Travel Info St. Croix

The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is a picturesque escape, with rolling hills, charming Old World towns, and a dense, 15-acre tropical forest. It features top-notch beaches, exceptional recreational activities, wonderful dining, and unique attractions like Buck Island Reef National Monument and Whim Plantation, a cultural landmark that was once a Danish sugar plantation.

Capital
Christiansted; Charlotte Amalie (pronounced Ah-MAHL-ya) is the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands and is located on the island of St. Thomas.

Official Language
English (Many locals speak with a Caribbean accent, however.) Spanish and Creole are also spoken.

Politics
The U.S. Virgin Islands is a U.S. territory. The Organic Act of July 22, 1954 gives the U.S. Department of the Interior jurisdiction over the U.S. Virgin Islands. Limited legislative powers have been granted to a democratically elected legislature of 15 senators. A new constitution recently approved by Congress allows for greater home rule.

Population
Approximately 60,000 - Crucians, as inhabitants of the island are called, represent a diverse mix of ethnicities. Generally, the people of St. Croix consist of four major groups: Puerto Ricans, French who have migrated from French islands, African descendants, and transplants from the United States and the United Kingdom. The island has an estimated adult literacy rate of 90 - 95%.

Industry
As with many other Caribbean islands, tourism drives the economy of St. Croix. Other industries that impact the economy include agriculture and oil.

Money
As with the rest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, the US dollar is official currency in St. Croix. The island has modern banking facilities, including several ATM machines. Most major businesses, hotels and restaurants accept major credit cards and travelers' checks, although it's a good idea to call ahead and ask just to be sure. Also, note there is no sales tax anywhere on USVI.

Sunrise and Sunset
Depending on the time of year, the sun rises between 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. and sets between 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Electricity
110 Volts alternating at 60 cycles per second

Time
Like most of the Caribbean, St. Croix is in the Atlantic time zone, four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time and one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time.

Water
The water is potable; for those who want to exercise caution, however, bottled water is available throughout the island.

Religions
While there are a number of religions of represented on St. Croix, Christianity is the most prevalent. The most common denomination is Protestant, followed by Roman Catholic. Judaism, Islam, and Rastafarianism are also lightly represented.

Telephone Calls
The country code for St. Croix is 340. Public pay phones and pre-paid phone cards are available throughout the island, and most calling cards work. For mobile phones, Sprint, Cingular, and Innovative Wireless provide roaming service.

Media
The St. Croix Source is the local newspaper on the island, and St. Croix This Week is a visitors guide filled with maps and useful traveling information. Also, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Virgin Islands Daily News is the only independent newspaper on the islands. Cable television service that carries basic cable channels and three local channels is available in St. Croix, and, reaching nearly 1 million people, WRRA 1210 AM is an eclectic local radio station.

Postal Service
The United States Postal Service provides service in St. Croix, and the postal rates are the same as they are on the U.S. mainland. Several post offices populate the island, including one at the airport. Hours of operation vary, but the outlets are generally open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; a few are open during the morning hours on Saturday. Courier services, including DHL Worldwide Express, UPS, and Federal Express, are also available on the island.

Library
St. Croix has several public libraries, including The Regional Library For the Blind & Physically Handicapped and The Florence Williams Public Library, named after the first native librarian in St. Croix.