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(opens in new window) 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 18 20 N, 64 50 W total: 352 sq
km subtropical, tempered by easterly trade
winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy
season May to November mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous
with little level land lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m sun, sand, sea, surf arable land:
11.76% NA sq km 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 108,775 (July 2004 est.) black 78%, white 10%, other 12% Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%,
Episcopalian 17%, other 7% English (official), Spanish, Creole
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
Charlotte Amalie Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27
March (1917) based on US laws Tourism is the primary economic activity,
accounting for 80% of GDP and employment. The islands normally host 2
million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum
refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. 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. 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. 48,900 (2003 est.) agriculture 1%, industry 19%, services 80%
(2003 est.) 9.3% (2003 est.) revenues:
$560 fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
tourism, petroleum refining, watch
assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles,
electronics refined petroleum products US, Puerto Rico crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods,
building materials US, Puerto Rico US dollar (USD) 69,400 (2002) 41,000 (2002) general assessment:
NA total: 856 km
Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay,
Port Alucroix none 2 (2003 est.) total: 2 defence is the responsibility of the US
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