The United States Virgin Islands

The United States Virgin Islands, comprising Saint Croix, Saint John and Saint Thomas islands and other smaller islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, is the overseas territory of the US. Together with British Virgin Islands, this archipelago forms the Virgin Islands archipelago. Charlotte Amalie is the capital of the archipelago. The defense is the responsibilities of the US government.

HISTORY:- Ciboney, Carib, and Arawaks were the original dwellers of the islands before the arrival of the Europeans. Christopher Columbus explored the islands in 1493. Danish power annexed and colonized the islands in 1754 while the British power conquered and possesses the six main islands of the territory since 1666. In 1917, the Danish occupied islands were sold to the United States.

GEOGRAPHY:- The US Virgin Islands are located at 18 20 N, 64 50 W in the Caribbean region, spanning through 1,910 sq km area in which only 346 sq km area is captured by land portion and remaining 1,564 sq km area is captured by internal waters. The archipelago comprises the main islands of Saint Thomas, Saint John, Saint Croix, and Water Island along with several smaller islands. The coastline is 188 km along with the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. The lowest point is Caribbean Sea (0 m) and the highest point is Crown Mountain (475 m). The US Virgin Islands are mostly hilly, rugged and mountainous with little level land.

CLIMATE:- The climate of the archipelago is predominantly subtropical with slight seasonal temperature variation. The climate is tempered by the easterly trade winds with relatively low humidity. The rainy season persists from September to November.

GOVERNMENT:- The Virgin Islands are organized, unincorporated territory of the US. The government is carried out with the policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US, under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs. The Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954 is considered as the formal constitution of the Virgin Islands. The legal procedures are carried out in accordance with the US laws. The three principal branches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the US President (chief of state), the Vice President, the Governor (head of government) and lieutenant governor. The governor and the lieutenant governor are elected on the same ticket by popular vote on 4-year terms.

Legislative branch comprises the unicameral Senate (15 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the US District Court of the Virgin Islands and Superior Court of the Virgin Islands. The judges of the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands are appointed by the governor.

 Democratic Party, Independent Citizens' Movement, and Republican Party are the principal political parties of the US Virgin Islands. Suffrage is universal at the age of 18. The islanders can not participate in the US presidential and vice presidential elections, though they can vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections.

Head of State               George W. Bush

Vice President               Richard B. Cheney

Governor                      John de Jongh

Lieutenant Governor    Gregory R. Francis

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- US Virgin Islands are divided into two districts and further subdivided into 20 sub-districts. The two districts are St. Croix and St. Thomas or Water Island.

ECONOMY:- Tourism is the main pillar of the economy of the archipelago, accounting for 80% of the total GDP and total employment. The second largest sector is the manufacturing sector. One of the largest petroleum refineries in the world is located at Saint Croix.

GDP/PPP (2002 est.): $2.5 billion; per capita $17,200.

Real growth rate: 2%.

Inflation: 2.2% (2003).

Unemployment: 9.3% (2003 est.).

Arable land: 12%.

Agriculture: Fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle.

Labor force: 48,900 (2003 est.); agriculture 1%, industry 19%, services 80% (2003 est.).

Industries: Tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics.

Natural resources: Sun, sand, sea, surf.

Exports: $n.a.: refined petroleum products.

Imports: $n.a.: crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials.

Major trading partners: U.S., Puerto Rico (2004).

Monetary unit: U.S. dollar

LANGUAGE:- English is the official language of the US Virgin Islands spoken by 74.7% of the population of the archipelago. Other languages include Spanish or Spanish Creole spoken by 16.8%, French or French Creole spoken by 6.6%, and other dialects spoken by 1.9% of the entire population (2000).

CITIES:- The capital and the largest city of the US Virgin Islands is Charlotte Amalie.

POPULATION:- The approximate population of the US Virgin Islands is 108,605 with an average growth rate of –0.1%.

Density per sq mi: 804

Literacy rate: NA.

RACE:-

Black 76.2%,

White 13.1%

Asian 1.1%

Other 6.1%

Mixed 3.5% (2000)

RELIGION:-

Baptist 42%

Roman Catholic 34%

Episcopalian 17%

Other 7%.

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 13.43 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 6.79 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 7.53 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.34 years

Total fertility rate: 2.14 children born/woman (2008 est.)

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: 0 km.

Highways: total: 856 km; paved: n.a. km; unpaved: n.a. km (2000).

Ports and harbors: Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix.

Airports: 2 (2002).