US VIRGIN ISLANDSBy Sarah Dolan

MAPApproximately 60 islands make up the US Virgin Islands

CAPITAL

Charlotte Amalie

FLAG

OFFICIAL TREE AND FLOWER

Yellow Elder

SEAL

SONG

"Virgin Islands March"

OFFICIAL BIRDBananaquit

OFFICIAL MOTTO

“United in Pride and Hope”

COIN

NICKNAME

The American Paradise

MINERAL

Basalt (used in roadstone and in concrete)

GOVERNOR

John P. deJongh

SENATOR AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESLegislature Senate President –

Louis Patrick Hill • (27 other senate members)House of Representatives

member – Donna M. Christian-Christensen

ANIMAL

Although the US Virgin Islands do not have an official state animal they are big on marine life. In Fact, there are 302 species of fish.

FAMOUS PEOPLE

Tim Duncan - plays for the San Antonio Spurs

Kelsey Grammer - actor (best known for his role on Frasier)

H.M. Coakley - director (made his debut with Holla)

SPORTS TEAM

No known official teams Fielded athletes in:

baseball basketball

boxingnumerous Olympic events

TRANSPORTATION

Airplanes (to and on the island)

20 steamship linesAbout 8,000 freighters, liners and navel vessels

Paved roads for driving (left side of the road)

HIGHEST AND LOWEST ELEVATION

Crown Mountain –

474 m

Caribbean Sea – 0 m

CLIMATE

Tropical Growing season never endsTrade winds most of the yearNo extreme heat or coldTemperatures range from 70⁰ F –

90⁰F40 – 60 in. of rain/year

NATURAL RECOURSES

Sea Surf

Sand Sun

FAMOUS LANDMARKS

St. Thomas is one of the most visited islands

- Calming beaches - beautiful surroundings - rich in culture

DATE DISCOVEREDDiscovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493

HISTORYExploration •Discovered by Christopher Columbus (claimed for Spain)

•Fought the locals to take control of their land

Early Settlement •Used to hide treasure ships from pirates•Danes bought the island from the French

Progress under the USA •US bought the islands in 1917•In 1927 residents of the US virgin islands became citizens of the USA

FOODS AND CROPS PRODUCED• Mangos• Star fruit• figs

Fruit

• Water spinach• Sweet potatoes

vegetables

• a cereal grass, having broad, corn like leaves and a tall, pithy stem bearing the grain in a dense terminal cluster.

sorghum Senepol cattle

TAXES

Federal Income Tax (same as US mainland)

Property Tax Employers are required to remove

social security, Medicare and income tax from employee pay. (same as US mainland)

COST OF AVERAGE HOME

Greatest number of homes range between $200,000 - $600,000.

Luxury homes $1,000,000↑ = 22% of the market.

Under $100,000 – usually fixer uppers and modest homes

COST OF LIVING The cost of living in the US Virgin Islands is

about 33% more then living on the main land.

$

MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME

•1 earner in the family$28,577

•2 people in the family$34,348

•3 people in the family$36,621

POPULATION109,825 (July 2009 est.)

REFERENCES

http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/caribbean/us-virgin-islands/

http://www.anyflag.com/state/virginis.htm http://www.nps.gov/viis/naturescience/animal

s.htm http://www.justice.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/200903

15/bci_data/median_income_table.htm http://www.legvi.org/ http://www.thebeach.vi/virgin-island-sports.ht

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