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US Virgin Islands

 

Contents

• Flag

• Historical Flags

• Meaning/Origin of the Flag

• Map

• Numbers and Facts

• History

• Origin of the Country's Name



Flag

Flagge Fahne Flag ensign Amerikanische Jungferninseln Jungferninseln der USA U.S. Virgin Islands Îles Vierges des États-Unis
since 1921,
National, state and merchant flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source: User:Dbenbenn, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons



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Historical Flags

Flagge Fahne flag Spanien Spain
16th century,
The islands belongs to the Spanish sphere of influence,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag drapeau pavillon Malteserorden Order of Malta
1651–1665,
St. Croix a pssession of the Order of Malta,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag drapeau pavillon Frankreich France
1665-1696,
St. Croix is a colony of France,
Source, by: Sodacan [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons




Flagge Fahne flag Dänemark Denmark Danmark Dänische Westindien-Guinea-Kompanie Danish West India Company
1680–1776(?),
Flag of the Danish West India Company,
Source, by: videnskab.dk




Flagge Fahne flag Dänemark Denmark Danmark National flag Merchant flag
1754–1807,
Flag of Denmark,
Source, by: Corel Draw 4




Flagge Fahne flag Dänemark Denmark Danmark Merchant flag
1798–1842,
Flag for Danish ships en route to the Danish West Indies,
Source, by: World Statesmen, www.mgg.dk, ca.2010/dkflag/danske-flag, FOTW




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Naval jack jack State flag state
1807–1815,
Flag of United Kingdom,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)




Flagge Fahne flag Dänemark Denmark Danmark National flag Merchant flag
1815–1917,
Flag of Denmark,
Source, by: Corel Draw 4




Flagge Fahne flag National flag State flag Merchant flag Naval flag War flag USA Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika United States of America Amerikanische Jungferninseln Jungferninseln der USA U.S. Virgin Islands Îles Vierges des États-Unis
1917–1921,
Flag of the USA,
Source, by: Flags of the World, Corel Draw 4



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Meaning/Origin of the Flag

The current flag of the US Virgin Islands was created by Percival Wilson Sparks and was adopted on 17th of May in 1921. It shows a white bunting and on it simplified elements of the coat of arms of the USA: a golden bald eagle with a breast shield in the colours of the USA, holding an olive branch and three arrows in its talons. The arrows represent the three largest islands in the country: Saint Thomas, Saint John and Saint Croix. To the left and right of the eagle are the letters "V" and "I", symbolising the country's name "Virgin Islands". Under Danish rule, Danish flags were used, for a time also single-coloured blue or even white flags with the Danish flag in the upper corner. After the sale of the islands to the USA (31st of March in 1917), they were initially under the control of the US Navy and the US flag was initially used. On 17th of May in 1921, however, the current model was introduced.

Source: Wikipedia (EN), Volker Preuß

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Map

Location:

Source: CIA World Factbook

Map of the country:

Source: CIA World Factbook

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Numbers and Facts

Area: 134 square miles, thereof St. Croix 82 sq.mi., St. Thomas 31 sq.mi., St. John 20 sq.mi.

Inhabitants: 87.146 (2020), thereof 76% Blacks (Afro-Americans), 16% Europeans, 1% Asian

Density of Population: 652 inh./sq.mi.

Capital: Charlotte Amalie, 14.477 inh. (2020)

official Language: English

other Languages: Creole English, Creole Spanish, Creole French

Currency: 1 US Dollar (USD, $) = 100 Cent

Time Zone: GMT – 4 h

Source: Wikipedia (D)

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History

St. Croix:

14th of November 1493 · the Spanish navigator Christopher Columbus discovers the island of St. Croix, he named it Isla de Santa Cruz (Holy Cross Island) and the surrounding islands, he named Las Islas Once Mil Virgenes (Islands of 11.000 Virgins)

1587 · first English colony on St. Croix

1625 · first Dutch colony on St. Croix

1645 · the Dutch leave St. Croix

1650 · the English colonies on St. Croix will be destroyed by Spanish troops, the French come to the island and take over the reigns

1651–1665 · the Order of Malta dominates St. Croix

1665 · the French come back to the island and take over the reigns

1696 · the French to leave St. Croix

13th of June 1733 · the Danish West India Company buys St. Croix from France


St. Thomas:

1493 · the Spanish navigator Christopher Columbus discovers the island

1665 · first Danish colony of St. Thomas

1667 · the Danes leave St. Thomas

25th of May 1672 · St. Thomas becomes a Danish colony

1685–1693 · the Electorate of Brandenburg operates a trading post


St. John:

1684 · St. John becomes a Danish colony, after fights with England


24th of August 1754 · Denmark takes over the Danish West Indies from the Danish West India Company, the Virgin Islands become a Crown Colony

1801–1802 · the islands are occupied by British troops

1807–1815 · the islands are occupied by British troops

12th of December 1916 · Denmark sells the Virgin Islands to the United States

31st of March 1917 · the sovereignty of Denmark ends, the islands come under the control of the U.S. Navy

30th of January 1931 · the administration of the islands goes on to the Ministry of Interior of the United States

Source: Meyers Konversationslexikon, World Statesmen, Discovery '97, Volker Preuß

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Origin of the Country's Name

Columbus named the islands "Las Islas Once Mil Virgenes" (Islands of the 11.000 Virgins), in honor of St. Ursula and her female companions. From this long name only remained "Virgin Islands".

Source: Wikipedia (DE), Volker Preuß

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