Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands is the main town on the island of
Saint John in the
United States Virgin Islands. According to the 2000 census, Cruz Bay had a population of 2,743.
Community
Cruz Bay, located on the west coast of Saint John, is the island's largest commercial center and the location of the main port on Saint John. The primary access to Saint John is through Cruz Bay Harbor. Frequent barge and
ferry
A ferry is a ship, watercraft or amphibious vehicle used to carry passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A passenger ferry with many stops, such as in Venice, Italy, is sometimes called a water bus or water taxi ...
, including car ferry, service connects Saint John to the neighboring more-developed island of
Saint Thomas. Ferries also run regularly between Cruz Bay and
Tortola,
Virgin Gorda, and
Jost Van Dyke in the
British Virgin Islands.
Cruz Bay is home to numerous shops and restaurants which are frequented by
tourists and locals alike. The
Virgin Islands National Park Visitor Center, the Elaine Sprauve Library, and a United States Post Office are also located in Cruz Bay.
Cruz Bay beach is lined with beach bars and shops. There is also a casino. The beach has soft white sand, a designated swimming area, and space for day boaters to anchor.
The National Park Service has its headquarters near the waterfront in Cruz Bay as does U.S. Customs and Immigration.
The Cruz Bay Town Historic District was listed on the
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
in 2016.
Climate
According to the
Köppen Climate Classification system, Cruz Bay has a
tropical monsoon climate, abbreviated "Am" on climate maps.
On 31 July 1988, Cruz Bay recorded a temperature of , which is the highest temperature to have ever been recorded in the United States Virgin Islands.
Gallery
Image:Landing pier at Cruz Bay, Saint John, United States Virgin Islands 5-28-2008 12-33-25.jpg, Landing pier at Cruz Bay.
Image:Cruz Bay, Saint John; United States Virgin Islands.jpg, Cruz Bay
Image:St John Cruz Bay 1.jpg, Cruz Bay
File:ConchBlowerSTJ.jpg, Conch Blower statue, Franklin Powell Park
References
External links
Cruz Bay Visitor Center– Official site
{{Coord, 18, 20, N, 64, 44, W, source:svwiki_region:VI, display=title
Populated places in Saint John, U.S. Virgin Islands
National Register of Historic Places in the United States Virgin Islands
Towns in the United States Virgin Islands
Sub-districts of Saint John, U.S. Virgin Islands