From one ownership to another

From one ownership to another Historic Context

Christopher Columbus was the first European to visit St. Croix on N ovember 1493, where he entered Salt River Bay. During the following century, St. Croix was under the control of various European powers until it came under the possession of the France Kingdom in 1650.

In 1733 King Louis X IV ordered the French settlers to abandon St. Croix to strengthen the defense of H aiti. The Danish West India- Guinea Company ( DWI&G) bought St. Croix along with the Virgin Islands St. Thomas and St. John in [årstal] for 164.000 Danish Rigsdaler. At that time, there were still traces of French settlements and plantations and they would soon form the towns of Frederiksted and Christiansted. Frederiksted was the site of an older French settlement while Christiansted was the site of an old plantation Grande Princess.

Due to the natural harbor at Christiansted, the town had great potential for DWI&G Company as the long reef is almost surrounded the bay. In the following years, Christiansted outgrew Frederiksted and became the island’s “capital”. The brick Fort Christiansværn was built on top of an old French dirt ramparts in 1734 - 1749. With the support from two small bastions on Protestant Cay and cannons pointing directly at the opening of the reef the Danes had complete control of the harbor ( Eilstrup, Boesgaard and Eilstrup, 1974).

Work at the harbor in Christiansted, St. Croix. http://www.kb.dk/da/nb/tema/dvi/index.html

Danish interest in the island of St. Croix started and ended with sugar and cotton production. In 1754, there were 338 plantations of which 63 had wind-driven sugar mills.

In 1917 during the final years of World War One United States of America (USA) had a growing concern that the Prussian Empire would gain a foothold in the Caribbean. In that connection, USA bought the Danish West Indies from the Danish government. The island was sole purchase for its strategic location and not for the agricultural values as many believes.

Today the US Virgin Islands are part of the American territory. The main industry in St. Croix is tourism and the Old Danish buildings in Christiansted are still preserved. The island still produces rum in some degree although the molasses is imported.

With the selling of the islands Denmark escaped several obligations and responsibilities. The island was left behind and is still to this day struggling with problems that originate from the slavery and sale. Today the US Virgin Island face problems with migration of skilled human resources and high unemployment rates alongside social and poverty related problems.

Entrance to the harbor in Christiansted, St. Croix. Protestant Cay in the background with Dannebrog waving. http://www.kb.dk/da/nb/tema/dvi/index.html