Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet
Our St. Croix fact sheet contains general information about St. Croix, largest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, including the geography, location, population, climate and more. There won’t be a test at the end of your vacation, but here are some interesting facts about the island of St. Croix…
U.S. Territory
The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), including St. Croix, were purchased from Denmark in 1917 and made an unincorporated U.S. territory. What does that mean exactly? This unique territory status enables the USVI to utilize U.S. currency, courts and flag protection. People born in the USVI acquire U.S. citizenship by birth, and foreign nationals residing here may apply for U.S. citizenship by naturalization. The USVI has three branches of government, including a locally elected governor and a territorial legislature, we also elect a non-voting member to the U.S. House of Representatives. Local affairs are led by the Governor and Legislature. Residents of the USVI cannot vote for President of the United States, and we taxes to the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue instead of the IRS.
Geography
The USVI are part of the Antilles chain which separates the Caribbean and Atlantic. St. Croix, the largest of the three Virgins at 84 square miles, it is 28 miles long and 7 miles wide. This intriguing jewel lies 17°45′ North latitude and 64°45′ West longitude and is considered to be one of the most beautiful resort areas in the Caribbean. We are on Atlantic Standard time, which makes us one hour ahead of Eastern Standard time in winter months when you set your clocks back one hour. Ruins of more than 100 sugar mills and great houses sporadically cover the island and offer an insight into the past and present culture of St. Croix. The fascination and allure of St. Croix belongs to its rolling hills, long stretches of white, sandy beaches, and an array of landscape from dry cactus in the east to a lush rain forest in the west.
Climate
AAHHH!! Warm! The sun shines year-round with an average temperature of 80° during the day and around 70° most evenings, summer being a little warmer. Trade winds coming from the East blow seductively across the island to keep the humidity low. When it rains, the showers are over in a few minutes. We average 50 inches of rain a year, with September and October being less dry than the winter months. During rainfall, rooftops not only serve as musical instruments, but a passageway to the cistern, where the water is collected. Water is scarce, so please use it sparingly. Read more on our Climate and Weather page.
Population and Seven Flags
Since 1960, the U.S. Virgin Islands have nearly tripled in population. Estimates put the figure at over 50,000 on St. Croix, 50,000 on St. Thomas and 4,000 on St. John. St. Croix has been ruled under seven different flags over it’s history, and was home to Taino, Arawak and Carib indigenous peoples. It has been colonized by Spain, England, the Holland, France, the Knights of Malta, Denmark, and the United States. To this day, islanders represent many nationalities and backgrounds with the majority being of African descent.
Crucians
People from St. Croix are called Crucians, sometimes spelled ‘Cruzan’. Crucians are very friendly, but are a reserved people. Behavior that is loud and boisterous is often times frowned upon. A smile and a greeting such as ‘good evening’ will surely help you fit in. Mostly everyone speaks English, however the Crucians do have a slightly modified version of English, also called Crucian. Linguistically, Crucian can be defined as Creole and is spoken throughout the West Indies with accents varying from island to island. Crucian, or Creole, was born during the slave trade and matured by influences of Portuguese, Danish, French, Dutch and English.
Driving on the Left
Welcome to life in the left lane! Here in the U.S. Virgin Islands we drive on the left side of the road, and historians are still arguing over why we do this. Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it quickly because most of the roads are two lanes. For the most part, traffic travels at a slow to moderate pace. But please remember to wear your seat belt! It’s the law.
Looking for more information about St. Croix? Be sure to check out our blog and guide pages for more!
