United States Virgin Islands

territory of the United States of America

The United States Virgin Islands are a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. They are currently owned and under the authority of the United States Government. They used to be owned by Denmark (and called Danish West Indies). They were sold to the U.S. on January 17, 1917, because of fear that the Germans would capture them and use them as a submarine base in World War I. They are the only part of the U.S. where vehicles drive on the left hand side of the road.

Virgin Islands of the United States
Flag of United States Virgin Islands
Flag
Coat of arms of United States Virgin Islands
Coat of arms
Motto: United in Pride and Hope
Anthem: "Virgin Islands March"
Location of United States Virgin Islands
Capital
and largest city
Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands
Official languagesEnglish
Ethnic groups
African 79.7%, Cacasiun 7.1%, Asian 0.8%, mixed or other 12.4%[1]
Demonym(s)
  • American Virgin Islander
GovernmentUnincorporated, organized territory
• President
Joe Biden (D)
• Governor
Albert Bryan (D)
Tregenza Roach (D)
Unincorporated territory of the United States
March 31, 1917
July 22, 1954
Area
• Total
346.36 km2 (133.73 sq mi) (202nd)
• Water (%)
1.0
Population
• 2010 census
109,750
• Density
354/km2 (916.9/sq mi) (42nd)
GDP (PPP)2003 estimate
• Total
$1.577 billion
CurrencyUnited States dollar (USD)
Time zoneUTC-4 (AST)
• Summer (DST)
UTC-4 (No DST)
Driving sideleft[2]
Calling code+1 (spec. +1-340)
ISO 3166 codeVI
Internet TLD.vi and .us

References

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Other websites

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  Media related to United States Virgin Islands at Wikimedia Commons

  • Official Tourism Website
  • Governor's Website Archived 2015-02-16 at the Wayback Machine
  • "Virgin Islands". The World Factbook (2024 ed.). Central Intelligence Agency.
  • U.S. Census Bureau: Island Areas Census 2000
  • United States Virgin Islands at the Open Directory Project
  • Wikimedia Atlas of the United States Virgin Islands
  •   U.S. Virgin Islands travel guide from Wikivoyage
  • Real-time, geographic and other scientific resources of Virgin Islands Archived 2016-02-01 at the Wayback Machine from the United States Geological Survey
  • Convention between the United States and Denmark for cession of the Danish West Indies