Interesting Facts about Virgin Islands

• The history of the islands is turbulent. It is filled with warring colonial powers, slavery, and the annihilation of its native people.
• Columbus visited the islands in 1493. Spanish forces later defeated the native Caribes and claimed the territory in 1555.
• By 1596, the native population had been wiped out.
• The Danes established the first permanent settlement in the territory in 1672. They set up plantations. Later African slaves were imported to produce sugar, cotton, indigo, and other products for Denmark.
• Pirates also used the islands as bases to prey upon Spanish treasure ships, galleons, and visiting merchant ships. Henry Morgan, Sir John Hawkins, and Blackbeard are among the famous pirates who sailed the Caribbean waters.
• During the 17th century, the Danish and the English divided the archipelago into two territorial units.
• The sugar cane produced on the plantations was central to the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries.
• Slavery was abolished in 1848. When the slaves were emancipated, the plantations went into economic decline.
• In 1917, the United States purchased the islands from Denmark. This was because of their strategic position in the Caribbean passage to the Panama Canal.
• St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and 50 smaller islands now comprise the U.S. territory.
• U.S. citizenship was granted to the islanders in 1927.
• In 1970, they elected a governor in a popular election.
• Since 1973, the Virgin Islands also send one non-voting member to the U.S. House of Representatives.
• The population of the U.S. Virgin Islands was 123,498 in 2002.
• The islands are 80 percent black and 15 percent white. There are also West Indian, French, and Hispanic ethnic groups.
• St. Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean.
• All of the islands boast beautiful beaches and a subtropical climate. There are gentle trade winds and a pleasant constant temperature. However, seasonal hurricanes do occur.
• Tourism is the primary industry in the islands in terms of both economics and employment. There are over 2 million visitors per year.
• Manufacturing dominates the rest of the islands' industry. Products made on the islands include pharmaceuticals, rum, watches, textiles, and electronics.
• One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at St. Croix.
• Virgin Islands National Park covers more than half of St. John. The park is known for its beaches, reefs, and forests.