Difference between revisions of "U.S. Virgin Islands" - New World Encyclopedia

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[[Image:StJohnTrunkBay.jpg|thumb|[[Trunk Bay]], [[Saint John, U.S. Virgin Islands|St. John]]]]
 
 
The '''United States Virgin Islands''' are a group of [[island]]s in the [[Caribbean]] that are an [[insular area]] of the [[United States]]. The islands are geographically part of the [[Virgin Islands|Virgin Islands archipelago]] and are located in the [[Leeward Islands]] of the [[Lesser Antilles]].  
 
The '''United States Virgin Islands''' are a group of [[island]]s in the [[Caribbean]] that are an [[insular area]] of the [[United States]]. The islands are geographically part of the [[Virgin Islands|Virgin Islands archipelago]] and are located in the [[Leeward Islands]] of the [[Lesser Antilles]].  
  
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==History==   
 
==History==   
{{main|History of the United States Virgin Islands}}
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[[Image:StJohnTrunkBay.jpg|thumb|[[Trunk Bay]], [[Saint John, U.S. Virgin Islands|St. John]]]]
 +
 
 +
'''NOTE TO WRITER - PLEASE REPHRASE WITH LESS BIAS.'''
 +
 
 +
=== The Ciboneys  ===
 +
 
 +
Although not much is known about the [[Ciboney]] people who first inhabited the islands during the [[Stone Age]], they were hunter-gatherers.  They made tools of stone and flint, but they left no other artifacts behind.
 +
 
 +
=== The Arawaks ===
 +
 
 +
Experts at canoe building and seamanship, the Arawaks migrated from the [[Amazon River]] Valley and [[Orinoco]] regions of [[Venezuela]] and [[Brazil]], settling on the islands near coasts and rivers.  These peaceful people excelled at fishing and farming.  Their main crops were [[cotton]], [[tobacco]], [[maize]], [[yuca]], and [[guava]]; however, they grew a variety of other fruits and vegetables as well.
 +
 
 +
The Arawaks developed rich social and cultural lives.  For recreation, they held organized sporting events.  They also valued artistic endeavors, such as [[cave painting]] and [[rock carving]], some of which have survived to the present day.  Religion played a large role in their daily lives, and through ceremonial rituals they asked their gods for advice to help them through troubled times.  Their civilization in the USVI flourished for several hundred years, until the Caribs invaded.
 +
 
 +
=== The Caribs ===
 +
 
 +
While the Caribs came from the same area as the Arawaks and may have been distantly related, they didn't share the Arawaks' friendly nature.  Not only were they fierce warriors, they supposedly feasted on their adversaries.  Their bloodthirsty reputation spawned the English word cannibal, derived from the name the Spanish gave them, Caribal.
 +
 
 +
Whether or not they actually ate their victims, the Caribs did destroy numerous Arawak villages, murdering as many as they could.  By the mid-15th century, the Caribs had slashed the Arawak population from several million to a few thousand.  But even the Caribs were no match for the gold-hungry Europeans who were about to descend.
 +
 
 +
=== Colonization ===
 +
Blown off course during his 1493-1496 voyage, [[Christopher Columbus]] landed on Saint Croix, then continued his explorations on Saint Thomas and Saint John.  He gave the islands their original [[Spanish language|Spanish]] names ([[Santa Cruz]], [[San Tomas]], and [[San Juan]]), focusing on religious themes.  The collection of tiny islets, [[cays]], and rocks dotting the sea around them reminded Columbus of [[Saint Ursula]] and her 11,000 virgin [[martyrs]], inspiring the name Las Once Mil Virgenes.
 +
 
 +
The first encounter Columbus had with the Caribs quickly erupted into a battle.  When Columbus and his crew decided to move on to other islands, they kidnapped six Arawaks to guide them.  Although Columbus left without founding a colony, many more battles between the Spanish and Caribs followed over the next century.
 +
 
 +
Other [[European]] explorers finished the job the Spanish had begun.  They tried to convert the Caribs and Arawaks to [[Catholicism]], which largely failed.  They also enslaved the native populations to work on plantations.  With [[tobacco]] having already been cultivated on the islands, it made a good [[cash crop]].  Later on, [[coffee]], [[sugar]], and [[cotton]] also were grown.
 +
 
 +
[[Slavery]], coupled with murder and disease, took a large toll on both the Arawaks and the Caribs.  Several groups of Arawaks committed [[mass suicide]] rather than submit to foreign rule.  By the late [[17th century]], the Arawaks had been completely exterminated and few Caribs remained.
 +
 
 +
With no native slaves left, the [[African]] [[slave trade]] began in [[1673]].  The difficult conditions and inhumane treatment slaves were subjected to bred discontent.  In [[1733]], a long drought followed by a devastating [[hurricane]] pushed slaves in St. John to the breaking point.  They staged a massive rebellion, seizing control of the island for six months.  The [[Denmark|Danish]], who controlled the island at that point, enlisted the help of the [[France|French]] to regain control.
  
The [[Virgin Islands]] were originally settled by the [[Ciboney]], [[Carib]], and [[Arawak]]s. 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 [[Europe]]an powers, including [[Spain]], [[UK|Britain]], the [[Netherlands]], [[France]], the [[Knights of Malta]], and [[Denmark]].
+
Another slave revolt in [[1848]] was more successful in the long run. The [[governor]] at the time, [[Peter von Scholten]], felt enough sympathy for the slaves to grant them emancipation, even though it was against the wishes of Danish rule.
  
 
The [[Danish West Indies|Danish West India Company]] settled on [[Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands|Saint Thomas]] in [[1672]], on [[Saint John, United States Virgin Islands|Saint John]] in [[1694]], and purchased [[Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands|Saint Croix]] from [[France]] in [[1733]]. The islands became royal Danish colonies in [[1754]], their name translating to ''Jomfruøerne'' in Danish. [[Sugarcane]], produced by [[Slavery|slave]] labor, drove the islands' [[Economics|economy]] during the 18th and early 19th centuries, until the [[Abolitionism#Other nations|abolition of slavery]] by Governor [[Peter von Scholten]] on [[July 3]], [[1848]].
 
The [[Danish West Indies|Danish West India Company]] settled on [[Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands|Saint Thomas]] in [[1672]], on [[Saint John, United States Virgin Islands|Saint John]] in [[1694]], and purchased [[Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands|Saint Croix]] from [[France]] in [[1733]]. The islands became royal Danish colonies in [[1754]], their name translating to ''Jomfruøerne'' in Danish. [[Sugarcane]], produced by [[Slavery|slave]] labor, drove the islands' [[Economics|economy]] during the 18th and early 19th centuries, until the [[Abolitionism#Other nations|abolition of slavery]] by Governor [[Peter von Scholten]] on [[July 3]], [[1848]].
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[[Category:United States]]
 
[[Category:United States]]
  
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{{credit|United_States_Virgin_Islands|145786435|History_of_the_United_States_Virgin_Islands|144441451}}

Revision as of 00:03, 20 July 2007


United States Virgin Islands
Flag of United States Virgin Islands Coat of arms of United States Virgin Islands
Flag Coat of arms
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 346.36 km² (202nd)
133.73 sq mi 
 - Water (%) 1.0
Population
 - July 2005 estimate 112,000
 - 2000 census 108,612
 - Density 354/km²
916.9/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]

In Denmark, the U.S. Virgin Islands are referred to as the Danish West Indian Islands (De dansk-vestindiske øer)[citation needed]; 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

Trunk Bay, St. John

NOTE TO WRITER - PLEASE REPHRASE WITH LESS BIAS.

The Ciboneys

Although not much is known about the Ciboney people who first inhabited the islands during the Stone Age, they were hunter-gatherers. They made tools of stone and flint, but they left no other artifacts behind.

The Arawaks

Experts at canoe building and seamanship, the Arawaks migrated from the Amazon River Valley and Orinoco regions of Venezuela and Brazil, settling on the islands near coasts and rivers. These peaceful people excelled at fishing and farming. Their main crops were cotton, tobacco, maize, yuca, and guava; however, they grew a variety of other fruits and vegetables as well.

The Arawaks developed rich social and cultural lives. For recreation, they held organized sporting events. They also valued artistic endeavors, such as cave painting and rock carving, some of which have survived to the present day. Religion played a large role in their daily lives, and through ceremonial rituals they asked their gods for advice to help them through troubled times. Their civilization in the USVI flourished for several hundred years, until the Caribs invaded.

The Caribs

While the Caribs came from the same area as the Arawaks and may have been distantly related, they didn't share the Arawaks' friendly nature. Not only were they fierce warriors, they supposedly feasted on their adversaries. Their bloodthirsty reputation spawned the English word cannibal, derived from the name the Spanish gave them, Caribal.

Whether or not they actually ate their victims, the Caribs did destroy numerous Arawak villages, murdering as many as they could. By the mid-15th century, the Caribs had slashed the Arawak population from several million to a few thousand. But even the Caribs were no match for the gold-hungry Europeans who were about to descend.

Colonization

Blown off course during his 1493-1496 voyage, Christopher Columbus landed on Saint Croix, then continued his explorations on Saint Thomas and Saint John. He gave the islands their original Spanish names (Santa Cruz, San Tomas, and San Juan), focusing on religious themes. The collection of tiny islets, cays, and rocks dotting the sea around them reminded Columbus of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin martyrs, inspiring the name Las Once Mil Virgenes.

The first encounter Columbus had with the Caribs quickly erupted into a battle. When Columbus and his crew decided to move on to other islands, they kidnapped six Arawaks to guide them. Although Columbus left without founding a colony, many more battles between the Spanish and Caribs followed over the next century.

Other European explorers finished the job the Spanish had begun. They tried to convert the Caribs and Arawaks to Catholicism, which largely failed. They also enslaved the native populations to work on plantations. With tobacco having already been cultivated on the islands, it made a good cash crop. Later on, coffee, sugar, and cotton also were grown.

Slavery, coupled with murder and disease, took a large toll on both the Arawaks and the Caribs. Several groups of Arawaks committed mass suicide rather than submit to foreign rule. By the late 17th century, the Arawaks had been completely exterminated and few Caribs remained.

With no native slaves left, the African slave trade began in 1673. The difficult conditions and inhumane treatment slaves were subjected to bred discontent. In 1733, a long drought followed by a devastating hurricane pushed slaves in St. John to the breaking point. They staged a massive rebellion, seizing control of the island for six months. The Danish, who controlled the island at that point, enlisted the help of the French to regain control.

Another slave revolt in 1848 was more successful in the long run. The governor at the time, Peter von Scholten, felt enough sympathy for the slaves to grant them emancipation, even though it was against the wishes of Danish rule.

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 just to the south of Saint Thomas, was not included in the original sale. It remained in the possession of the Danish East Asiatic Company until 1944, when it too was bought by the USA for $10,000. 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.[3]

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

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

The U.S. Virgin Islands are an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States. Even though they are U.S. citizens, Virgin Islanders cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections.

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 Template:Ushr. 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 referenda 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

Magens Bay, St. Thomas


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

File:US Virgin Islands admin divisions.png
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

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

  • 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
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

External links

Official sites

News and media


Template:U.S. Virgin Islands




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Coordinates: 18°20′N 64°50′W

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