History
The United States Virgin Islands had initially belonged to various European countries until roughly 1754 when Denmark gained sole control. During this time, the islands used a plain blue ensign flag with a small Danish flag in the top corner. It wasn't until 1917 that Denmark agreed to sell the islands to the United States for a sum of $25 million. From 1917 until 1921, the islands flew the flag of the United States. This changed in 1921 when the new governor Rear Admiral Sumner Ely Wetmore Kittelle approached cartoonist Percival Wilson Sparks and asked for a new design. The completed design by Sparks is still the current design in use today.
Meaning
The flag is generally considered a simplified version of the United States coat of arms, with a golden colored Eagle instead of the standard American Bald Eagle. The Eagle holds some laurel in one talon, a symbol of peace, along with three blue arrows in the other talon. The arrows are said to represent each of the three main islands that make up the United States Virgin Islands, Saint Croix, Saint John and Saint Thomas. Emblazoned on the Eagle is a shield featuring the colors of the United States. The shield reconfirms the link to the US thematically as it retains the same colors, but the same shield also features on the US coat of arms. Finally a shield is also an icon of protection, symbolizing the islands being a territory of, and under the protection of, the United States. The letters V and I lie either side of the central Eagle and symbolise the initials of the Virgin Islands.
Key facts
- Capital city: Charlotte Amalie
- Population: 105,870
- Main Religion: Christianity
- Languages: English
- Currencies: United States dollar (USD)
- Country code:
VI - Area: 347 km2
- Continent: North America, Caribbean
- Latitude: 18.35, Longitude: -64.93
- Dialling code: +1340
- Top level domain:
.vi
