| Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Island | |
| Official Name: | Town of Christiansted |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Pushpin Map: | USA VI Saint Croix |
| Pushpin Label: | Christiansted |
| Subdivision Type: | Sovereign State |
| Subdivision Type1: | Territory |
| Subdivision Type2: | Island |
| Subdivision Name2: | Saint Croix |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Established Date: | September 1, 1734 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 1866 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code(s) |
| Postal Code: | 00820–00824 |
Christiansted is the largest town on Saint Croix, one of the main islands composing the United States Virgin Islands, a territory of the United States of America. The town is named after King Christian VI of Denmark.[1]
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 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.[2]
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-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, to the northeast of town, was opened by the Armstrong family as an 11-room inn.[3] Several 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.
As of 2020, Christiansted had a population of 1,770, while the larger sub-district had a population of 1,866.
The population decreased by almost 30% between 2010 and 2020 due to the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.[4]
Seaborne Airlines was formerly headquartered in Christiansted.[5]
Christiansted is served by one commercial airport, Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, with flights on several airlines, including American and Delta.A ferry serving the hotel on the Cay resort runs between Christiansted and Protestant Cay.
Public schools serving the community are operated by the St. Croix School District.
Christiansted has a tropical savanna climate (Koppen Aw/As).