Country United States Area 132 ha | Founded September 1, 1734 Population 3,000 | |
Christiansted is a town on Saint Croix, one of the main islands comprising the United States Virgin Islands, a territory of the United States of America. It is a former capital of the Danish West Indies and home to the Christiansted National Historic Site. Christiansted as of 2004, has a population of about 3,000, The 2000 census population of the town was 2,637; that of the larger sub-district was 2,865 [1].Christiansted has preserved the 18th-century Danish-style buildings constructed by African slaves. 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 many African influences in Christiansteds design as well, making it one of the few "African-Danish" towns in the world. The towns 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.
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Map of Christiansted, United States Virgin Islands
The town has several small hotels and many restaurants. Several scuba shops operate in the town, as the wharf has easy access to many diving attractions on the north side of the island. A small point of interest is Protestant Cay, a cay near Christiansted.
The botanist Julius von Rohr started a botanic garden in Christiansted in the 18th century and produced a number of landscapes of the island.
Economy
Seaborne Airlines previously had headquarters in Christiansted.