—is about average. It is estimated that by 1775, slaves outnumbered the Danish settlers by a ratio of 8:1. What are the islands of the Maldives made of? Formerly the Danish West Indies, the U.S. Virgin Islands became a United States territory in 1917, when the islands were transferred from Denmark for $25 million. It alleged that racial discrimination present in an all-white and segregated U.S. Congress of 1917 was the impetus to deny the right to vote to a majority non-white constituency. United States Virgin Islands, also called U.S. Virgin Islands, organized unincorporated island territory of the United States, situated at the eastern end of the Greater Antilles, about 40 miles (64 km) east of Puerto Rico, in the northeastern Caribbean Sea. The current House of Representatives delegate is Stacey Plaskett, a Democrat. A 1993 referendum on status attracted only 31.4% turnout, and so its results (in favor of the status quo) were considered void. [97], Virgin Islands Creole English, an English-based creole locally known as "dialect", is spoken in informal situations. In regional Caribbean competitions, Virgin Islanders compete in List A and first-class cricket as part of the Leeward Islands cricket team. Reef Bay, Virgin Islands National Park, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, West Indies. The territory is classified by the United Nations as a non-self-governing territory. [27] Even stronger winds likely occurred somewhere across the island's west end. Omissions? Virgin Islands, group of about 100 small islands, West Indies West Indies, archipelago, between North and South America, curving c.2,500 mi (4,020 km) from Florida to the coast of Venezuela and separating the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico from the Atlantic Ocean. Additional candidates run as independents. At the same time, the economics of continued possession weighed heavily on the minds of Danish decision makers, and a consensus in favor of selling emerged in the Danish parliament. 2010 Census – U.S. Virgin Islands Districts and Subdistricts. As the US Virgin Islands is a territory of the USA, US Virgin Islanders are citizens of the USA. [citation needed] Because the U.S. Virgin Islands are home to thousands of immigrants from across the Caribbean, Spanish and various French creole languages are also widely spoken. Every year, Transfer Day is recognized as a holiday, to commemorate the acquisition of the islands by the United States. Furthermore, Puerto Rico, … The culture derives chiefly from West African, European and American traditions, in addition to the influences from the immigrants from the Arab world, India and other Caribbean islands. A U.S. Congressional resolution disapproving of the proposed constitution and requesting that the Fifth Constitutional Convention reconvene to consider changes to address these issues was signed into law (Pub.L. [72], A May 2016 report by Bloomberg expressed concern about the islands' tax-supported debt load. While a Danish possession, the Islands were divided into "quarters" (five on St. John and nine on St. Croix) which were further divided into many dozens of "estates". It can’t be because they’re islands. Even though the US Virgin Islands is one of the overseas territories of the United States of America, it is actually a mix of ethnicity and culture.This group of islands is located in the Caribbean region, specifically in the Leeward Islands of Lesser Antilles. Like other territories, the U.S. Virgin Islands does not have U.S. They are located along the easternmost edge of the Greater Antilles, sitting to the east of Puerto Rico. [3][11] Over the following years, strict labor laws were implemented several times, leading to the 1878 St. Croix labor riot.[12][13][14]. Solar energy plays a small but growing role in the territory’s energy production. [citation needed] For example, in informal situations, many Puerto Ricans in Saint Croix speak a unique Spanglish-like combination of Puerto Rican Spanish and the local Crucian dialect of creole English. A Debtwire analyst writing in Forbes indicated that nothing short of a miracle would prevent a financial collapse. Summer and winter high temperatures differ by 5 °F (3 °C) or less on average. For the remainder of the period of Danish rule, the islands were not economically viable and significant transfers had to be made from the Danish state budget to the authorities in the islands. [103], In 2010, the national average life expectancy was 79.61 years. For information about regional aspects of the United States Virgin Islands, see Virgin Islands. The major trade partners are China, the United States, and a number of countries of the European Union. The impact of its closure on the economy included substantial losses of jobs and revenue as well as the loss of its petroleum products. [75], Tourism, trade, and other service-oriented industries are the primary economic activities, accounting for nearly 60% of the GDP. As in other U.S. territories, U.S. Virgin Islands mail service is handled by the United States Postal Service, using the two-character state code "VI" for domestic mail delivery. [22], In a May 2016 report, some 11,000 people were categorized as being involved in some aspect of agriculture in the first half of 2016, but this category makes up a small part of the total economy. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. [73] By January 23, 2017, this had increased to $2 billion. They are composed of metamorphosed igneous and sedimentary rocks overlain in parts by limestone and alluvium, and they rise off the continental shelf to maximum heights of 1,556 feet (474 metres) at Crown Mountain on St. Thomas, 1,277 feet (389 metres) at Bordeaux Mountain on St. John, and 1,088 feet (332 metres) at Mount Eagle on St. Croix—the largest of the islands, with an area of 84 square miles (218 square km). Nearly 70% of adults had at least a high school diploma and 19.2% had a bachelor's degree or higher. However, based on proximity, these islands are sometimes grouped with the Windward Islands culturally and politically. The median age was 33 years. [22] Such visitors do not spend large amounts of money ($146.70 each on average) but as a group, they contributed $339.8 million to the economy in 2012. English is the official language, but some French is spoken on St. Thomas, and Spanish is spoken on St. Croix among Puerto Rican immigrants. [3] In 1970, Virgin Islanders elected their first governor, Melvin H. Evans, and from 1976 the islands began work on creating their own constitution. [1], The islands were named "Santa Úrsula y las Once Mil Vírgenes" by Christopher Columbus in 1493 after the legend of Saint Ursula and the 11,000 virgins. On October 21, 1976, President Gerald Ford signed Pub.L. After a few months of negotiations, a selling price of $25 million[3] in United States gold coin was agreed, equivalent to $587.39 million in 2019 dollars. [38] The District Court is responsible for federal law, while the Superior Court is responsible for U.S. 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. )[66], According to a report on the first half of 2016 by the VI Bureau of Economic Research, the unemployment rate was 11.5 percent. The islands are part of the North American Numbering Plan, using area code 340, and island residents and visitors are able to call most toll-free U.S. In 2010, 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. This report states that the "leisure and hospitality sector" employed an average of 7,333 people. At that time, there were approximately 607 manufacturing jobs and 1,487 natural resource and construction jobs. 76% of the population is African American in origin, while the remaining comprises whites, Asians and others. 00830–00831 (St. John),[88] There are three main islands that comprise USVI: Saint Thomas, Saint Croix, and Saint John. [1] The territory's capital is Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas. There are two international airports, on St. Thomas and on St. Croix. Can it be anymore clear this moron is UNFIT for office? Males had a median income of $28,309 versus $22,601 for females. [20] The 1936 Organic Act and the 1954 Revised Organic Act established the local government. [76], Additionally, the islands frequently are a starting point for private yacht charters to the neighboring British Virgin Islands. Administratively, the U.S. Virgin Islands are divided into two districts: the Saint Thomas & Saint John district, and the Saint Croix district. Best of all, the U.S. Virgin Islands is a U.S. territory with no U.S. passports required for entry making us “America’s Caribbean.”. In 2010, the census put the population of the U.S. Virgin Islands at 106,405. They represent the USA's place in the world. In some situations, you may have to determine if you are a resident or a nonresident of the territory. Hurricane Hugo struck the U.S. Virgin Islands in 1989, causing catastrophic physical and economic damage, particularly on the island of St. Croix. Geologically, with the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands are an extension of the central fault-block mountain ranges of Puerto Rico and are thus part of the Greater Antilles. Virgin Islands National Park, covering some three-fifths of St. John, and Buck Island Reef National Monument, which includes all of the islet of Buck Island and the waters and coral reef surrounding it, are other major attractions. A container port on the southern coast of St. Croix handles most of the islands’ cargo traffic. [93], The United States Virgin Islands Department of Education serves as the territory's education agency, and has two school districts: St. Thomas-St. John School District and St. Croix School District.[104]. People born in the U.S. Virgin Islands derive their U.S. citizenship from congressional statute.[39]. The main islands making up the United States Virgin Islands include Saint Croix, Saint Thomas, and Saint John. About three-fourths of the population is black, and between one-tenth and one-fifth is white. [76], However, the travel industry warned in late 2014 that work needs to be done for USVI tourism practices to meet 21st century demands. [40] The main political parties in the U.S. Virgin Islands themselves are the Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands, the Independent Citizens Movement, and the Republican Party of the Virgin Islands. The highest point is Crown Mountain on St. Thomas at 1,555 feet (474 m).[33][3]. On November 3rd, 2020, the Virgin Islands held a referendum on whether or not to convene a sixth constitutional convention. An individual who has income from American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands will usually have to file a tax return with the tax department of one of these territories. 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