Quick Facts (Adapted from the New Ben’s Guide to Government)
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| Capital City: | Charlotte Amalie |
| Languages: | Spanish, English, French |
| Motto: | United in Pride and Hope |
| Largest City: | Charliotte Amalie |
| Location: | The islands are located east of Puerto Rico and north of Haiti in the Caribbean Sea. |
| Land Area: | 133 sq. mi. |
| Territory’s Bird: | Yellow Breast or Banana Quit (coreba flaveola) |
| Territory’s Flower: | Yellow Elder or Yellow Cedar (Tacoma stans) |
| Territory’s Song: | The Virgin Islands March |
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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.
Government
conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands
conventional short form: Virgin Islands
former: Danish West Indies
abbreviation: USVI
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
NA
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
none (territory of the US)
Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917)
Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
based on US laws
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
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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%
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held on 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 10, ICM 2, independent 3
note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 2 November 2010 (next to be held on November 2012)
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]
NA
IOC, UPU, WFTU
none (territory of the US)
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
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)
Military
males age 16-49: 17,675
females age 16-49: 21,070 (2010 est.)
male: 805
female: 849 (2010 est.)
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
none
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