Saint Croix is an island in the Caribbean Sea and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), an unincorporated territory of the United States.  It is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, being 28 by 7 miles (45 by 11 km).

There are two towns on the island; Christiansted and Frederiksted.  The total population of the island is about 60,000. English is the most common language.   A native English-based dialect known on the island as Crucian, but formally known as Virgin Islands Creole, is also spoken by the majority of the population in informal situations.

Buck Island Reef National Monument preserves a 176 acre (71 ha) island just north of Saint Croix and the surrounding reefs.  This is a popular destination for snorkelers. Buck Island maintains a U.S. Coast Guard weather station and is also home to a student monitored lemon shark breeding ground.  Green Cay is a small island located southwest of Buck Island and also hosts a nearby reef popular among scuba divers and snorkelists, Tamarind Reef.  A small dive shack on Tamarind Beach, near a resort and bar named the “Deep End” provides snorkels and fins to prospective divers.  As well, the reef is often marked with floating buoys in order to help guide inexperienced divers along the underwater terrain.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

There are several scuba diving companies operating from Christiansted. Off the north coast of the island, there are many good destinations for diving, featuring scenic coral reefs, clear water, and abundant tropical fish and migrant sea turtles. Prominent among these are Cane and Divi bays along with Long reef which encompasses a large portion of the northern side of the island. Cane Bay is a popular destination for scuba enthusiasts due to the fact that just a few hundred meters off shore the topography makes a sudden drop into a deep underwater trench. The reef also serves as a natural barrier against sharks and jellyfish.

The easternmost point in the United States is considered to be Point Udall on the tip of St Croix. The island has an area of a little over eighty square miles (207 km²). The terrain is rugged, though not extremely so. The highest point on the island, Mount Eagle, is 1,165 feet (355 m) high. Most of the east end is quite hilly and steep, as is the north side from Christiansted west. From the north side hills a fairly even plain slopes down to the south coast: this was the prime sugar land on the island. The trade wind blows more or less along the length of the island. The hills of the western part of the island receive a good deal more rain than the east end resulting in a lush rain forest.

Economy

St. Croix, like many other Caribbean islands, has tourism as one of its main sources of revenue.   There is one resort casino, and another on the drawing boards to complete the islands tourism offerings.   However, there are a number of other industries on the island to help support the economy.

One of the world’s largest oil refineries, HOVENSA, calls St. Croix home, as does the Cruzan Rum Distillery, makers of Cruzan Rum and other liquors such as Southern Comfort.  The Cruzan Rum Distillery was founded in 1760, and for many years used locally grown sugar cane to produce a single “dark” style rum.   In recent years Cruzan Rum has also contributed to the resurgence of “single barrel” super-premium rum.  The quality and smoothness of the Cruzan Estate Rums has won more than 30 Spirit Awards.

Festivals

The island’s largest festival, termed “Crucian Christmas Festival”, is celebrated on St. Croix throughout late December and early January. Another significant festival is the Agricultural and Food Fair held in mid-February.

Several times a year, there is a nighttime festival in Christiansted called “Jump-Up” and a monthly event called “Sunset Jazz” in Frederiksted, where local jazz musicians play on Frederiksted Beach. Every year on the Saturday before Mardi Gras, there is a local Mardi Croix parade and a dog parade through the North Shore.

The St. Croix Half Ironman Triathlon is held in the first week of May. The Triathlon includes a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run. Because the bicycle route includes a ride up an extremely steep hill known as “The Beast”, this triathlon is often nicknamed “Beauty and the Beast”.

Join Us

St. Croix is a very friendly place with a great “island atmosphere.”  We live a very unhurried pace here.   If you desire to be in the Caribbean and stay under the protection of the U.S. flag then this could be your island in the sun.

Visitors and residents alike all enjoy the tranquility that this precious gem has to offer!

Teague Bay Properties
 

5087 Estate Solitude
Christiansted St Croix
U.S.Virgin Islands 00820

(340) 773-4850     teaguebay@gmail.com

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