Saint Thomas (, , ) is one of the

Virgin Islands The Virgin Islands () are an archipelago between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean and northeastern Caribbean Sea, geographically forming part of the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean, Caribbean islands or West Indie ...

in the

Caribbean Sea The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere, located south of the Gulf of Mexico and southwest of the Sargasso Sea. It is bounded by the Greater Antilles to the north from Cuba ...

, and a constituent district of the

United States Virgin Islands The United States Virgin Islands, officially the Virgin Islands of the United States, are a group of Caribbean islands and a territory of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located ...

(USVI), an

unincorporated territory Territories of the United States are sub-national administrative divisions and dependent territory, dependent territories overseen by the federal government of the United States. The American territories differ from the U.S. states and Indi ...

of the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. Along with surrounding minor islands, it is one of three

county equivalents In the United States, a county or county equivalent is an Administrative division, administrative subdivision of a U.S. state, state or territories of the United States, territory, typically with defined geographic Border, boundaries and some ...

in the USVI. Together with Saint John, it forms one of the districts of the USVI. The territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie is located on the island. Of the three islands, St. Thomas is the second largest, with St. Croix being the largest, and St. John, the smallest. As of the 2010 census, the population of Saint Thomas was 51,634, about 48.5% of the total population of the United States Virgin Islands. Crown Mountain is the highest point in Saint Thomas and in the entire

. Hence, it is called "Rock City". The island has a land area of .

History

Pre-colonial history

The island was originally settled around 1500 BC by the

Ciboney The Ciboney, or Siboney, were a Taíno people of Cuba, Jamaica, and the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti. A Western Taíno group living in Cuba during the 15th and 16th centuries, they had a dialect and culture distinct from the Classic Taíno in th ...

people. Ciboney sites have been uncovered in Krum Bay. The island was later inhabited by the

Arawak The Arawak are a group of Indigenous peoples of northern South America and of the Caribbean. The term "Arawak" has been applied at various times to different Indigenous groups, from the Lokono of South America to the Taíno (Island Arawaks), w ...

s and then the Caribs. Arawak sites have been uncovered in Magens Bay and Botany Bay, and Carib sites have been uncovered in Magens Bay.

Early European Exploration

Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus (; between 25 August and 31 October 1451 – 20 May 1506) was an Italians, Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Genoa who completed Voyages of Christopher Columbus, four Spanish-based voyages across the At ...

sighted the island in 1493 on his second voyage to the

New World The term "New World" is used to describe the majority of lands of Earth's Western Hemisphere, particularly the Americas, and sometimes Oceania."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: ...

. He landed on the island of

Saint Croix Saint Croix ( ; ; ; ; Danish language, Danish and ; ) is an island in the Caribbean Sea, and a county and constituent Districts and sub-districts of the United States Virgin Islands, district of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), an Unin ...

and then made his way to the other islands nearby at the start of the

Lesser Antilles The Lesser Antilles is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea, forming part of the West Indies in Caribbean, Caribbean region of the Americas. They are distinguished from the larger islands of the Greater Antilles to the west. They form an arc w ...

, and named them "Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes", after the legend of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgins. It was later shortened to " Las Virgenes", which means, "The Virgins".

Danish colonial period

The

Dutch West India Company The Dutch West India Company () was a Dutch chartered company that was founded in 1621 and went defunct in 1792. Among its founders were Reynier Pauw, Willem Usselincx (1567–1647), and Jessé de Forest (1576–1624). On 3 June 1621, it was gra ...

established a post on Saint Thomas in 1657. The first congregation was the St. Thomas Reformed Church, which was established in 1660 and was associated with the

Dutch Reformed Church The Dutch Reformed Church (, , abbreviated NHK ) was the largest Christian denomination in the Netherlands from the onset of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century until 1930. It was the traditional denomination of the Dutch royal famil ...

. Denmark-Norway's first attempt to settle the island in 1665 failed. However, the Danes did resettle St. Thomas in 1672, under the sponsorship of the Glueckstadt Co., later the

Danish West India Company The Danish West India Company () or Danish West IndiaGuinea Company (') was a Dano-Norwegian chartered company that operated out of the colonies in the Danish West Indies. It is estimated that 120,000 enslaved Africans were transported on the ...

. The first

slave ship Slave ships were large cargo ships specially built or converted from the 17th to the 19th century for transporting Slavery, slaves. Such ships were also known as "Guineamen" because the trade involved human trafficking to and from the Guinea ( ...

s arrived in 1673, and St. Thomas became a slave market. In 1685, the Danish leased part of the island to the Brandenburger Company, which was resold to the Danish in 1754, and was granted

free port A free-trade zone (FTZ) is a class of special economic zone. It is a geographic area where goods may be imported, stored, handled, manufactured, or reconfigured and re-exported under specific customs regulation and generally not subject to ...

status in 1764. The land was divided into

plantation Plantations are farms specializing in cash crops, usually mainly planting a single crop, with perhaps ancillary areas for vegetables for eating and so on. Plantations, centered on a plantation house, grow crops including cotton, cannabis, tob ...

s and

sugarcane Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of tall, Perennial plant, perennial grass (in the genus ''Saccharum'', tribe Andropogoneae) that is used for sugar Sugar industry, production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with stout, jointed, fib ...

production became the primary economic activity. As a result, the economies of Saint Thomas and the neighboring islands of Saint John and

became highly dependent on enslaved African labor and the African slave trade. Saint Thomas's fine natural harbor became known as "Taphus" for the drinking establishments located nearby. ("Tap Hus" translates as "rum shop" or "tap house" referring to the drinking establishments.) In 1691, the primary settlement there was renamed Charlotte Amalia in honor of the wife of Denmark's King Christian V. It was later declared a

by Frederick V. In December 1732, the first two of many Moravian Brethren

missionaries A missionary is a member of a religious group who is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Thomas Hale 'On Being a Miss ...

came from

Herrnhut Herrnhut (; ; ; Upper Lusatian: ''Harrnhutt'', ''Harrnutt'') is a town of around 6,000 inhabitants in Upper Lusatia, in the district of Görlitz, in eastern Saxony, Germany. The town is mainly known as the place of origin of the community of t ...

Saxony Saxony, officially the Free State of Saxony, is a landlocked state of Germany, bordering the states of Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and Bavaria, as well as the countries of Poland and the Czech Republic. Its capital is Dresden, and ...

in present-day Germany to minister to them. Distrusted at first by the white masters, they lived among the slaves and soon won their confidence. The first British invasion and occupation of the island occurred in 1801. The islands were returned to Denmark in 1802, under the terms of the

Treaty of Amiens The Treaty of Amiens (, ) temporarily ended hostilities between France, the Spanish Empire, and the United Kingdom at the end of the War of the Second Coalition. It marked the end of the French Revolutionary Wars; after a short peace it set t ...

. Fire destroyed hundreds of homes in Charlotte Amalie in 1804. The second British occupation of the island occurred from 1807 to 1815, after the

Invasion of the Danish West Indies (1807) The second British Invasion of the Danish West Indies took place in December 1807 when a British fleet captured the Danish islands of Saint Thomas on 22 December and Saint Croix on 25 December. The Danes did not resist and the invasion was bloodl ...

, during which they built Fort Cowell on Hassel Island. While the sugar trade had brought prosperity to the island's free citizens, by the early 19th century Saint Thomas was in decline. The continued export of sugar was threatened by hurricanes, drought, and American competition. Following the Danish Revolution of 1848, slavery was abolished and the resulting rise in labor costs further weakened the position of Saint Thomas's sugar producers. Given its harbors and fortifications, Saint Thomas still retained a strategic importance, and thus, in the 1860s, during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

and its aftermath, the

United States government The Federal Government of the United States of America (U.S. federal government or U.S. government) is the Federation#Federal governments, national government of the United States. The U.S. federal government is composed of three distinct ...

considered entering into a treaty with Denmark to buy the island and its neighbors from Denmark for $7.5 million. The Danish Landstinget agreed to the sale as did the inhabitants of the islands in a vote of 1,244 to 22. However, the proponents of the purchase in the United States failed to gain enough support to ratify the treaty.

Freedom of the press

In 1915, David Hamilton Jackson traveled to Denmark and convinced the King of Denmark to allow freedom of the press in Saint Thomas, Saint John, and

. He began the first newspaper in the islands, known as ''The Herald''. Jackson was the editor of ''The Herald'', which had its office at 1B Kongens Gade in Christiansted. The newspaper's focus was civic and labor rights for local workers, and it published criticisms of the labor situation in the islands. After beginning ''The Herald,'' Jackson organized labor unions among the islanders for better working conditions. He was also instrumental in persuading the Danish to allow the US to purchase the islands of Saint Thomas, Saint John, and

. The islands now have an annual celebration in November to honor the legacy of David Hamilton Jackson.

United States acquisition

In 1917, Saint Thomas was purchased (along with Saint Croix and Saint John) by the

for $25 million in gold ($ million today), as part of a strategy to maintain control over the

Caribbean The Caribbean ( , ; ; ; ) is a region in the middle of the Americas centered around the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, mostly overlapping with the West Indies. Bordered by North America to the north, Central America ...

and the

Panama Canal The Panama Canal () is an artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean. It cuts across the narrowest point of the Isthmus of Panama, and is a Channel (geography), conduit for maritime trade between th ...

during the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. The transfer occurred on March 31, 1917. At the time of the U.S. purchase in 1917, the colony did not include Water Island; Water Island had been sold by Denmark to the East Asiatic Company, a private shipping company, in 1905. The company eventually sold the island to the United States in 1944, during the German occupation of Denmark. The federal government then used the island for military purposes until 1950 before finally transferring it to the territorial government in 1996. The United States granted citizenship to residents of the Virgin Islands in 1927. The U.S. Department of the Interior took over administrative duties in 1931. American forces were based on the island during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. In 1954, passage of the U.S. Virgin Islands

Organic Act In United States law, an organic act is an act of the United States Congress that establishes an administrative agency or local government, for example, the laws that established territory of the United States and specified how they are to ...

officially granted territorial status to the three islands, allowing for the formation of a local senate. Full

home rule Home rule is the government of a colony, dependent country, or region by its own citizens. It is thus the power of a part (administrative division) of a state or an external dependent country to exercise such of the state's powers of governan ...

was achieved in 1970. The post-war era also saw the rise of tourism on the island. With relatively cheap air travel and the American

embargo Economic sanctions or embargoes are commercial and financial penalties applied by states or institutions against states, groups, or individuals. Economic sanctions are a form of coercion that attempts to get an actor to change its behavior throu ...

Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...

, the numbers of visitors greatly increased. Despite natural disasters such as Hurricanes Hugo (1989), Hurricanes

Luis Luis is a given name. It is the Spanish form of the originally Germanic name or . Other Iberian Romance languages have comparable forms: (with an accent mark on the i) in Portuguese and Galician, in Aragonese and Catalan, while is archai ...

and Marilyn (1995), and Hurricanes Irma and Maria (2017), hotels have been built from the West End to the East End, and in recent years, Saint Thomas has become a busy cruise ship port and vacation venue.

Geography

The island has a number of natural bays and harbors including Magens Bay, Great Bay, Jersey Bay, Long Bay, Fortuna Bay, and Hendrik Bay. Passenger ships dock and anchor in Long Bay and Crown Bay, near Charlotte Amalie. Ships dock at West Indian Company Dock and Austin Monsanto Dock. Red Hook is an unofficial "town" located on the East End subdistrict.

Climate

Saint Thomas has a

tropical savanna climate Tropical savanna climate or tropical wet and dry climate is a tropical climate sub-type that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification categories ''Aw'' (for a dry "winter") and ''As'' (for a dry "summer"). The driest month has less than ...

(''Aw'' according to the

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

) with a drier season and a wetter season. The temperature is warm year-round, with January and February, the coolest months, having average highs of and average lows of . August has the highest average high of , with July, August and September all having the highest average low at . The highest temperature ever recorded was on August 4, 1994, and June 23, 1996, which is the highest temperature to have ever been recorded in the United States Virgin Islands. The lowest recorded temperature was in November. Saint Thomas receives of precipitation annually over 163.6 precipitation days. Autumn is the wettest time of year because of

tropical cyclone A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system with a low-pressure area, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depending on its locat ...

s. November is the wettest month, receiving of rain on average over 17.8 precipitation days, the most of any month. March is the driest month, receiving of rainfall over 8.1 precipitation days, the least of any month.

Subdivisions

Saint Thomas is divided into the following

subdistrict A subdistrict or sub-district is an administrative division that is generally smaller than a district. Equivalents * Administrative posts of East Timor, formerly Portuguese-language * Kelurahan, in Indonesia * Mukim, a township in Brunei, Ind ...

s (with population as per the 2020 U.S. Census): # Charlotte Amalie (pop. 14,477) Charlotte Amalie town (pop. 8,194) # East End (pop. 7,502) # Northside (pop. 8,889) # Southside (pop. 4,112) # Tutu (pop. 5,129) # Water Island (pop. 164) # West End (pop. 1,988)

Demographics

As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population of St. Thomas was 42,261.

Race and ethnicity

Historical ethnic communities

From 1796 a small

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

community developed in Charlotte Amalie. It established the Beracha Veshalom Vegmiluth Hasadim, the second oldest synagogue in the United States. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries a group of French Catholic immigrants known as the came to St. Thomas from the St. Barthélemy islands to the east, forming one community of fishermen and one of farmers.

Language

Transportation

The island is serviced by the Cyril E. King International Airport. Passenger and limited car-ferry services to neighboring islands such as Water Island, Saint John,

, and the

British Virgin Islands The British Virgin Islands (BVI), officially the Virgin Islands, are a British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, to the east of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands and north-west ...

run regularly out of the Red Hook Terminal, Charlotte Amalie Terminal, and Crown Bay Marina. There are safaris, which are open air taxis, mounted onto the back of a pickup truck. The fare is typically $1 to $2 to go from one end of the island to the other. The Virgin Islands also has a public transit system called the Virgin Islands Transit, or VITRAN, which services a fare of $1. These buses are discounted for both senior citizens and students with valid ID's. The United States Virgin Islands is the only place under United States jurisdiction where the rule of the road is to drive on the left. This was inherited from what was the then-current Danish practice at the time of the American acquisition in 1917. However, because the islands are a U.S. territory, most cars are imported from the mainland United States and therefore the steering column is located on the left side of the vehicle. The island has many regular private taxis from compact size to large vans, as well as open-air, covered trucks called "safaris" with bench seats.

Education

St. Thomas-St. John School District operates public schools. Elementary Schools: * Jane E Tuitt Elementary School * Joseph Gomez Elementary School * Joseph Sibbily Elementary School * Julius E. Sprauve School (located on Saint John) * Ulla F. Muller Elementary School * Yvonne R. Milliner-Bowsky Elementary School K-8 Schools: Lockhart K-8 School Junior High Schools: * Addelita Cancryn Junior High School * Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School * Edith L. Williams Alternative Academy High Schools * Charlotte Amalie High School * Ivanna Eudora Kean High School There are also several private and parochial schools in the St. Thomas-St.John School District: Private schools: * Antilles School
Virgin Islands Montessori School & Peter Gruber International Academy
Parochial schools: * All Saints Cathedral School * Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School * Calvary Christian Academy * Church of God Academy * Memorial Moravian School * Seventh Day Adventist School * Wesleyan Academy Bible School There is one University in the U.S. Virgin Islands (HBCU) with two campuses, one in each district: * University of the Virgin Islands ** Orville E. Kean Campus on Saint Thomas ** Albert A. Sheen Campus on

Notable people

Gabriel Milan Gabriel Milan ( – 26 March 1689) was a colonial administrator and planter who served as governor of the Danish West Indies from 7 May 1684 to 27 February 1686. Though he mainly went by the name of 'Gabriel Milan', he identified himself as ...

( 1631–1689), governor from 1684−1686 * Edward Teach (c. 1680–1718), known as ''Blackbeard'', a pirate and privateer; may have been given a

letter of marque A letter of marque and reprisal () was a Sovereign state, government license in the Age of Sail that authorized a private person, known as a privateer or French corsairs, corsair, to attack and capture vessels of a foreign state at war with t ...

from St. Thomas after being pardoned for pirating * Jean Hamlin − late 17th-century French buccaneer * Norma Krasinski - Puerto Rican-Virgin Islander singer and actress * Johan Lorentz Castenschiold (1705–1745), a Danish nobleman, landowner and planter * Thomas de Malleville (1739–1798), a Creole-Danish military officer and colonial administrator *

Denmark Vesey Denmark Vesey (also Telemaque) (July 2, 1822) was a Free Negro, free Black man and community leader in Charleston, South Carolina, who was accused and convicted of planning a major Slave rebellion, slave revolt in 1822. Although the alleged pl ...

(c. 1767–1822), leader of planned slave uprising in

Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atla ...

* Joachim Melchior Magens (1775–1845), a Danish jurist and public prosecutor * Peter von Scholten (1784–1854), governor general from 1827 to 1848. * Hermann Treschow Gartner (1785–1827), a Danish surgeon and anatomist, discovered

Gartner's duct Gartner's duct, also known as Gartner's canal or the ductus longitudinalis epoophori, is a potential embryological remnant in human female development of the mesonephric duct in the development of the urinary and reproductive organs. It was dis ...

* Lewin Jürgen Rohde (1786–1857), a Danish naval officer, harbour master, cartographer and acting governor *

Antonio López de Santa Anna Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón (21 February 1794 – 21 June 1876),Callcott, Wilfred H., "Santa Anna, Antonio Lopez De,''Handbook of Texas Online'' Retrieved 18 April 2017. often known as Santa Anna, wa ...

(1794–1876), soldier and President of Mexico *

Ulrik Anton Motzfeldt Ulrik Anton Motzfeldt (27 January 1807 – 10 July 1865) was a Norwegian jurist and politician. He served five terms in the Storting, Norwegian Parliament, including two years as President of the Storting, President. He was also a professor a ...

(1807–1865), a Norwegian jurist and politician * David Levy Yulee (1810–1886), politician, the first member of the

United States Senate The United States Senate is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and ...

to have been a practicing Jew * Charles Joseph Sainte-Claire Deville (1814–1876), French

geologist A geologist is a scientist who studies the structure, composition, and History of Earth, history of Earth. Geologists incorporate techniques from physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and geography to perform research in the Field research, ...

* Henri Étienne Sainte-Claire Deville (1818–1881), French chemist *

Camille Pissarro Jacob Abraham Camille Pissarro ( ; ; 10 July 1830 – 13 November 1903) was a Danish-French Impressionist and Neo-Impressionist painter born on the island of St Thomas (now in the US Virgin Islands, but then in the Danish West Indies). ...

(1830–1903), key member of the French

Impressionist Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by visible brush strokes, open Composition (visual arts), composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage ...

group of painters * Edward Wilmot Blyden (1832–1912), ambassador, an Igbo in Diaspora; credited as laying the foundation of West African nationalism and Pan-Africanism * Dora Richards Miller (1842–1914), author and educator * Morris Simmonds (1855–1925), German physician, pathologist, described Simmonds syndrome * Urania P. Cummings (1889–1978), painter and folk artist * Alton Augustus Adams (1889–1987), the first African-American band master for the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

* Jean Joseph Sibilly (1889–1997), farmer and restaurant owner * J. Raymond Jones (1899–1991), political activist in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

* John Patrick (1905–1995), screenwriter and Tony Award & Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright * Bertha C. Boschulte (1906–2004), an American educator, women's rights activist, statistician and politician * Ralph Moses Paiewonsky (1907–1991), governor from 1961 to 1969 * Terence Todman (1926–2014), ambassador in the US Diplomatic Service * Roy Lester Schneider (1939–2022), physician and governor, from 1995 to 1999 * Ademola Olugebefola (born 1941), artist, musician and educator * LaVerne E. Ragster (born 1951), marine biologist and academic administrator *

Kelsey Grammer Allen Kelsey Grammer (born February 21, 1955) is an American actor and producer. He gained fame for his role as the psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the NBC sitcom ''Cheers'' (1984–1993) and its spin-off ''Frasier'' (1993–2004, and again F ...

(born 1955), actor, director, and producer born in Saint Thomas * Jean Toussaint (born 1960), jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist * Christine Jowers (born c. 1960), choreographer, producer and dance critic * Barbara A. Petersen, administrator for Saint Thomas and Water Island *

Vanessa Daou Vanessa Dale Daou (born October 4, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, poet, visual artist and dancer. Most notably a musician, her work is known among nu jazz, trip hop and electronic music circles for her trademark spoken word and aspirat ...

(born 1967), singer-songwriter, dancer, writer, poet * Karrine Steffans (born 1978), former hip-hop music video performer, actress, author of ''Confessions of A Video Vixen'' * Tiphanie Yanique (born 1978), fiction writer, poet and essayist * Rashawn Ross (born 1979), trumpeter who tours with

Dave Matthews Band Dave Matthews Band (also known as DMB) is an American rock band from Charlottesville, Virginia. The band's lineup consists of Dave Matthews (lead vocals, guitar), Stefan Lessard (bass), Carter Beauford (drums), Tim Reynolds (lead guitar), R ...

Janelle James Janelle James (born September 23, 1979) is an American comedian, actress, and writer. She is best known for her role as List of Abbott Elementary characters#Ava Coleman, Ava Coleman in the American Broadcasting Company, ABC television series ...

(born 1979), comedian and actress * Hannah Jeter (born 1990), ''Sports Illustrated'' swimsuit cover model and wife of

Derek Jeter Derek Sanderson Jeter ( ; born June 26, 1974), nicknamed "the Captain", is an American former professional baseball shortstop, businessman, and baseball executive. As a player, Jeter spent his entire 20-year Major League Baseball (MLB) caree ...

of the New York Yankees

Sport

* Emile Griffith (1938–2013), boxer, world champion in the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions *

Al McBean Alvin O'Neal McBean (May 15, 1938 – January 31, 2024) was a professional baseball player from the United States Virgin Islands. He played in Major League Baseball as a pitcher, most notably for the Pittsburgh Pirates with whom he played the ma ...

(1938–2024), Major League Baseball player * Elrod Hendricks (1940–2005), Major League Baseball player * Pamela Balash-Webber (1953–2020), diving instructor * Julian Jackson (born 1960), boxer born in Saint Thomas * Calvin Pickering (born 1976), Major League Baseball player * Jeff Faulkner (born 1964),

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

player * Callix Crabbe (born 1983),

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

player * Abdul Hodge (born 1983), National Football League player * Jabari Blash (born 1989), baseball player * Daryl Homer (born 1990), saber fencer, silver medallist at the 2016 Olympic Games * Akeel Morris (born 1992), baseball player *

Nicolas Claxton Nicolas Devir Claxton (born April 17, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Georgia Bulldogs. Claxton was selected by the Nets ...

(born 1999), NBA player, center for the

Brooklyn Nets The Brooklyn Nets are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Brooklyn. The Nets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), ...

* Aliyah Boston (born 2001), WNBA player, power forward for the

Indiana Fever The Indiana Fever are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis. The Fever compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) a member of the Eastern Conference (WNBA), Eastern Conference. The team was founded for ...

In popular culture

Music

" St. Thomas" is among the most recognisable

instrumental An instrumental or instrumental song is music without any vocals, although it might include some inarticulate vocals, such as shouted backup vocals in a big band setting. Through Semantic change, semantic widening, a broader sense of the word s ...

s in the

repertoire Repertory or repertoire () is the list or set of works a person or company is accustomed to performing. Whether the English or French spelling is used has no bearing, but it was the French word, with an accent on the first e, , that first took ho ...

of American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

tenor saxophonist

Sonny Rollins Walter Theodore "Sonny" Rollins (born September 7, 1930) is an American retired jazz tenor saxophonist who is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. In a seven-decade career, Rollins recorded over sixt ...

based on a traditional calypso sung to him by his mother, Valborg Solomon Rollins, who was born on Saint Thomas. The traditional music of the Virgin Islands is called quelbe, also known as scratch or fungi. This music style is performed using instruments made from gourds and everyday objects, with bands typically incorporating banjos, conga drums, washboards, triangles, saxophones, and flutes. In addition to quelbe, other music styles such as calypso,

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its Jamaican diaspora, diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first ...

, soca, and

hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...

are also popular among the islands. There is a hip hop duo group called R. City, featuring brothers, Theron Thomas and Timothy Thomas. These brothers were born on the island of St. Thomas, and after graduating from high school on the island, they moved to the U.S. mainland to pursue their music careers. Their most notable song is " Locked Away", featuring

Adam Levine Adam Noah Levine ( ; born March 18, 1979) is an American musician who is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist and sole continuous member of the pop rock band Maroon 5. Levine began his musical career in 1994 with the band Kara's Flowers, for ...

. R. City has collaborated with other artists, such as

Rihanna Robyn Rihanna Fenty ( ; born February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, businesswoman, and actress. One of the List of music artists by net worth, wealthiest musicians in the world, List of awards and nominations received by Rihanna, her vario ...

Miley Cyrus Miley Ray Cyrus ( , born Destiny Hope Cyrus, November 23, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and director. Regarded as a contemporary pop icon, Cyrus has been recognized for her evolving artistry and image reinventions. She is ...

Drake Drake may refer to: Animals and creatures * A male duck * Drake (mythology), a term related to and often synonymous with dragon People and fictional characters * Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family ...

Nicki Minaj Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Nicki Minaj ( ), is a Trinidadian rapper, singer, and songwriter. Regarded as the "Queen of Rap" and one of the most influential rappers of all time, she is noted for her ...

, and many more. In February 2024, Theron Thomas won a

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

for Songwriter of the Year, Non Classical at the

66th Annual Grammy Awards The 66th Annual Grammy Awards honored the best recordings, compositions, and artists from October 1, 2022, to September 15, 2023, as chosen by the members of The Recording Academy, on February 4, 2024. In its 21st year at the Crypto.com Arena ...

Dances

Quadrille The quadrille is a dance that was fashionable in late 18th- and 19th-century Europe and its colonies. The quadrille consists of a chain of four to six ''Contra dance, contredanses''. Latterly the quadrille was frequently danced to a medley of ope ...

is the traditional folk dance of the Virgin Islands, and St. Thomas' variation is called the "Flat German Quadrille". The origin of this dance was in France in the 1700s. This dance was brought to the islands during their history under various nations, including France and England. Initially a source of entertainment on sugar plantations, it has evolved into a cultural emblem, primarily reserved for local holidays celebrating the Virgin Islands heritage. Originally performed by two couples, it has since expanded to involve four couples arranged in a square formation.

Cultural clothing

The most notable clothing in St. Thomas, and the rest of the Virgin Islands is called the traditional V.I. Madras. Madras is a striped pattern that can be found on any piece of clothing with various different colors such as turquoise, royal blue, pink, white, yellow, green, and red. The four stripes seen on this pattern each represents one of the main U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. The fourth stripe represents the unity between them.

Cultural events

The U.S. Virgin Islands has a number of cultural events that engage both residents and visitors all year-round. Each of the three islands have different celebrations at different times of the year. Carnival Each year, the carnival on St. Thomas spans a month, kicking off with queen, prince, and princess shows, Calypso shows, Pan-O-Ramas, and

J'ouvert J'ouvert ( ) (also Jour ouvert, Jouvay, or Jouvé) is a traditional Carnival celebration in many countries throughout the Caribbean. The parade is believed to have its foundation in Trinidad & Tobago, with roots steeped in French Afro-Creole t ...

. These events are typically held in April, then sometimes extends into the first week of May. The highlight of the carnival includes vibrant parades. The Children's Parade is usually the day before the Adults' Parade, and lasts for approximately 4 to 5 hours long, while the Adult Parade lasts all day long. Both parades feature performance troupes wearing colorful and sparkly costumes and decorated floats. These parades take place on Main Street in Charlotte Amalie. Carnival village The Carnival Village, also known as "the Village" by locals, is a place where people of all ages can go to for a variety of entertainment. There are decorated booths that sells food and drinks from different islands, a stage where bands and special guests perform, and an amusement park area with rides and games for all to enjoy. Every night, there is a concert. The Village is officially opened each year by the governor of the Virgin Islands and the Carnival Queen. The Carnival Village is typically open for about a week. Food fair The food fair is a day-long celebration where local cuisines and vibrant arts are showcased and sold. Each year around Carnival time, many vendors and patrons gather in the Emancipation Garden, located in Charlotte Amalie, to sell and purchase goods. In addition to food and crafts, the event offers various forms of entertainment including steel pan music provided by local bands, like The Rising Stars, dance performances by local dance groups, and appearances by Carnival royalty and political figures. Miracle on Main Street Miracle on Main Street is an annual event held during the Christmas season is the historic downtown district of Charlotte Amalie, known as Main Street. This event includes various attractions such as Christmas carolers, Santas, steel pan battles, illuminated storefronts, and activities tailored for children. Vendors line the streets from Market Square all the way to the Emancipation Garden. These vendors offer homemade products, local cuisine and beverages, traditional attire, arts and crafts, and other locally made goods. Additionally, the event features the annual Lighted Boat Parade that takes place on the waterfront. Participating boats departs from the Crown Bay Marina at 6:30 pm and makes its way to the waterfront. These boats showcase their festive decorations, which illuminates the waters.

Holidays and Heritage Month

Local Holidays

The Virgin Islands have various local holidays: * V.I. Emancipation Day: This holiday marks the anniversary of the emancipation of slaves in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is observed annually on July 3. * Virgin Islands–Puerto Rico Friendship Day: This holiday celebrates the strong bond between the USVI and its neighboring island, Puerto Rico, because of their mutual contributions. It falls on the second Monday in October, coinciding with

Columbus Day Columbus Day is a national holiday in many countries of the Americas and elsewhere, and a federal holiday in the United States, which officially celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas. He went ashore at ...

. * David Hamilton Jackson Day/ Liberty Day: A day commemorating David Hamilton Jackson, who was an advocate for the rights and freedoms of the people in the territory. This holiday is always celebrated on November 1. * Transfer Day: This holiday commemorates transfer of the U.S. Virgin Islands from the Danish to the U.S. It is always celebrated on March 31.

Virgin Islands History Month

During the month of March, Virgin Islands Heritage is celebrated. Each year, the celebration of this month offers an opportunity to honor the rich heritage, diversity, and contributions of the people of the Virgin Islands and also serves as a reminder of the legacy that has shaped the community. Throughout the month, there are various events, activities, and educational initiatives, which are organized to highlight the cultural richness, historical significance, and societal impact of the Virgin Islands.

Points of interest

Blackbeard's Castle A historical sight built atop Government Hill in 1679. This castle was originally a watchtower safeguarding the harbor. The Danish soldiers used this tower to scan the seas for enemy ships. It was initially named the Skytsborg Tower, but was later named after the English pirate Edward Teach, also known as

Blackbeard Edward Teach (or Thatch; – 22 November 1718), better known as Blackbeard, was an English pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of Britain's North American colonies. Little is known about his early life, but he ma ...

. Bluebeard's Castle A historic landmark perched atop a hill in Charlotte Amalie. According to local lore, the tower was built by the infamous pirate,

Bluebeard "Bluebeard" ( ) is a French Folklore, folktale, the most famous surviving version of which was written by Charles Perrault and first published by Barbin in Paris in 1697 in . The tale is about a wealthy man in the habit of murdering his wives an ...

, for his lover. However, historical records reveal that it was built in 1689 under the Danish Government and was originally called Frederik's Fort. It served as a watchtower, overlooking the town of Charlotte Amalie and Charlotte Amalie Harbor. The tower is currently an integral part of the Bluebeard's Castle Hotel. Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge Buck Island is an island located south of St. Thomas. This island was transferred to the

United States Fish and Wildlife Service The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is a List of federal agencies in the United States, U.S. federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior which oversees the management of fish, wildlife, ...

in 1969, because of its role as a crucial habitat for migratory birds. Notably, the island features one of the three Danish-built lighthouses in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Cathedral Church of All Saints The Cathedral Church of All Saints is located in Charlotte Amalie, St.Thomas. It was built in 1848 to celebrate the end of slavery. The building process faced hardship due to a severe drought, which caused the builders to use molasses into the mortar to bind stones together. This Cathedral functions as the seat of the Episcopal Diocese of the Virgin Islands. There is also a private school associated with the cathedral called All Saints Cathedral School. Coral World Ocean Park Coral World Ocean Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in St. Thomas, offering an indoor-outdoor aquarium experience. Guests can observe various sea animals, such as small sharks, stingrays, and starfish. The park also provides opportunities for an up-close encounter with sharks, sea lions, and dolphins. This attraction is located next to Coki (pronounced "cookie" locally) Point Beach. Fort Christian

Fort Christian is a historical fort, located in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. It was built by the Dano-Norwegian alliance between 1672 and 1680. Notably, it holds the distinction of being the oldest standing structure in the Virgin Islands. It was originally built as defensive bastion to safeguard the island. This fort was named after King Christian V of Denmark. Over the centuries, Fort Christian has fulfilled a variety of roles. It first served as a military outpost, then became a town center, government building, Lutheran Church, police station, and a prison. It presently stands as a historical museum that offers insight into its past. Furthermore, Fort Christian is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Magens Bay Arboretum The Magens Bay Arboretum spans five acres and is managed by the Magens Bay Authority. Originally, it was cultivated by Arthur Fairchild in the 1920s, but was later gifted to the community. This arboretum showcases 200 plant species from 71 families. The arboretum was neglected after the passing of Fairchild, but in 1974, the University of the Virgin Islands alongside the Charlotte Amalie Rotary Club began to restore it. Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral This Cathedral was the first Catholic church in the Danish West Indies, and bought from the Danish in 1802. Two years after it was built, in 1804, it was destroyed by fire.It was later restored, but was ravaged by a hurricane in 1837. Despite these challenges, it was rebuilt into its present form. Notably, the Cathedral's ceilings are adorned with murals depicting over 11 scenes from both the Old and New Testaments. St. Thomas Synagogue Ranked among the five National Historic Landmarks in the U.S. Virgin Islands, this synagogue stands as the second-oldest in the United States. Originally constructed in 1803, it suffered several fires, leading to its reconstruction in 1833, and its eventual restoration in 2000. This is the home for the Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas. It hosts weekly services and doubles as a museum, welcoming both locals and visitors to explore its rich heritage. Mountain Top Mountain Top is a popular tourist attraction located atop St. Peter Mountain on St.Thomas. It is the tallest site on the island, standing at 640 meters above sea level. It offers a variety of amenities such as a shopping center, restaurant, and bar. Visitors can also enjoy the observatory deck, which provides a view of cays,

Puerto Rico ; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...

, Culebra, and the

. Additionally, Mountain Top is known as the birthplace of the banana daiquiri. Drake's Seat Drake's Seat, positioned on the Northside of St. Thomas, serves as a tourist destination, which offers a panoramic view of Magens Bay Beach. This location is easily identifiable by an open lookout area on one side of the road and a distinctive green bench that says, "The Drake Seat", on the other. According to local lore, it was constructed by

Sir Francis Drake Sir Francis Drake ( 1540 – 28 January 1596) was an English Exploration, explorer and privateer best known for making the Francis Drake's circumnavigation, second circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition between 1577 and 1580 (bein ...

, and English privateer, who used this spot as a point to survey the horizon for approaching enemy ships. Three Queens Statue A bronze monument of three important historical women: Queen Mary, Queen Agnes, and Queen Matilda. These three women led a revolution against the Danish Government, demanding enhanced working and living conditions, alongside fairer wages. This Revolution is known as the " Fireburn". This statue is located in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas.

99 Steps One of the many step-streets located in Charlotte Amalie. Of all the other step-streets it is the most popular. These steps were constructed during the 1700s by the Danish. Though its name is "99 Steps", it actually has 103 steps. Crafted from bricks repurposed from the ballast of Danish ships, these steps wind their way up to Blackbeard's Castle. It was originally named Store Taarne Gade, which means Greater Tower Street.

Gallery

File:USVI St. Thomas - Charlotte Amalie - Blackbeard Castle.JPG, Blackbeard's Castle in Charlotte Amalie File:View From Bluebeard's Castle, St Thomas US Virgin Islands.png, View from Bluebeard's Castle, St. Thomas File:Megans Beach.jpg, Magens Bay as seen from Drake's Seat, St. Thomas File:St Thomas Magens Bay 5.jpg, Magens Bay File:View of St. Thomas' Waterfront.jpg, A view of St. Thomas' Waterfront taken from Paradise Point File:Drake's Seat 2.png, Drake's Seat from across the street File:Bluebeard's Castle.png, Bluebeard's Castle in Charlotte Amalie File:Bluebeard's Castle 2.png, Bluebeard's Castle from another view File:Blackbeard's Castle.png, A sign leading to Blackbeard's Castle File:Three Queens Statue.png, An up-front picture of the Three Queens Statue

References

External links

* {{Authority control Islands of the United States Virgin Islands Former Danish colonies Cruise seaports