Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas (Danish: Sankt Thomas, Spanish: Santo Tomás, French: Saint-Thomas) is one of the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea, and a constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), an unincorporated territory of the United States.Crown Mountain is the highest point in Saint Thomas and in the entire United States Virgin Islands.[15]) 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 free port by Frederick V. In December 1732, the first two of many Moravian Brethren missionaries came from Herrnhut, Saxony in present-day Germany to minister to them.[14] While the sugar trade had brought prosperity to the island's free citizens, by the early 19th century Saint Thomas was in decline.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.With relatively cheap air travel and the American embargo on Cuba, the numbers of visitors greatly increased.Saint Thomas is divided into the following subdistricts (with population as per the 2020 U.S. Census):[28] From 1796 a small Jewish community developed in Charlotte Amalie.[29] During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries a group of French Catholic immigrants known as the Chacas came to St. Thomas from the St. Barthélemy islands to the east, forming one community of fishermen and one of farmers.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.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, soca, and hip hop are also popular among the islands.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.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.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.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.This event includes various attractions such as Christmas carolers, Santas, steel pan battles, illuminated storefronts, and activities tailored for children.[44] This holiday celebrates the strong bond between the USVI and its neighboring island, Puerto Rico, because of their mutual contributions.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.This island was transferred to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 1969, because of its role as a crucial habitat for migratory birds.The building process faced hardship due to a severe drought, which caused the builders to use molasses into the mortar to bind stones together.It first served as a military outpost, then became a town center, government building, Lutheran Church, police station, and a prison.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.It hosts weekly services and doubles as a museum, welcoming both locals and visitors to explore its rich heritage.Visitors can also enjoy the observatory deck, which provides a view of cays, Puerto Rico, Culebra, and the British Virgin Islands.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, and English privateer, who used this spot as a point to survey the horizon for approaching enemy ships.These three women led a revolution against the Danish Government, demanding enhanced working and living conditions, alongside fairer wages.
Charlotte AmalieCaribbean SeaVirgin IslandsLeeward IslandsCrown MountainUnited StatesInsular areaUnited States Virgin IslandsDanishSpanishFrenchunincorporated territorySaint Johndistricts of the USVISt. CroixSt. John2010 censusCiboneyArawaksCaribsMagens BayChristopher ColumbusNew WorldSaint CroixLesser AntillesDutch Virgin IslandsDanish West IndiesSaint Thomas (Brandenburg colony)Danish ship FærøeDutch West India Companya post on Saint ThomasDutch Reformed ChurchDenmark-NorwayDanish West India Companyslave shipsslave marketBrandenburger Companyfree portplantationssugarcaneenslaved AfricanCharlotte AmaliaChristian VFrederick VMoravianmissionariesHerrnhutSaxonyNational Gallery of ArtTreaty of AmiensInvasion of the Danish West Indies (1807)Fort CowellHassel Islandsugar tradeAmericanAmerican Civil WarLandstingetDavid Hamilton JacksonChristianstedPanama CanalFirst World WarU.S. purchaseWater IslandEast Asiatic CompanyGerman occupation of Denmarkterritorial governmentU.S. Department of the InteriorSecond World WarOrganic Acthome ruleembargoHurricane HugoMarilynRed Hooktropical savanna climateKöppen climate classificationtropical cyclonesprecipitationsubdistricts2020 U.S. CensusCharlotte Amalie townEast EndNorthsideSouthsideWest EndJewishBeracha Veshalom Vegmiluth HasadimSt. BarthélemyTransportation in the United States Virgin IslandsCyril E. King International AirportBritish Virgin Islandsdrive on the leftSt. Thomas-St. John School DistrictSt. Thomas-St.John School DistrictUniversity of the Virgin IslandsBlackbeardThomas de MallevilleCamille PissarroEdward Wilmot BlydenGabriel MilanEdward Teachletter of marqueJean HamlinJohan Lorentz CastenschioldDenmark VeseyCharleston, South CarolinaJoachim Melchior Magens (1775–1845)Peter von ScholtenHermann Treschow GartnerGartner's ductLewin Jürgen RohdeAntonio López de Santa AnnaUlrik Anton MotzfeldtDavid Levy YuleeUnited States SenateCharles Joseph Sainte-Claire DevillegeologistHenri Étienne Sainte-Claire DevilleImpressionistDora Richards MillerMorris SimmondsSimmonds syndromeAlton Augustus AdamsUnited States NavyJ. Raymond JonesNew York City