Place details
Place nameVirgin Islands of the United States
Other namesUnited States Virgin Islands, Islas Vírgenes americanas, Îles Vierges américaines, Virgens Americanas, Ilhas, Amerikanishche Jungferninseln, VIR, VI, ISO850, Danish West Indies
Latitude18.5
Longitude-64.433
SourceThesaurus of Geographic Names
Overview
Probably settled by Arawak Amerindians, then Caraks, who had extensive settlements & farms before Columbus arrived; Spain conquered area 16th cen.; farms established by English & French 17th cen., by Danes 18th cen.; Africans came as slaves after 1763; official language is English, though French & Spanish are also spoken.