The Bustling Economy of the U. S. Virgin Islands

As with other Caribbean islands, sugarcane and slaves helped the U. S. Virgin Islands create their early economy. After slavery ended, the economy adjusted to agriculture and industry. Especially due to the arrival of cruise ships, the U. S. Virgin Islands now rely mostly on tourism as the major portion of their economy.

While you are on the islands, you may hear or see evidences of their first settlers, the Arawaks. But that was just a few years ago, around 500 A. D. At that time, they were primarily farmers and fishermen. In fact, many fishermen still live on the islands, and many even visit the islands just for the purpose of fishing. Farmers usually grew cotton, tobacco, fruits, and vegetables. And mangoes, I sure. They still have many mange trees all over the islands. Fresh, sweet, green skinned mangoes.

Eventually, the settlers' cruise ships arrived, and the U. S. Virgin Islands became a popular stop. Even the favourite of many a pirate! And that is when they started the tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, coffee, bananas, and pineapples.

Slaves imported from Africa worked the sugarcane, and made it an extremely profitable industry. Because of this, the U. S. Virgin Islands became were fought over by Dutch, Spanish, French, and English, with each one claiming them at one time or another.

Because Europe was turning to a more anti-slavery mentality, the U. S. Virgin Islands soon became protesters and abolitionists. Naturally, it took many fights and debates, but slavery was finally abolished slavery in 1792. Of course, with the end f that era, so was the end of the plantations, and a change again in the economy of the U. S. Virgin Islands.

Today, the U.S. Virgin Islands' economy relies primarily on tourism. In fact, most of the jobs on the islands are provided by tourism or the government. Government jobs comprise 1/3, while tourism and retail are nearly as large. St. Croix has a large oil refinery, aluminum plant, and some cattle breeders. Minimum wage in the U. S. Virgin Islands is the same as on the mainland.

Experience the economy of the U. S. Virgin Islands, blending the past with the present, at: http://kingarthur.traverustravel.com/index.asp