The Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands

An Overview

Click on thumbnail for 640x480 version

The U.S. Virgin Islands are located in the Caribbean Sea, about 1,400 miles southeast of New York City and nearly 1,000 miles east-southeast of Miami. The Virgin Islands are comprised of more than 50 islands, with three having significant populations. St. Thomas features spectacular hills with fascinating ocean and harbor views. St. John is two-thirds composed of the Virgin Islands National Park, with quiet coves and virgin forests. St. Croix has long sandy beaches and land suitable for agriculture and industrial development. The land area of the three main islands is approximately 140 square miles. The total population of the Virgin Islands is about 110,000.

European colonization of these beautiful Caribbean islands began in 1671, when Denmark chartered the Danish West Indies Company and brought settlers to St. Thomas and St. John. In 1733, Denmark purchased St. Croix from France, forming the geographical basis for what is today called the U.S. Virgin Islands. Denmark retained control of the islands until 1917, when they were sold to the United States for $25 million.

The political status of the Virgin Islands is an unincorporated territory of the United States, which means that some sections of the U.S. Constitution are not applicable to the islands and their residents. The local government has an executive, legislative, and judicial branch. The Governor and Lt. Governor are popularly elected for 4-year terms, and the 15 members of the unicameral Legislature are elected for 2-year terms. The Territorial Court system has judges appointed by the Governor. The U.S. District Court also has jurisdiction over certain matters related to Federal law. A non-voting representative to the U.S. Congress is popularly elected. Charlotte Amalie, on the island of St. Thomas, is the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The economy of the Virgin Islands is one of the strongest in the Caribbean. Tourism is the principal industry. Before devastating hurricanes in 1989, 1995 and 1996, more than 2 million tourists visited the three islands annually. That number dropped to about 1.2 million in 1995, but as the islands recover from the damage caused by the hurricanes, the level of tourist arrivals is expected to again increase. The large number of tourists has supported a number of luxury hotels, including members of the Marriott, Renaissance, and Ritz Carlton chains, and exotic gift shops on all three islands. There is some level of diversification of the economy, with heavy and light industry, primarily on the island of St. Croix. Amerada Hess operates one of its largest oil refineries on that island. St. Croix is also home to several watch assembly, pharmaceutical, and garment making firms. Virgin Islands rum, distilled on St. Croix, is the Virgin Islands' second biggest export product, after Hess's refined petroleum products.

Photo Album

For More Information

| Home | Intro | Ventures | Sea | Air | Space | SciFi | Racing | Movies | Art | Travel | Exit |

| Intro | Virgin Islands | Puerto Rico | Hawaii | Guam | Northern Marianas | American Samoa | Micronesia |
| U.S.V.I. Tour | St. Thomas Tour | St. John Tour | St. Croix Tour | Hurricanes |
| Pacific Adventure | Oahu Tour | Guam Tour |

Last Updated: October 4, 2003