Saint Croix
(KROI), island (
80 sq mi/207 sq km; 1990 pop.
55,139), the largest of the U.S.V.I., in the West Indies. Christiansted
(1980 pop. 2,856), on the NE coast, is the isl.'s leading town. St.
Croix suffered enormous damage from a hurricane in Sept. 1989
and was again damaged by hurricane in 1995. Has one of the world's
largest oil refineries. Flat terrain with abundant vegetation in N,
tropical forests in W, and flat plains in S well suited to sugar
growing. Was 1st settled in 1625, after 1733 was under Dan. control,
and became the richest sugar isl. in the Caribbean. In the 19th cent.,
the decline of sugar industry, along with political and geological
turbulence, devastated the economy. Purchased by the U.S. in 1917;
post-World War II tourism provided economic growth. Alexander Hamilton
Airport; Marine Corps airfield here.
Capital city or county seat is shown by the symbol
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