Virgin Islands of the U.S.

Virgin Islands of the U.S.
Unincorporated U.S. island territory at the eastern end of the Greater Antilles, northeastern Caribbean Sea.

It consists of the islands of Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas and about 50 small islets. Area: 136 sq mi (352 sq km). Population, 2002 est.: 123,498. Capital: Charlotte Amalie. About 80% of the population is black or of mixed descent; most of the remainder are Hispanic (mainly Puerto Rican) or recent white immigrants. The people are U.S. citizens and elect a nonvoting representative to the U.S. House of Representatives, but they do not vote in U.S. national elections. Languages: English (official), French, Spanish. Religions: Protestantism, Orthodox Judaism. The islands are hilly and surrounded by coral reefs. Tourism dominates the economy. They probably were originally settled by Arawak Indians, but they were inhabited by the Caribs by the time that Christopher Columbus landed on St. Croix in 1493. St. Croix was occupied by the Dutch, English, French, and Spanish and at one time was owned by the Knights of Malta. Denmark occupied St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix and established them as a Danish colony in 1754. The U.S. purchased the Danish West Indies in 1917 for $25 million and changed the name to the Virgin Islands. They were administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior from 1931. In 1954 the Organic Act of the Virgin Islands created the current governmental structure, and in 1970 the first popularly elected governor took office. The area suffered extensive damage by hurricane in 1995.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Virgin Islands of the United States — a group of islands in the West Indies, including St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix: purchased from Denmark 1917. 96,569; 133 sq. mi. (345 sq. km). Cap.: Charlotte Amalie. Formerly, Danish West Indies. * * * ▪ island, West Indies Introduction… …   Universalium

  • Virgin Islands of the United States, flag of — ▪ Flag History       U.S. territorial flag consisting of a white field (background) on which is centred a yellow eagle grasping in its right and left talons, respectively, a green branch and three light blue arrows and bearing on its chest a… …   Universalium

  • Virgin Islands at the 2000 Summer Olympics — Infobox Olympics Virgin Islands games=2000 Summer competitors= sports= flagbearer= officials=The United States Virgin Islands competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. =Results by event= =Athletics= Men s 110m Hurdles * Jeff… …   Wikipedia

  • Virgin Islands at the Olympics — The United States Virgin Islands has competed in 9 Summer Games. They have also competed in the Winter Games 7 times. The insular area s only Olympic medal is a silver won by Peter Holmberg in sailing at the 1988 Summer Olympics …   Wikipedia

  • Virgin Islands at the 1988 Summer Olympics — Infobox Olympics Virgin Islands games=1988 Summer competitors= sports= flagbearer= officials= gold=0 silver=1 bronze=0 total=1 rank=The United States Virgin Islands competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea. Medalistsilver* Peter… …   Wikipedia

  • Virgin Islands at the 1984 Summer Olympics — Infobox Olympics Virgin Islands games=1984 Summer competitors= sports= flagbearer= officials=The United States Virgin Islands competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, United States. The nation returned to the Summer Games after… …   Wikipedia

  • Virgin Islands at the 1968 Summer Olympics — Infobox Olympics Virgin Islands games=1968 Summer competitors= sports= flagbearer= officials=The United States Virgin Islands competed in the Summer Olympic Games for the first time at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico.References*… …   Wikipedia

  • Virgin Islands at the 1984 Winter Olympics — Infobox Olympics Virgin Islands games=1984 Winter competitors= sports= flagbearer= officials=The United States Virgin Islands competed in the Winter Olympic Games for the first time at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.Results and… …   Wikipedia

  • Virgin Islands at the 2004 Summer Olympics — Infobox Olympics Virgin Islands games=2004 Summer competitors= sports= flagbearer=La Verne Jones officials=The United States Virgin Islands competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.Results by event =Athletics= Men s 100 metres: *… …   Wikipedia

  • Virgin Islands at the 1996 Summer Olympics — Infobox Olympics Virgin Islands games=1996 Summer competitors= sports= flagbearer= officials=The United States Virgin Islands competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States.Results by event =Athletics= Women s Long Jump *Flora… …   Wikipedia

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