View source for Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands

{{Infobox settlement
<!--See Template:Infobox Settlement for additional fields that may be available-->
<!-- Basic info ---------------->| name               = Christiansted
| official_name      = Town of Christiansted
| other_name         =
| native_name        = <!-- if different from the English name -->
| nickname           =
| settlement_type    = Town
| total_type         = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| motto              = <!-- images and maps  ----------->
| image_skyline      = Christiansted-1-.jpg
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| imagesize          = 280px
| image_caption      = The City of Christiansted looking east
| coordinates        = {{Coord|17.75|-64.75|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map        = USA VI Saint Croix
| pushpin_label      = Christiansted
| pushpin_map_caption = <!-- Location ------------------>
| subdivision_type   = Sovereign State
| subdivision_name   = {{US}}
| subdivision_type1  = Territory
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|USVI|name=Virgin Islands}}
| subdivision_type2  = Island
| subdivision_name2  = [[Saint Croix]]
<!-- Smaller parts (e.g. boroughs of a city) and seat of government -->| seat_type          =
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| established_title  = Established
| established_date   = September 1, 1734
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| elevation_min_ft   = <!-- Population ----------------------->
| population_as_of   = 2020
| population_footnotes = {{citation needed|date=November 2016}}
| population_note    =
| population_total   = 1866
| population_density_km2 = <!--For automatic calculation, any density field may contain: auto -->
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| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]](s)
| postal_code        = 00820–00824
}}
'''Christiansted''' is the largest town on [[St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands|Saint Croix]], one of the main islands composing the [[United States Virgin Islands]], a [[unincorporated territory|territory]] of the [[United States of America]]. The town is named after King [[Christian VI of Denmark]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Port of Christiansted |url=https://www.nps.gov/chri/learn/historyculture/stories.htm |website=U.S. National Park Service}}</ref>
==History==
[[File:Hans Peter Thorsøe - Christiansted - 1825.jpg|thumb|Christiansted in 1825]]
[[File:Christiansted seen from Peters Farm.jpg|thumb|Christiansted in 1831]]
The town was founded by Captain [[Frederik Moth]] after he was made governor of St. Croix in 1733. Departing from St. Thomas, Moth's party had cleared a space for Fort Christianswærn by 5 September. In a ceremony next to this fort on 8 January 1734, the [[Kingdom of France|French]] formally handed the island over to the Danes in the form of the [[Danish West India and Guinea Company]]. St. Croix was to be allotted 300 plantations, 215 for sugar and the rest for cotton. The plantations surveyed were 3,000 by 2,000 feet. In addition, the company established a sugar refinery and distillery. The fort was completed by 1740. The 1742 census listed 120 sugar plantations, 122 cotton plantations, 1,906 slaves, about 300 Englishmen, and 60 Danes. By 1743, St. Croix had a hospital. In 1745, the number of slaves had increased to 2,878. By 1754, the town included 83 "white inhabitants", "each of whom owned from a single slave to sixty-six of them", according to Westergaard. Slaves on the island numbered 7,566.<ref name="Westergaard">{{cite book|last1=Westergaard|first1=Waldemar|title=The Danish West Indies Under Company Rule (1671-1754)|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.60691|date=1917|publisher=The Macmillan Company|location=New York|pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.60691/page/n255 209]–217, 222–225, 235}}</ref>
Christiansted is a former capital of the [[Danish West Indies]] and home to the [[Christiansted National Historic Site]]. It has preserved the 18th-century [[Danish architecture|Danish-style]] solid stone buildings in pastel colors with bright red tile roofs line the cobblestone sidewalks, adding a touch of 18th-century European architectural style. Because the town was constructed by African slaves, there are also African influences in Christiansted's design, making it one of the world's few "African-Danish" towns. The town's symmetry, with streets running at right angles to the waterfront, makes it popular for walking tours. The commercial area centers on King and Company streets, adjacent to the [[Christiansted National Historic Site]]. The residential area, including portions that were originally settlements for free blacks, extends inland and uphill from the commercial area. The botanist [[Julius von Rohr]] started a botanic garden in the 18th century and produced a number of landscapes of the island.
Christiansted has small hotels and many restaurants. In 1947, [[The Buccaneer (resort)|The Buccaneer]] resort, to the northeast of town, was opened by the Armstrong family as an 11-room inn.<ref name="TW">{{cite web|url=https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Historic-Hotels-of-America-adds-the-Buccaneer-on-St-Croix|title=Historic Hotels of America adds the Buccaneer on St. Croix|publisher=[[Travel Weekly]]|date=8 November 2006|accessdate=7 December 2023}}</ref> Several [[Scuba diving|scuba]] shops operate in town, as the wharf has easy access to diving attractions on the island's north side. A small point of interest is [[Protestant Cay]], a cay near Christiansted.
[[File:Queen CrossSt 20230924 115910.jpg|alt=Christiansted Street|thumb|Queens Cross St. in Christiansted]]
==Demographics==
As of 2020, Christiansted had a population of 1,770, while the larger [[districts and sub-districts of the United States Virgin Islands|sub-district]] had a population of 1,866.
The population decreased by almost 30% between 2010 and 2020 due to the impact of Hurricanes [[Hurricane Irma|Irma]] and [[Hurricane Maria|Maria]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tellerwindow.newyorkfed.org/2023/06/20/slow-road-to-recovery-u-s-v-i-sees-signs-of-resilience-amid-range-of-difficulties/|title=Slow Road to Recovery: U.S.V.I. Sees Signs of Resilience Amid Range of Difficulties|quote=U.S.V.I.’s population fell by 18 percent between 2010 and 2020. Factors driving that decline include the closing of an oil refinery that had been the territory’s largest private employer, destruction caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, job losses in the tourism sector, a high cost of living, and a lack of educational opportunities.}}</ref>
{{Historical populations
|title       = Population history of Christiansted subdistrict
|align       = none
|[[1990 United States census|1990]]| 3199
|[[2000 United States Census|2000]]| 2865
|[[2010 United States Census|2010]]| 2626
|[[2020 United States census|2020]]| 1866
|source = US Census Bureau<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/island-areas/us-virgin-islands/population-and-housing-unit-counts/us-virgin-islands-phc-table01.pdf|title=Population of the United States Virgin Islands: 2010 and 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/census_2000/cb01cn172.html|title=Census Bureau Releases Census 2000 Population Counts for the U.S. Virgin Islands}}</ref>
}}
==Economy==
{{expand section|date=April 2015}}
[[File:The Boardwalk (22723663183).jpg|thumb|Christiansted]]
[[Seaborne Airlines]] was formerly headquartered in Christiansted.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20060207061658/http://www.seaborneairlines.com/contact.html Contact Seaborne Airlines]" (). [[Seaborne Airlines]]. February 7, 2006. Retrieved on April 18, 2015. "Postal Address: Seaborne Airlines Attn: Feedback 34 Strand Street Christiansted, VI 00820 "</ref>
==Transportation==
Christiansted is served by one commercial airport, [[Henry E. Rohlsen Airport]], with flights on several airlines, including [[American Airlines|American]] and [[Delta Air Lines|Delta]].
A ferry serving the hotel on the Cay resort runs between Christiansted and [[Protestant Cay]].
==Education==
Public schools serving the community are operated by the [[St. Croix School District]].
== Climate ==
Christiansted has a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Koppen Aw/As]]).
{{Weather box
|location = Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands ([[Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport]]) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 92
|Feb record high F = 93
|Mar record high F = 92
|Apr record high F = 93
|May record high F = 94
|Jun record high F = 97
|Jul record high F = 94
|Aug record high F = 96
|Sep record high F = 97
|Oct record high F = 98
|Nov record high F = 93
|Dec record high F = 92
|year record high F = 98
|Jan avg record high F = 86.3
|Feb avg record high F = 87.0
|Mar avg record high F = 87.3
|Apr avg record high F = 88.3
|May avg record high F = 89.1
|Jun avg record high F = 91.0
|Jul avg record high F = 91.6
|Aug avg record high F = 92.0
|Sep avg record high F = 91.4
|Oct avg record high F = 90.8
|Nov avg record high F = 89.3
|Dec avg record high F = 87.7
|year avg record high F = 92.7
|Jan high F = 84.2
|Feb high F = 84.6
|Mar high F = 85.0
|Apr high F = 86.0
|May high F = 87.1
|Jun high F = 88.7
|Jul high F = 89.2
|Aug high F = 89.5
|Sep high F = 89.0
|Oct high F = 88.4
|Nov high F = 86.8
|Dec high F = 85.1
|year high F = 87.0
|Jan mean F = 77.7
|Feb mean F = 78.0
|Mar mean F = 78.2
|Apr mean F = 79.7
|May mean F = 81.2
|Jun mean F = 82.8
|Jul mean F = 83.2
|Aug mean F = 83.4
|Sep mean F = 82.8
|Oct mean F = 82.2
|Nov mean F = 80.6
|Dec mean F = 78.8
|year mean F = 80.7
|Jan low F = 71.2
|Feb low F = 71.4
|Mar low F = 71.5
|Apr low F = 73.4
|May low F = 75.4
|Jun low F = 76.9
|Jul low F = 77.3
|Aug low F = 77.4
|Sep low F = 76.6
|Oct low F = 76.0
|Nov low F = 74.4
|Dec low F = 72.5
|year low F = 74.5
|Jan avg record low F = 66.7
|Feb avg record low F = 66.9
|Mar avg record low F = 66.9
|Apr avg record low F = 68.2
|May avg record low F = 70.6
|Jun avg record low F = 72.4
|Jul avg record low F = 73.2
|Aug avg record low F = 73.6
|Sep avg record low F = 73.1
|Oct avg record low F = 72.6
|Nov avg record low F = 69.4
|Dec avg record low F = 68.3
|year avg record low F = 64.4
|Jan record low F = 61
|Feb record low F = 61
|Mar record low F = 60
|Apr record low F = 62
|May record low F = 62
|Jun record low F = 62
|Jul record low F = 64
|Aug record low F = 63
|Sep record low F = 63
|Oct record low F = 65
|Nov record low F = 61
|Dec record low F = 61
|year record low F = 60
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.94
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.35
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.62
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.22
|May precipitation inch = 3.62
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.92
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.64
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.23
|Sep precipitation inch = 4.89
|Oct precipitation inch = 5.03
|Nov precipitation inch = 5.30
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.25
|year precipitation inch = 37.01
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 15.8
|Feb precipitation days = 12.6
|Mar precipitation days = 12.0
|Apr precipitation days = 10.2
|May precipitation days = 11.9
|Jun precipitation days = 11.3
|Jul precipitation days = 16.7
|Aug precipitation days = 15.6
|Sep precipitation days = 15.7
|Oct precipitation days = 16.9
|Nov precipitation days = 16.8
|Dec precipitation days = 17.2
|year precipitation days = 172.7
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= NOAA>
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=sju
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 17, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=VQW00011624&format=pdf
| title = Station: Christiansted AP, VI VQ
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 17, 2021}}</ref>
}}
== Notable people ==
* [[Judah P. Benjamin]], a [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] politician and a seminal figure in the [[United States Civil War]], was born in Christiansted while it was still a [[Denmark|Danish]] [[Danish West Indies|colony]].
* [[NBA]] player [[Tim Duncan]] (two-time [[NBA MVP|MVP]], five-time [[NBA champion]]) is a native.
* [[Alexander Hamilton]] was a resident in 1765 after leaving his birthplace of [[Charlestown, Nevis]] at age 11. Upon reaching 17 years old, he moved from the then-Danish Virgin Islands to [[New York City]] and never returned to the Caribbean.
* [[Victor Borge]] was a long-time resident of Christiansted
* [[Audre Lorde]] died in Christiansted on November 17, 1992, at the age of 58. She was a famous poet.
* [[Carolyn Carter]], model and beauty queen
* [[Kenneth Gittens]], politician and police officer
* [[Marise James]], politician
* [[Mary Thomas (labor leader)|"Queen" Mary Thomas]] one of the leaders of the [[1878 St. Croix labor riot|fireburn riots]], was imprisoned here from 1887 to 1905.
* [[Casper Holstein]], a mobster involved in the Harlem "numbers rackets", was born in Christiansted in 1876.
==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="180px" perrow="4">
File:Government House in Christiansted.jpg|Government House in Christiansted
File:Street in Christiansted.jpg|Street in Christiansted
File:View at National Historic Site.jpg|View at National Historic Site
File:Christiansted Street.jpg|Street in Christiansted
Image:Christiansted, US Virgin Islands, from Recovery Hill.jpg|Christiansted, looking north.
Image:Christiansted-1-.jpg|Christiansted, looking westward.
Image:Protestantcaystcroix.jpg|Protestant Cay
Image:Fort Christiansvaern, Company Street vicinity, Christiansted, St. Croix County.png|Fort Christiansværn in the 1930s.
Image:Fort_Christiansvaern.jpg|An 1836 plan of [[Fort Christiansværn]], a historic building in Christiansted.
</gallery>
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==References==
* Lonely Planet's ''Cities Book: A Journey Through the Best Cities in the World'' p.&nbsp;159.
==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Christiansted}}
* [http://www.nps.gov/chri/ Christiansted National Historic Site (National Park Service)]
* {{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Christiansted |short=x}}
{{commons category-inline}}
{{U.S. Virgin Islands}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Populated places in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands]]
[[Category:Towns in the United States Virgin Islands]]
[[Category:Sub-districts of Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1744]]
[[Category:Christian VI of Denmark]]