Political Overview
The United States Virgin Islands (USVI) is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States, governed under the authority of the U.S. Congress. The territory is administered by a locally elected governor and an eighteen‐member unicameral legislature, with its capital located in Charlotte Amalie on Saint Thomas. While USVI residents are U.S. citizens, they do not vote in presidential elections and elect a non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. The territory is divided into three main “districts” corresponding to its principal islands Saint Thomas, Saint Croix, and Saint John each of which sends representatives to the territorial legislature and plays a vital role in local governance.
Cultural Heritage and Identity
The USVI boasts a vibrant cultural tapestry woven from African, European, and Caribbean influences. Indigenous traditions merged with Danish colonial heritage until the islands were sold to the United States in 1917, leaving a legacy evident in the architecture of older towns and in annual festivals such as Carnival (known locally as “Carnaval”), which celebrates music, dance, and local cuisine. English is the official language, but traces of Virgin Islands Creole English and Spanish persist among residents. The territory is widely recognized around the world for its lively calypso and reggae music scene, as well as for dishes like kallaloo and johnny cakes, which offer a taste of the islands’ unique fusion cuisine.
