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Virgin Islands


(Abbr. VI or V.I.) (Officially Virgin Islands of the United States.) A United States territory constituting the southwest group of the Virgin Islands. The islands were purchased from the Danish in 1917 because of their strategic location at the approach to the Panama Canal. Charlotte Amalie, on St. Thomas Island, is the capital. Population: 108,000.

 

 
 
US History Encyclopedia: Virgin Islands

The Virgin Islands of the United States, formerly known as the Danish West Indies, are located fifty miles east of the island of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea. Their 108,612 inhabitants (2000 census) live primarily on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John, the largest of the sixty-eight islands composing the archipelago.

Before their acquisition by the United States, the islands belonged to the kingdom of Denmark, the ruling power since 1754. American interest in the islands can be dated much earlier than their acquisition in 1917. During the Civil War, Secretary of State William H. Seward, who wanted to secure naval bases for the defense of the American coastline and U.S. interests in the Caribbean, and prepare for the control of major maritime routes to Central and Latin America, made the first official openings to Denmark over a possible purchase.

Because of internal difficulties in Denmark and the declining economy of the islands, Danish authorities—represented by their minister to the United States, General von Raasloff—opened negotiations leading to a treaty of purchase (for $7.5 million), which was signed on 24 October 1867. In spite of a favorable plebiscite and a speedy ratification by the Danish Parliament, Secretary Seward failed to secure the support of Congress and public opinion.

A chain of circumstances led to the treaty's defeat: a natural disaster in St. John; the 1868 impeachment of President Andrew Johnson; and debate on the treaty to purchase Alaska. Furthermore, public opinion was against foreign expansion in the context of Reconstruction and westward expansion. The treaty languished in the Senate and was eventually rejected in 1869.

Subsequent efforts to purchase the islands were led by Secretary of State John Hay in 1902, who was suspicious of German schemes to obtain naval bases in the Caribbean. However, the Danish were no longer willing to cede the islands, hoping to benefit from the forthcoming isthmian canal.

During World War I, growing concern over German expansionism in Central America prompted Secretary of State Robert Lansing to reopen negotiations. A treaty was signed on 4 August 1916 and ratifications were exchanged on 17 January 1917. After a favorable plebiscite in the islands and the payment of $25 million, the transfer became effective on 31 March 1917. Virgin Islanders were made American citizens in 1927. During World War II, St. Thomas was developed as a defense base, along with Water Island.

After a period of administration by the Department of the Navy, the islands were turned over to the Office of Insular Affairs in the Interior Department in 1931, where it remained until 1971. As an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States, the islands were given a limited form of self-government by the Organic Act of 1936. Their degree of self-rule was enhanced by the Revised Organic Act of 1954, which gave legislative power to a unicameral legislature of fifteen popularly elected senators, and by the Elective Governor Act of 1968, which provided for the election of the governor.

The economy of the islands is largely founded on tourism, with two million visitors a year. While the agricultural sector is small, the manufacturing sector is flourishing. However, the islands are subject to substantial damage from storms and other natural hazards. Their trading partners are almost exclusively the mainland United States and Puerto Rico.

The purchase of the Virgin Islands can be considered as an important step in the consolidation of American hegemony over Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Panama. It thereby helped to assure U.S. geopolitical security and economic prosperity.

Bibliography

Dookhan, Isaac. A History of the Virgin Islands of the United States. Kingston, Jamaica: Canoe Press, 1994.

Pedersen, Erik Overgaard. The Attempted Sale of the Danish West Indies to the United States of America, 1865–1870. Frankfurt, Germany: Haag und Herchen, 1997.

Tansill, Charles Callan. The Purchase of the Danish West Indies. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1932. The most complete study to date.

 
Dialing Code: Virgin Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands

The international dialing code for U.S. Virgin Islands is:   340


 
Statistics: Virgin Islands
Click to enlarge

Introduction

Background:During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.

Geography

Location:Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:18 20 N, 64 50 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 1,910 sq km
land: 346 sq km
water: 1,564 sq km
Area - comparative:twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:188 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November
Terrain:mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crown Mountain 475 m
Natural resources:sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use:arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 2.86%
other: 91.43% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Environment - current issues:lack of natural freshwater resources
Geography - note:important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean

People

Population:108,448 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21.8% (male 11,897/female 11,696)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 34,204/female 37,911)
65 years and over: 11.7% (male 5,642/female 7,098) (2007 est.)
Median age:total: 37.7 years
male: 36.7 years
female: 38.5 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.171% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:13.68 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:6.59 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:-8.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.017 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.902 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.795 male(s)/female
total population: 0.912 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 7.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.75 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.2 years
male: 75.4 years
female: 83.22 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.16 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups:black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census)
Religions:Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Languages:English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90-95% est.
male: NA%
female: NA% (2005 est.)

Government

Country name:conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands
conventional short form: Virgin Islands
former: Danish West Indies
abbreviation: USVI
Dependency status:organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type:NA
Capital:name: Charlotte Amalie
geographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
Independence:none (territory of the US)
National holiday:Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)
Constitution:Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Legal system:based on US laws
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
head of government: Governor John DeJONGH (since 1 January 2007)
cabinet: NA
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as the Virgin Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 7 and 21 November 2006 (next to be held November 2010)
election results: John DeJONGH elected governor; percent of vote - John DeJONGH 57.3%, Kenneth MAPP 42.7%
Legislative branch:unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM 4, independent 3
note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)
Judicial branch:US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Superior Court of the Virgin Islands (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:IOC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of the US)
Flag description:white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel

Economy

Economy - overview:Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP and employment. The islands hosted 2.6 million visitors in 2005. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are small but growing components of the economy. The islands are vulnerable to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, to support construction projects in the private sector, to expand tourist facilities, to reduce crime, and to protect the environment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.577 billion (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$NA
GDP - real growth rate:2% (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 1%
industry: 19%
services: 80% (2003 est.)
Labor force:43,980 (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 1%
industry: 19%
services: 80% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:6.2% (2004)
Population below poverty line:NA% (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.2% (2003)
Budget:revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Agriculture - products:fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Industries:tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:996.1 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:926.4 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:17,110 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:115,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (1 January 2006)
Exports:$4.234 billion (2001)
Exports - commodities:refined petroleum products
Exports - partners:US, Puerto Rico (2006)
Imports:$4.609 billion (2001)
Imports - commodities:crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
Imports - partners:US, Puerto Rico (2006)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency (code):US dollar (USD)
Exchange rates:the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:1 October - 30 September

Transportation

Airports:2 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Roadways:total: 1,257 km (2004)
Ports and terminals:Charlotte Amalie, Limetree Bay

Military

Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:none


 
Wikipedia: United States Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands
Flag of United States Virgin Islands Coat of arms of United States Virgin Islands
Flag
Motto
"United in Pride and Hope"
Anthem
"Virgin Islands March"
Location of United States Virgin Islands
Capital
(and largest city)
Charlotte Amalie
18°21′N, 64°56′W
Official languages English
Government
 -  Head of State George W. Bush
 -  Governor John de Jongh
Organized, unincorporated territory
 -  Revised Organic Act 22 July 1954 
Area
 -  Total  km² (202nd)
 sq mi 
 -  Water (%) 1.0
Population
 -  July 2005 estimate 112,000 (191st)
 -  2000 census 108,612 
 -  Density 354/km² (34th)
 /sq mi
Currency U.S. dollar (USD)
Time zone Q (UTC-4)
Internet TLD .vi
Calling code [[+1 340]]

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]

Three of the main islands have nicknames often used by locals: "Rock City" (St. Thomas), "Love City" (St. John), and "Twin City" (St. Croix).[citation needed]

History

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.[2]

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
Enlarge
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

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands
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Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands

The U.S. Virgin Islands are an organized, unincorporated United States territory. Even though they are U.S. citizens, Virgin Island residents cannot vote in presidential elections (although, being citizens, this franchise is extended to them should they become residents of one of the 50 states.)

The main political parties in the U.S. Virgin Islands are the Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands, the Independent Citizens Movement, 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 congressional district. 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, 15 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

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.

Demographics

As of the census2 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

Districts and Sub-districts of the U.S. Virgin Islands
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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:

Sub-districts of Saint Croix:

  1. Anna's Hope Village
  2. Christiansted
  3. East End (St. Croix)
  4. Frederiksted
  5. Northcentral
  6. Northwest
  7. Sion Farm
  8. Southcentral
  9. Southwest


Sub-districts of Saint Thomas:

  1. Charlotte Amalie
  2. East End (St. Thomas)
  3. Northside
  4. Southside
  5. Tutu
  6. Hassel Island
  7. West End

Sub-districts of Saint John:

  1. Central
  2. Coral Bay
  3. Cruz Bay
  4. East End (St. John)

The fourth U.S. Virgin Island is Water Island, formerly a district of St. Thomas.

See also

References

  1. ^ 2000 Population Counts for the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. Census Bureau.
  2. ^ a b 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

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