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.

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

twice the size of Washington, DC

subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November

mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land

sun, sand, sea, surf

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

lack of natural freshwater resources

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

black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census)

English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census)

Protestant 59% (Baptist 42%, Episcopalian 17%), Roman Catholic 34%, other 7%

105,275 (July 2012 est.)

11.32 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

7.39 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

-4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

CHARLOTTE AMALIE (capital) 54,000 (2009)

1.78 children born/woman (2012 est.)

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

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

none (territory of the US)

Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917)

Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954

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

unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)

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]

none (territory of the US)

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

Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP and employment. The islands hosted 2.4 million visitors in 2008. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, rum distilling, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are small but growing components of the economy. The islands are vulnerable to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, to support construction projects in the private sector, to expand tourist facilities, to reduce crime, and to protect the environment.

$1.577 billion (2004 est.)

fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle

tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics

$4.234 billion (2001)

refined petroleum products

$4.609 billion (2001)

crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials

the US dollar is used

1 October - 30 September

872 million kWh (2009 est.)

811 million kWh (2009 est.)

323,000 kW (2009 est.)

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

425,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

493,200 bbl/day (2008 est.)

106,100 bbl/day (2011 est.)

390,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

5,180 bbl/day (2008 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

11.95 million Mt (2010 est.)

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

Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Limetree Bay

defense is the responsibility of the US