Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet
Our St. Croix fact sheet contains general information about St. Croix, largest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, including the geography, native population, and climate. There won’t be a test at the end of your vacation, but here are some interesting facts about the island of St. Croix…
Geography
The US Virgin Islands are part of the Antilles chain which separates the Caribbean and Atlantic. St. Croix, the largest of the three Virgins, is 28 miles long and 7 miles wide. This intriguing jewel lies 17°45′ North latitude and 64°45′ West longitude and is considered to be one of the most beautiful resort areas in the Caribbean. We are on Atlantic Standard time, which makes us one hour ahead of Eastern Standard time in winter months when you set your clocks back one hour. Ruins of more than 100 sugar mills and great houses sporadically cover the island and offer an insight into the past and present culture of St. Croix. The fascination and allure of St. Croix belongs to its rolling hills, long stretches of white, sandy beaches, and an array of landscape from dry cactus in the east to a lush rain forest in the west.
Climate
AAHHH!! Warm! The sun shines year-round with an average temperature of 80° during the day and around 70° most evenings, summer being a little warmer. Trade winds coming from the East blow seductively across the island to keep the humidity low. When it rains, the showers are over in a few minutes. We average 50 inches of rain a year, with September and October being less dry than the winter months. During rainfall, rooftops not only serve as musical instruments, but a passageway to the cistern, where the water is collected. Water is scarce, so please use it sparingly.
Populace
Since 1960, the U.S. Virgin Islands have nearly tripled in population. Estimates put the figure at over 50,000 on St. Croix, 50,000 on St. Thomas and 4,000 on St. John. St. Croix has been ruled under many different flags and to this day, islanders represent many nationalities and backgrounds with the majority being of African descent. For details on the history of St. Croix, please see our history page.
The Natives
The natives of St. Croix are called Crucians, sometimes spelled ‘Cruzan’. Crucians are very friendly but are reserved people. Behavior that is loud and boisterous is often times frowned upon. A smile and a greeting such as ‘good evening’ will surely help you fit in. Mostly everyone speaks English, however the Crucians do have a slightly modified version of English, also called Crucian. Linguistically, Crucian can be defined as Creole and is spoken throughout the West Indies with accents varying from island to island. Crucian, or Creole, was born during the slave trade and matured by influences of Portuguese, Danish, French, Dutch and English.
