St. Croix - U.S. Virgin Islands

One of the Best Kept Vacation Secrets...

St. Croix is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and seemingly the most overlooked. Located about 45 miles to the south of it's sister islands, St. Thomas and St. John, it lies at the same latitude as Hawaii and Acapulco, enjoying perpetual summer and cool trade-winds.

If you're looking to enjoy a "laid back" part of the Caribbean, St. Croix certainly qualifies as being "off the beaten path". It's quiet, peaceful, and definitely not crowded. In addition, as part of the "American Caribbean", no passport is required for U.S. citizens, and visitors enjoy one of the largest duty-free allowances for purchases taken back to the U.S.

But just because St. Croix is a U.S. territory, don't get the idea you'll feel like you've not left the states. Far from it, the islands personality is a blend of the cultures of several nations. This fact becomes immediately apparent upon leaving the airport when you'll notice they drive on the left. Obviously some left over British influence.

Actually the island has flown seven flags, since being discovered by Columbus in 1493, when he landed at Salt River. Populated up until that time by various Indian groups including the Arawaks and Caribs, St. Croix has passed through the hands of the Spanish, Dutch, English, French, Knights of Malta, Danish, and finally the United States.

Danish Success & Influence

Though owned at various times by several nations, St. Croix experienced the most growth and success after being purchased by the Danish West India Company from the French for $150,000 in 1733. This was during the time that sugar was "king" and the sugar plantations flourished for about another 150 years.

The primary reason for such success under Danish rule was that they allowed unhampered immigration, letting the available properties be purchased by those best able to afford and work them properly. This turned out to be predominantly the English and was reflected in both population and the language which remains to this day.

For around two centuries, the demand for sugar in Europe and elsewhere drove the huge growth of plantations in St. Croix and throughout the Caribbean. This was because the sugar cane from which it was derived could only be grown in tropical climates. Even today, the remains of dozens of windmills used for crushing the cane can be seen all over the island.

Unfortunately for these economies, an economic process for extracting sugar from sugar beets was developed in the early to mid-1800's. Since the sugar beet grew well in northern climates like Europe, there was no longer any need to export sugar produced from cane in the islands.

As demand dried up, the impact to sugar production in the Caribbean was catastrophic. Once booming economies became virtually non-existent, and the problems inherent in an idle, out-of-work population grew quickly. Economic conditions on St. Croix and other islands sunk to all-time lows and it literally took another century for things to start turning around.

On St. Croix, new industry like the vast oil refinery built by Hess Oil, and tourism beginning in the mid-1900's helped build a new, more sustainable economy, and conditions slowly improved.

As early as 1867, the United States had been interested in purchasing the Virgin Islands from Denmark. However, it wasn't until World War I, with the concern about keeping control of the Caribbean and protecting the Panama Canal, that the sale finally took place. In 1917, the Danish government sold St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John to the U.S. for $25 million.

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