U.S. Virgin Islands, USA

U.S. Virgin Islands occupies a distinctive part of the United States, with geography that ranges across steep green hills, sheltered bays, reefs and historic port settlements. Its cities and smaller communities are linked by landscapes that have long shaped travel, settlement and local identity. The area’s history reflects Indigenous Caribbean history, Danish colonial rule and transfer to the United States in 1917, leaving a rich mix of historic places and cultural traditions. Today, tourism, maritime trade, small businesses and a culture shaped by African and Caribbean traditions contribute to an economy and way of life that vary markedly from one part of U.S. Virgin Islands to another.