International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. [20], U.S. citizenship was granted to many inhabitants of the islands in 1927 and 1932. President Obama forwarded the proposal to Congress in May 2010, along with a report noting concerns raised by the United States Department of Justice that the powers sought exceeded what would be considered allowable under territorial status[49] and restating the issues noted by Governor de Jongh. Of those 112 islands, 82 belong to the U.S. and 30 belong to Britain. On the other hand, tourism and some other service industries were growing. In 2010, the census put the population of the U.S. Virgin Islands at 106,405. While many will plan for sailing the British Virgin Islands, don’t miss out on exploring the beautiful USVIs. The proper name of the islands is Virgin Islands. [30] The hurricane killed two people, both in their homes: one person drowned and another was trapped by a mudslide. Law enforcement services are provided by the United States Virgin Islands Police Department (USVIPD). Until February 2012, the Hovensa plant located on St. Croix was one of the world's largest petroleum refineries, refining 494,000 bbl/d (78,500 m3/d), and contributed about 20% of the territory's GDP. Rastafari is also prevalent. 33", "USVI Constitutional Convention mandated to reconsider autonomous proposals", "Constitutional Convention meeting marred by arguments, technical snarls – News", "Constitutional Convention Meeting Marred by Arguments, Technical Snarls", "Senator Marvin A. Blyden – Legislature of the Virgin Islands", "Historical Evolution of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands", "Census.gov. However, not all U.S. vehicle regulations are in force, and there are vehicles on the road that cannot be sold in the mainland U.S. Additionally, headlights use the U.S. pattern which casts light to the right, tending to blind oncoming drivers. The per capita income for the territory was $13,139. Travelers like you have written 64,821 reviews and posted 230 candid photos for U.S. Virgin Islands hotels. [citation needed] They are part of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, located east of the main island of Puerto Rico. English is currently the dominant language. The refinery's closure provoked a local economic crisis. The group of islands and islets are part of the Lesser Antilles located in the eastern Caribbean, 63 km (39 mi) east of Puerto Rico and 1,770 km (1100 mi) southeast of Miami. ^ These three Dutch Caribbean territories form the SSS islands. BOOK NOW In the Virgin Islands there are three types of mangroves; Red, Black and White. Confident Healthy, Smiles Are Our Passion. [32] The hurricane caused extensive and severe damage to St. Croix. Retrieved February 16, 2017. Other categories which also include some tourism jobs include arts and entertainment (792 jobs), accommodation and food (6,541 jobs), accommodation (3,755 jobs), and food services and drink (2,766 jobs). [52], The Fifth Constitutional Convention of the U.S. Virgin Islands met in October 2012 but was not able to produce a revised Constitution before its October 31 deadline.[53][54][55][56]. Roughly three-quarters of islanders are black in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, while the majority of inhabitants in Culebra and Vieques are Puerto Rican of European descent, with a significant Afro-Puerto Rican community. [7] The islands became royal Danish colonies in 1754, named the Danish West Indian Islands (Danish: De dansk-vestindiske øer). Mattei, Lou, Virgin Islands Daily News (October 29, 2012). 00830–00831 (St. John),[90] However, because most cars in the territory are imported from the mainland United States, the cars in the territory are left-hand drive. [25][26] Following the acquisition of the 1,500-acre complex by ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC, in 2016, Limetree Bay Ventures, LLC, was formed, and is currently executing a project to refurbish and restart the refinery, with a processing capability of up to 200,000 bbl/d (32,000 m3/d).[27][28]. (See List of television stations in the U.S. Virgin Islands.) [87] In 2010, the population was 106,405,[6] with current estimates putting the population at 106,235 (July 2020), most of them being of Afro-Caribbean descent. [3] The territory's capital is Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas. Like other territories, the U.S. Virgin Islands does not have U.S. The main languages are English and Virgin Islands Creole in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and Spanish in the Puerto Rican territory. The islands have a number of AM and FM radio stations (mostly on St. Thomas and St. Croix) broadcasting music, religious, and news programming. The British Virgin Islands are a collection of 60 unspoiled islands that pack the best of the Caribbean into one convenient destination. [78], However, the travel industry warned in late 2014 that work needs to be done for USVI tourism practices to meet 21st century demands. U.S. Virgin Islands Tourism: Tripadvisor has 323,724 reviews of U.S. Virgin Islands Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best U.S. Virgin Islands resource. [57][58][59] However, the U.S. Census Bureau divides each of the 3 main islands into 3 separate statistical entities (which are further divided into twenty (20) sub-districts). The Virgin Islands have since regained its water and power, but many top hotels and resorts will still be closed until late 2019. [citation needed] This was inherited from what was then-current practice on the islands at the time of the 1917 transfer of the territory to the United States from Denmark. On October 21, 1976, President Gerald Ford signed Pub.L. Spanish is spoken by about 17% of the population, and other languages are spoken by 11% of the population. The U.S. Virgin Islands is the only U.S. jurisdiction that drives on the left. [42] 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. Less than half of the U.S. Virgin Islands population is native-born. [77], Tourism, trade, and other service-oriented industries are the primary economic activities, accounting for nearly 60% of the GDP. The British Virgin Islands consist of the main islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke, along with over fifty other smaller islands and cays. The islands proved ideal for sugar plantations – sugarcane, produced by slaves from Africa, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. The onset of World War I brought the reform period to a close and again left the islands isolated. WASHINGTON — Virgin Islands Association DC Inc. donated 10,000 disposable three-ply masks to the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Health to help halt the spread of COVID-19 in the territory.. Virgin Islands Association DC’s president, Nicole George, presented the masks to the commissioner of Health Justa Encarnacion on Friday. Additionally, the 1867 hurricane and earthquake and tsunami further impacted the economy. [76] The government instituted a new law in March 2017 with new or increased taxes on rum, beer, tobacco products and sugary drinks, as well as internet purchases and timeshare unit owners. Each of the 3 main islands of the U.S. Virgin Islands is counted as a county-equivalent by the U.S. Census Bureau, with the following FIPS codes: 78010 for Saint Croix, 78020 for Saint John, and 78030 for Saint Thomas.[61][62]. The islands were strongly influenced by the British, Dutch,[108] French and Danish during the long periods the islands were under these powers. The islands extend from west to east for about 60 miles and are located west of the Anegada Passage , a major channel connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea . The average private sector salary was $34,088 and the average public sector salary was $52,572. The islands are the peaks of submerged mountains that rise from the ocean floor. [74], A May 2016 report by Bloomberg expressed concern about the islands' tax-supported debt load. When the mainland United States is on daylight saving time, Eastern Daylight Time is the same as Atlantic Standard Time. [5] The total land area of the territory is 133.73 square miles (346.36 km2). [3] The name was later shortened to "the Virgin Islands". The single largest employer was the government. Full- and low-power television stations are split between St. Thomas and St. Croix. While the official name is the Virgin Islands, they are usually called the British Virgin Islands to separate them from the nearby American Virgin Islands. [35] The main islands have nicknames often used by locals: "Twin City" (St. Croix), "Rock City" (St. Thomas), and "Love City" (St. Additional candidates run as independents. In 1916 and 1917, Denmark and the United States, respectively, ratified a treaty in which Denmark sold the Danish Virgin Islands to the United States for $25 million in gold. Virgin Islands, group of about 90 small islands, islets, cays, and rocks in the West Indies, situated some 40 to 50 miles (64 to 80 kilometres) east of Puerto Rico. [95], 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.[107]. The refinery ceased operation in 2012, and the facility stopped exporting petroleum products in 2014. En Espanol | The U.S. Virgin Islands government has changed voting this year to make it easier and safer — voters can cast no-excuse absentee ballots, and in-person voting centers are taking extensive safety measures in the face of COVID-19: The main islands within this group are called Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke. [35] Rainfall is concentrated in the high sun period (May through October), while in the winter the northeast trade winds prevail. The annual population growth is −0.12%. The culture of the Virgin Islands reflects the various people that have inhabited the present-day U.S. Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands, which despite their political separation have kept close cultural ties. There is no limit as to the number of terms they can serve. Most energy is also generated from imported oil, leading to electricity costs four to five times higher than the U.S. ~ Disputed territories administered by Colombia. The Traditional or Passive Game has been its staple, providing a means of extra income for thousands of lucky players. While many people are familiar with the US Virgin Islands, they may be unsure of their exact location. In the territory, the population in 2010 was distributed 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 British Virgin Islands lie to the northeast of the United States Virgin Islands. [citation needed] In late 2013, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Research and Statistics Group pointed out that manufacturing employment dropped by 50% in May 2012 and by another 4% by November 2012, and that the GDP fell by 13%, "mainly due to an 80% drop-off in exports (mostly refined petroleum)". Puerto Ricans in Saint Croix, most of whom have lived on the island for more than a generation, have kept their culture alive while integrating it into the native Crucian culture and society. It was 76.57 years for men and 82.83 for women. [72], The median income for a household in the territory was $24,704, and the median income for a family was $28,553 according to the 2010 census. Each sale listing includes detailed descriptions, photos, amenities and neighborhood information for United States Virgin Islands. Virigin Islands National Park offers many wonders whether hiking, boating, snorkeling, or just taking in the view. The USVI has four islands with people residing on St. Thomas, St. Croix, St, John † Physiographically, these are continental islands not a part of the volcanic Windward Islands arc. A Debtwire analyst writing in Forbes indicated that nothing short of a miracle would prevent a financial collapse. European colonists later settled here and established sugar plantations, at least one tobacco plantation, and purchased slaves acquired from Africa. High Beam Research. "Constitutional Convention meeting marred by arguments, technical snarls – News". 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. [24], 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. Check out the US Virgin Islands maps below to see exactly where the islands are in comparison to you. The median age was 33 years. [3][4], A 2012 economic report from the U.S. Census Bureau indicated a total of 2,414 business establishments generating $6.8 billion in sales, employing 32,465 people and paying $1.1 billion in payroll per year. They have been autonomous from Britain since 1967. The U.S. Virgin Islands are in the Atlantic Ocean, about 40 miles (64 km) east of Puerto Rico and immediately west of the British Virgin Islands. [4], Christopher Columbus, on his second voyage in 1493, is thought to have been the first European to see the islands, giving them their current name. [10] Instead of allowing themselves to be recaptured, more than a dozen of the ringleaders shot themselves before the French forces could capture them. Visitors to the U.S. Virgin Islands sometimes ask what insects, arachnids, bugs and creepy crawlies they might come across while on vacation. [44], At the territorial level, fifteen senators—seven from the district of St. Croix, seven from the district of St. Thomas and St. John, and one senator at-large who must be a resident of St. John—are elected for two-year terms to the unicameral Virgin Islands Legislature. Previously known as the Danish West Indies of the Kingdom of Denmark–Norway (from 1754 to 1814) and the independent Kingdom of Denmark (from 1814 to 1917), they were sold to the United States by Denmark for $25,000,000 in the 1917 Treaty of the Danish West Indies,[3] and have since been an organized, unincorporated United States territory. St. Croix was owned by the French until 1733 when the island was sold to the Danish West Indian and Guinea Company. St. Thomas is home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in the Western Hemisphere, as Sephardi Jews began to settle the island in the 18th century as traders and merchants. Shhh. # Physiographically, Bermuda is an isolated oceanic island in the North Atlantic Ocean, not a part of the Antilles, West Indies, Caribbean, North American continental mainland or South American continental mainland. Homes listings include vacation homes, apartments, penthouses, luxury retreats, lake homes, ski chalets, villas, and many more lifestyle options. The Danish were able to defeat the enslaved Africans with help from the French in Martinique. A second draft treaty to sell the islands to the United States was negotiated in 1902 but was defeated in the upper house of the Danish parliament in a tie vote (because the opposition carried a 97-year-old life member into the chamber).[17]. Jost Van Dyke, named after a famous Dutch pirate, has been a sailor's mecca for years. In cricket, Virgin Islanders are eligible to compete internationally as part of the West Indies. [45], The U.S. Virgin Islands have elected a territorial governor every four years since 1970. mainland. he options are as limitless as the memories you will make on vacation in the US Virgin sure ,the Virgin Islands are a territory of united states of america. The official name of the British territory is the Virgin Islands, and the official name of the U.S. territory is the Virgin Islands of the United States. Males had a median income of $28,309 versus $22,601 for females. The Democratic Party held a caucus on June 6, 2020. The lawsuit claimed that the United States had to provide U.S. Virgin Islanders with the ability to be represented in Congress and vote for U.S. president. [4], Water Island, a small island to the south of St. Thomas, was initially administered by the US federal government and did not become a part of the United States Virgin Islands territory until 1996, when 50 acres (20 ha) of land was transferred to the territorial government. According to Pew Research Center, 94.8% of the population was Christian in 2010. Owing to both their Danish past and American present, Protestantism on the islands has long been widespread. The United States Virgin Islands is an unincorporated territory of the United States that comprises a group of islands in the Caribbean.In addition to the main residential islands of Saint Thomas, Saint Croix, Saint John, and Water Island, there are roughly 50 other islands and cays. * These three Dutch Caribbean territories form the BES islands. Over the years we have received an assortment of questions, usually about beaches, things to do and where to stay. A: “Yes, five species on St. Thomas: Puerto Rican Racer, the Garden Snake, the endangered Virgin Islands Boa, the Blind Snake, plus the non-native Corn Snake. [31] A third person had a fatal heart attack during the hurricane. One of the popular questions that is Q: Do we have snakes in the USVI? [83], The U.S. Virgin Islands are an independent customs territory from the mainland United States and operate largely as a free port. [101][102], Religion in the United States Virgin Islands (2010)[103], Christianity is the dominant religion in the U.S. Virgin Islands. acccording to Encarta, there are 50 islands in the British Virgin Islands and 3 islands and "about" 50 islets in the American Virgin Islands. Below are a few quick-links to some of the more often sought information. (See List of radio stations in US Territories.) and 00850–00851 (Kingshill). The Treaty of the Danish West Indies was signed in August 1916,[19] with a referendum on the sale held in Denmark in December 1916 in which voters approved the decision to sell.