Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands of the United States
NA
Virgin Islands as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 98 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.
Geography
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
17 fieldsLand useshare of 352 sq km
Location
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Climate
subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November
Natural hazards
- several hurricanes in recent years;
- frequent and severe droughts and floods;
- occasional earthquakes
Geography - note
- important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal;
- Saint Thomas has one of the best natural, deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2000 est.)
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 27.8% (male 17,258; female 16,359)
- 15-64 years:
- 63.72% (male 35,026; female 42,021)
- 65 years and over:
- 8.48% (male 4,435; female 5,818) (2000 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.83 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.76 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.88 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Government
NA; President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since 20 January 1993); Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Gererd LUZ James II (since 5 January 1999)
18 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Senate, 15 seats, elected 3 November 1998one dot, one seat
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Virgin Islands of the United States
- conventional short form:
- Virgin Islands
- former:
- Danish West Indies
Dependency status
organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Administrative divisions
- none (territory of the US);
- there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three islands at the second order;
- Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
Suffrage
- 18 years of age;
- universal;
- note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
- head of government:
- Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Gererd LUZ James II (since 5 January 1999)
- cabinet:
- NA
- elections:
- US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms;
- governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms;
- election last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2002)
- election results:
- Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL elected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles W. TURNBULL (Democrat) 58.9%, former Governor Roy L. SCHNEIDER (ICM) 41.1%
Legislative branch
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
- elections:
- last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2000)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 6, Republican Party 2, ICM 2, independents 5
note: the Virgin Islands elect one representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2000); results - Dr. Donna GREEN (Democrat) 80%, Victor O. FRAZER (ICM) 20%
Judicial branch
US District Court, judges are appointed by the president; Territorial Court, judges appointed by the governor
Political parties and leaders
- Democratic Party [James O'BRYAN, Jr.];
- Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Virdin C. BROWN];
- Republican Party [James OLIVER]
Flag description
- white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I;
- the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel
Economy
Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment.
31 fieldsElectricity
Economy - overview
Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textile, electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly plants. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported.
International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The islands are subject to substantial damage from storms.
Industries
tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
- domestic:
- modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
- international:
- submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA
Transportation
6 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
Military
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Virgin Islands.” The World Factbook 2000. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/virgin-islands/2000.