The United States Virgin Islands consist of the main islands of St.Croix, St.John, and St.Thomas, and many other surrounding minor islands. The total land area of the territory is 133 square miles. The USVI’s capital is Charlotte Amalie on the island of St.Thomas.
Until well into the 20th century, sugarcane and, to a lesser extent, cotton provided the main economic base. The harbor at St.Thomas also generated some income. When the United States acquired the islands, both social and economic conditions were poor. The first U.S. governor reported in 1917 that the islands were incapable of self-support. Since then, millions of dollars of U.S. aid have failed to make them self-supporting. U.S. aid and the development of tourism nevertheless resulted …show more content…
The United States Virgin Islands are an unincorporated and organized territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs of the United States Department of the Interior. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
Virgin Islands residents are U.S. citizens but cannot vote in United States presidential election and cannot elect voting members of Congress. Virgin Islands residents can vote fully in all elections if they become a resident of one of the 50 U.S. states, while residents of one of the 50 states who become residents of the Virgin Islands can no longer vote for President or for voting members of Congress.
The population is primarily made up of blacks descended from African slaves. The number of Puerto Ricans and persons from the continental United States has increased in recent years. Less than half of the U.S. Virgin Islands population is …show more content…
Some French is heard on St. Thomas, and there are numerous Spanish-speaking people on St. Croix, where many Puerto Ricans have settled.
Religious freedom has existed since the 1600s. The islands are predominantly Protestant, the largest denomination in the British Virgin Islands being Methodist and in the U.S. islands, Anglican. The second oldest Lutheran church in the Western Hemisphere held its first service in Charlotte Amalie in 1666, and the second oldest American synagogue is in St. Thomas. Roman Catholics form a large minority in the U.S. islands.
The British and U.S. components of the Virgin Islands differ demographically. The U.S. islands have about nine times the population of their British neighbors; the British islands have the lower birth rate, while the U.S. islands have a greater rate of natural population increase. The death rates for both entities are lower than the Caribbean mean. Both island groups have rates of total population growth that are affected substantially by immigration. The principle urban places are Road Town on Tortola and Charlotte Amalie on St.
Until well into the 20th century, sugarcane and, to a lesser extent, cotton provided the main economic base. The harbor at St.Thomas also generated some income. When the United States acquired the islands, both social and economic conditions were poor. The first U.S. governor reported in 1917 that the islands were incapable of self-support. Since then, millions of dollars of U.S. aid have failed to make them self-supporting. U.S. aid and the development of tourism nevertheless resulted …show more content…
The United States Virgin Islands are an unincorporated and organized territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs of the United States Department of the Interior. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
Virgin Islands residents are U.S. citizens but cannot vote in United States presidential election and cannot elect voting members of Congress. Virgin Islands residents can vote fully in all elections if they become a resident of one of the 50 U.S. states, while residents of one of the 50 states who become residents of the Virgin Islands can no longer vote for President or for voting members of Congress.
The population is primarily made up of blacks descended from African slaves. The number of Puerto Ricans and persons from the continental United States has increased in recent years. Less than half of the U.S. Virgin Islands population is …show more content…
Some French is heard on St. Thomas, and there are numerous Spanish-speaking people on St. Croix, where many Puerto Ricans have settled.
Religious freedom has existed since the 1600s. The islands are predominantly Protestant, the largest denomination in the British Virgin Islands being Methodist and in the U.S. islands, Anglican. The second oldest Lutheran church in the Western Hemisphere held its first service in Charlotte Amalie in 1666, and the second oldest American synagogue is in St. Thomas. Roman Catholics form a large minority in the U.S. islands.
The British and U.S. components of the Virgin Islands differ demographically. The U.S. islands have about nine times the population of their British neighbors; the British islands have the lower birth rate, while the U.S. islands have a greater rate of natural population increase. The death rates for both entities are lower than the Caribbean mean. Both island groups have rates of total population growth that are affected substantially by immigration. The principle urban places are Road Town on Tortola and Charlotte Amalie on St.