Virgin Islands

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.

• several hurricanes in recent years;
• frequent and severe droughts and floods;
• occasional earthquakes

• 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

at birth:

1.059 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.87 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.83 male(s)/female

total population:

0.9 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

noun:

Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)

adjective:

Virgin Islander

definition:

age 15 and over can read and write

total population:

90-95% est.

male:

NA

female:

NA (2005 est.)

conventional long form:

United States Virgin Islands

conventional short form:

Virgin Islands

former:

Danish West Indies

abbreviation:

USVI

name:

Charlotte Amalie

geographic coordinates:

18 21 N, 64 56 W

time difference:

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

• 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

• 18 years of age;
• universal;
• island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

chief of state:

President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)

head of government:

Governor John DeJONGH (since 1 January 2007)

cabinet:

NA; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)

elections:

• under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as the Virgin Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president;
• however, they may vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections;
• governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term);
• election last held on 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2014)

election results:

John DeJONGH reelected governor; percent of vote - John DeJONGH 56.3%, Kenneth MAPP 43.6%

• US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction);
• Superior Court of the Virgin Islands (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)

• Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON];
• Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS];
• Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]

• white field 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 its right talon and three arrows in the left with a superimposed shield of seven red and six white vertical stripes below a blue panel;
• white is a symbol of purity, the letters stand for the Virgin Islands

name:

"Virgin Islands March"

lyrics/music:

multiple/Alton Augustus ADAMS, Sr.

note: adopted 1963; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States)

agriculture:

1%

industry:

19%

services:

80% (2003 est.)

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

general assessment:

modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay

domestic:

full range of services available

international:

• country code - 1-340;
• submarine cable connections to US, the Caribbean, Central and South America;
• satellite earth stations - NA

• about a dozen television broadcast stations including 1 public TV station;
• multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available;
• 24 radio stations broadcasting (2009)

males age 16-49:

17,675

females age 16-49:

21,070 (2010 est.)

male:

805

female:

849 (2010 est.)