United States Virgin Islands Facts
Flag Description: The American Eagle is centered on a white background. The eagle is holding an olive branch (peace) in its right talons and arrows (defense) in its left talons.
The "V" and "I" is for "Virgin Islands".
• History: First inhabited by Arawaks, then Caribs. Discovered by Columbus in 1493.
First settled by the Dutch in 1648. Annexed by England in 1672.
• Owned by: United States - unincorporated territory of the US
• Government: United States
Local government is elected Legislative Council with 13 members.
• Capitol: Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
• Number of Islands: 3 main islands and 50 cays
• Area: 135 square miles
• Amount of Coastline: 80 km
• Highest Point: 1,600 feet above sea level
• Average Temperatures: Winter - 77ºF / Summer 82ºF
• Population: 119,827
• People: African descent - 75%, US mainland - 13%, Puerto Rican - 5%, Danish, French
• Language: English, plus some Creole, Spanish and French
• Religion: Baptist - 42%, Catholic - 34%, Episcopalian - 17%
• Ship Ports: 2 - Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Frederiksted, St. Croix
• Airports: 3
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