Virgin Islands of the United States

I

Introduction

Virgin Islands of the United States, unincorporated external territory of the United States in the eastern Caribbean Sea, comprising a group of 3 main islands and more than 60 cays and islets in the Leeward Islands chain and located at the northern end of the Lesser Antilles, some 64 km (40 mi) east of Puerto Rico. The remainder of the Virgin Islands form the British Virgin Islands, a dependency of the United Kingdom. The total land area of the United States Virgin Islands is 349 sq km (135 sq mi), of which all but 1 per cent is accounted for by the three main islands. They are, with their areas: St Thomas (80 sq km/31 sq mi), St John (52 sq km/20 sq mi), and St Croix (215 sq km/83 sq mi). The capital is Charlotte Amalie on St Thomas.

II

Land and Resources

Geologically, the islands are the peaks of submerged mountains and their topography is generally hilly to mountainous, with little flat land. Crown Mountain (474 m/1,556 ft) on St Thomas is the highest point. There is no surface water on the islands. Although there are some underground supplies, the overall lack of natural freshwater resources is a significant problem—most private houses, as well as public buildings, have rooftop catchments and cisterns for rainwater and there are desalination plants on the three main islands. The climate is subtropical, moderated by the prevailing easterly trade winds. The average annual temperature is 26.7° C (80° F). Rainfall averages some 1,140 mm (45 in) a year, with most falling in May to November. The islands lie in the hurricane belt, but were unaffected by a major hurricane from 1924 until 1989, when Hurricane Hugo caused widespread damage. Hurricanes Marilyn and Bertha in 1995 and 1996 respectively caused more damage; their arrival has reinforced concerns that weather patterns in the region are changing.

The vegetation of the islands is luxuriant and diverse, with many flowering plants and mahogany trees. Two thirds of the densely forested St John is protected by the Virgin Islands National Park. Off the coast of St John is the US Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument. A federally protected, tropical marine environment, consisting of 5,142 marine hectares (12,708 acres), it was created in January 2001. In addition to this, the island of St Croix boasts a botanical garden. The islands’ climate, many beaches, and clear offshore waters are the territory’s major resources, attracting almost 2 million visitors a year in the first half of the 1990s. The other major asset is the port at Charlotte Amalie, which has one of the best natural, deep-water harbours in the Caribbean and lies on a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal.

III

Population

The US Virgin Islands have a total population of 108,448 (2007 estimate). About 49 per cent of the population lives on St Croix, 47 per cent on St Thomas, and 3 per cent on St John; the small islets and cays are predominantly uninhabited. Charlotte Amalie has a population (1990 census) of about 12,331. The other sizeable communities in the group are Christiansted (2,555) and Frederiksted (1,064), both on St Croix. Some 80 per cent of the population is black, and 15 per cent white. Although of predominantly African descent, the islanders have a varied ethnic and cultural heritage, including Puerto Rican, North American, French, Danish, Scottish, and Portuguese backgrounds. English is the official and main spoken language, although Creole and Spanish are also used. The majority of the population is Christian, belonging mainly to Protestant denominations. The University of the Virgin Islands (1962) has campuses on St Thomas and St Croix.

IV

Economy

Tourism is vital to the economy of the Virgin Islands. It accounts for more than 60 per cent of gross domestic product and 70 per cent of employment. The number of tourists visiting the islands rose from about 200,000 in 1960 to more than 1.9 million in 1994; in the same period, spending by visitors grew from $26 million to more than $919 million. However, hurricanes Marilyn and Bertha caused a fall-off in tourist numbers and revenues in 1995 and 1996. Other service industries, including government and financial services, are also important. Products manufactured in the islands include rum, watches, textiles, electronics, and pharmaceuticals. One of the world’s largest oil refineries is located on St Croix and exports of refined petroleum products account for almost all of annual exports of some US$2.8 billion. The territory’s alumina-processing plant, formerly a major employer, closed in 1985. The agricultural sector is small and most food has to be imported. Mineral resources are lacking, although sand and stone are mined for local construction. The territory’s currency is the US dollar.