Virgin Islands Americans (stateside)

Virgin Islands Americans
Total population
	U.S. Virgin Islands origin: 15,014;
Languages
	English, Virgin Islands Creole
Religion
	Predominantly Christianity
Related ethnic groups
	Caribbean

Virgin Islands Americans are a group of West Indian Americans born in the U.S. Virgin Islands or British Virgin Islands and those individuals with ancestry from either territory who live in the U.S. states.

The U.S. Virgin Islands are an unincorporated territory of the United States. Individuals born in the U.S. Virgin Islands on or after January 17, 1917 are U.S. citizens. As a result, U.S. Virgin Islanders do not go through the legal immigration procedures that most other West Indian immigrants would. However, the British Virgin Islands are a British Overseas Territory. As a result, British Virgin Islanders are required to go through legal immigration procedures when entering the United States.

Demographics

Virgin Islands Americans include those with ancestry from both the U.S. Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands. Many of them concentrate in areas with large West Indian communities, such as in New York, Florida, and Georgia.

Population by state

Relative to the population of each state

State/territory	2020 census: U.S. Virgin Islander	% (2020)	2020 census: British Virgin Islander	% (2020)
Alabama	76	0.09%	2	0.0%
Alaska	13	0.02%	n/a	n/a
Arizona	76	0.09%	0	0.0%
Arkansas	11	0.02%	n/a	n/a
California	323	0.38%	28	0.08%
Colorado	107	0.13%	3	0.0%
Connecticut	216	0.25%	10	0.03%
Delaware	46	0.06%	4	0.02%
District of Columbia	39	0.05%	1	0.0%
Florida	3,639	4.18%	155	0.42%
Georgia	1,365	1.57%	49	0.14%
Hawaii	13	0.02%	0	0.0%
Idaho	2	0.0%	n/a	n/a
Illinois	94	0.11%	2	0.0%
Indiana	41	0.05%	3	0.0%
Iowa	15	0.02%	2	0.0%
Kansas	11	0.02%	0	0.0%
Kentucky	40	0.05%	3	0.0%
Louisiana	83	0.10%	0	0.0%
Maine	13	0.02%	0	0.0%
Maryland	455	0.53%	25	0.07%
Massachusetts	297	0.35%	40	0.11%
Michigan	79	0.10%	3	0.0%
Minnesota	39	0.05%	3	0.0%
Mississippi	8	0.0%	0	0.0%
Missouri	23	0.03%	4	0.0%
Montana	5	0.0%	0	0.0%
Nebraska	6	0.0%	n/a	n/a
Nevada	55	0.07%	n/a	n/a
New Hampshire	47	0.06%	n/a	n/a
New Jersey	403	0.47%	27	0.08%
New Mexico	13	0.02%	2	0.0%
New York	1,281	1.47%	135	0.37%
North Carolina	461	0.53%	13	0.04%
North Dakota	0	0.0%	1	0.0%
Ohio	93	0.11%	4	0.02%
Oklahoma	48	0.06%	n/a	n/a
Oregon	25	0.03%	2	0.0%
Pennsylvania	439	0.51%	12	0.04%
Puerto Rico	80	0.10%	14	0.04%
Rhode Island	44	0.06%	10	0.03%
South Carolina	86	0.10%	3	0.0%
South Dakota	4	0.0%	3	0.0%
Tennessee	69	0.08%	4	0.02%
Texas	913	1.05%	15	0.05%
Utah	7	0.0%	n/a	n/a
Vermont	8	0.0%	n/a	n/a
Virginia	391	0.45%	15	0.05%
Washington	115	0.14%	2	0.0%
West Virginia	6	0.0%	2	0.0%
Wisconsin	22	0.03%	5	0.02%
Wyoming	0	0.0%	0	0.0%
United States	11,745	13.48%	606	1.64%

New York

During the 1920s, a large influx of Virgin Islanders migrated to New York City in search of jobs and economic opportunities. In 1925, the population of native islanders in the city was 8,000 alone. However, while living in Harlem, Virgin Islanders encountered deeper racial tensions than what was felt on the islands. This led to the Harlem Renaissance, in which Casper Holstein, Hubert Harrison, Ashley Totten and Frank Crosswaith joined other Caribbean migrants to advocate for equal rights in their community. New York City is historically known to be the first stop city for Virgin Islanders, and remains so today. The 2020 census estimated that 1,281 Virgin Islanders resided in New York state.

Florida

According to the 2020 census, Florida has the highest population of Virgin Islanders in any state throughout the country. New York and Georgia rank second and third. Recent data have shown Orange County particularly Metro Orlando (248), Pine Hills (189), Oak Ridge (27), and Apopka (33) to be the most settled region for Virgin Islanders not only in Florida but the entire United States. Other regions with a large Virgin Islander population include Ft. Lauderdale and Jacksonville. Many high school students from the Virgin Islands have attended Bethune–Cookman University in Daytona Beach, and many carnival troupes take part in the Orlando Carnival activities each May.

Notable people

Actors

Wayne Brady (born 1972), actor; born in Georgia
Lisa Canning (born 1966), television actress; born on St. Thomas
Kelsey Grammer (born 1955), actor; born on St. Thomas
Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (born 1953), actor; born in New York City
Hannah Jeter (born 1990), model and television host; born on St. Thomas
Jasmin St. Claire (born 1972), adult film actress; born in Christiansted, St. Croix
Joan Smalls (born 1988), model and television personality; father from St. Thomas
Karrine Steffans (born 1978), New York Times bestselling author, former hip hop music video performer, actress; born on St. Thomas

Artists

Fraser Kershaw, philanthropist, film artist

Athletes

Raja Bell (born 1976), basketball player; born on St. Croix
Tombi Bell (born 1979), basketball player, who last played for the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA; born on St. Croix
Aliyah Boston (born 2001), basketball player currently with the Indiana Fever of the WNBA; born on St. Thomas
Joe Christopher (born 1935), the first Virgin Islander to play in Major League Baseball; born in Frederiksted, St. Croix
Midre Cummings (born 1971), baseball player; born on St. Croix
Tim Duncan (born 1976), Hall of Fame basketball player who spent his entire NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs; born in Christiansted, St. Croix
Emile Griffith (1938–2013), boxer; born on St. Thomas
Elrod Hendricks (1940–2005), Minor League Baseball player and coach; born in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
Julian Jackson (born 1960), boxer; born on St. Thomas
Alex McFarlane (born 2001), Major League Baseball player; born on St. Thomas
Calvin Pickering (born 1976), baseball player; born on St. Thomas
J'Wan Roberts (born 2001), basketball player with Houston Cougars of the Big 12 Conference; born on St. Thomas
Sugar Ray Seales (born 1952), 1972 Olympic gold medalist (139 lbs.) boxer; born on St. Croix
Darnell Sweeney (born 1991), Major League Baseball player; father born in the British Virgin Islands

Musicians

Alton Adams (1889–1987), musician, first black bandmaster in the United States Navy; born in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
Bennie Benjamin (1907–1989), composer, songwriter, philanthropist; born in Christiansted, St. Croix
Jon Lucien, jazz musician; born on Tortola, raised on St. Thomas
Rock City, a musical duo of composed brothers Timothy and Theron Thomas, born on St. Thomas
Sonny Rollins, jazz musician; born in New York, of St. Thomas (mother) and St. Croix (father) descent
Verse Simmonds, singer, rapper, and producer; born in Puerto Rico, raised on St. Thomas

Political leaders

Judah P. Benjamin (1811–1884), Secretary of the Treasury, Confederate States of America; born in Christiansted, St. Croix
Frank Rudolph Crosswaith (1892–1965), socialist and labor leader; born in Frederiksted, St. Croix
Donna Christensen (born 1945), former US House delegate for the U.S. Virgin Islands; born in New Jersey
Octavius C. Granady (1885-1928), lawyer, civil rights activist, and politician; born in Christiansted, St. Croix
Alexander Hamilton (1755–1804), first United States Secretary of the Treasury, an American "Founding Father", economist, and political philosopher; born in Nevis, raised on St. Croix
Hubert Henry Harrison (1883–1927), orator, political activist; born in St. Croix
Elizabeth Anna Hendrickson (1884–1946), civil rights leader; born in St. Croix
Casper Holstein (born 1888), humanitarian; born in St. Croix
Roy Innis (born 1934), African-American activist, civil rights leader; born in St. Croix
Kenneth Mapp (born 1955), former governor, lieutenant governor and senator of the U.S. Virgin Islands; born in New York City
J. Raymond Jones (1899–1991), political leader, humanitarian; born in St. Thomas
John de Jongh (born 1957), past governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, former financial executive; born in St. Thomas
Neville James, former senator of the U.S. Virgin Islands from St. Croix; born in New York City
William Leidesdorff (1810–1848), entrepreneur; born in St. Croix
Ruby Margaret Rouss (1921–1988) first black woman to be elected to preside over a state legislature; born in St. Croix
Stacey Plaskett (born 1966), current US House delegate for the U.S. Virgin Islands; born in New York City
Usie Richards (born 1956), former senator of the U.S. Virgin Islands from St. Croix; born in New York City
Terence Todman (born 1926), ambassador; born in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Denmark Vesey (1767–1822), slave revolt leader; born on St. Thomas
David Levy Yulee (1810–1886), U.S. Senator; born on St. Thomas

Writers and intellectuals

Barbara Christian (1943–2000), educator, feminist critic; born on St. Thomas
Cadwell Turnbull (born 1987), writer; grew up in St. Thomas, parents from St. Thomas
Tiphanie Yanique (born 1978), fiction writer, poet, essayist; born on St. Thomas

News media personalities

Candace Owens (born 1989), conservative news commentator, Turning Point USA co-founder, YouTube personality; grandmother from St. Thomas

References

↑ "U.S. Census website". Retrieved September 6, 2008.
↑ "Atlanta Hosting USVI Economic Development Summit May 20–22". St. John Source. May 9, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
↑ "Centennial timeline". The Virgin Islands Daily News. March 31, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
↑ "Green Islands for All? Avoiding Climate Gentrification in the Caribbean | Society of Ethnobiology". ethnobiology.org. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
↑ "General Information: Government". Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
↑ "8 USC 1406: Persons living in and born in the Virgin Islands". uscode.house.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
1 2 Batalova, Jeanne Batalova Jane Lorenzi and Jeanne (July 6, 2022). "Caribbean Immigrants in the United States". migrationpolicy.org. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
↑ "Do you need a passport to travel to or from U.S. territories or Freely Associated States? | USAGov". www.usa.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
↑ "Virgin Islands, British". travel.state.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
1 2 "Detailed Races and Ethnicities in the United States and Puerto Rico: 2020 Census".
↑ Oliver, Myrna (June 29, 2000). "Barbara T. Christian; Professor Fostered Black Women Writers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
↑ "Breaking out of the box: A Conversation with Cadwell Turnbull". Clarkesworld Science Fiction & Fantasy Magazine. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
↑ "Local Authors to be Featured at V.I. Literary Festival, April 10–13". St. Thomas Source. March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2025.

[US_Census_Bureau,_American_FactFinder,_Decennial_Programs,_Census_2000,_Data_Set_Census_2000_Summary_File_3_(SF_3)_–_Sample_Data,_Table:_PCT18_ANCESTRY_(TOTAL_CATEGORIES_TALLIED)_FOR_PEOPLE_WITH_ONE_OR_MORE_ANCESTRY_CATEGORIES_REPORTED_[109]_Universe-1] "U.S. Census website". Retrieved September 6, 2008.

[2] "Atlanta Hosting USVI Economic Development Summit May 20–22". St. John Source. May 9, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2025.

[3] "Centennial timeline". The Virgin Islands Daily News. March 31, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2025.

[4] "Green Islands for All? Avoiding Climate Gentrification in the Caribbean | Society of Ethnobiology". ethnobiology.org. Retrieved March 23, 2025.

[5] "General Information: Government". Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. Retrieved March 23, 2025.

[6] "8 USC 1406: Persons living in and born in the Virgin Islands". uscode.house.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2025.

[:0-7] 1 2 Batalova, Jeanne Batalova Jane Lorenzi and Jeanne (July 6, 2022). "Caribbean Immigrants in the United States". migrationpolicy.org. Retrieved March 23, 2025.

[8] "Do you need a passport to travel to or from U.S. territories or Freely Associated States? | USAGov". www.usa.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2025.

[9] "Virgin Islands, British". travel.state.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2025.

[auto1-10] 1 2 "Detailed Races and Ethnicities in the United States and Puerto Rico: 2020 Census".

[11] Oliver, Myrna (June 29, 2000). "Barbara T. Christian; Professor Fostered Black Women Writers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 22, 2025.

[12] "Breaking out of the box: A Conversation with Cadwell Turnbull". Clarkesworld Science Fiction & Fantasy Magazine. Retrieved March 22, 2025.

[13] "Local Authors to be Featured at V.I. Literary Festival, April 10–13". St. Thomas Source. March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2025.

[note_n11-14] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Part of the National Council of Churches

[note_n0-15] 1 2 Not in communion with the rest of the Catholic Church

[note_n6-16] Those are traditions and denominations that trace their history back to the Protestant Reformation or otherwise heavily borrow from the practices and beliefs of the Protestant Reformers.

[note_n3-17] This denomination is the result of a merger between Lutheran, German Reformed, Congregational and Restorationist churches.

[note_n1-18] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Part of the National Association of Evangelicals

[note_n4-19] 1 2 3 4 This refers to the denomination's heritage and not necessarily to the language in which the services are conducted in.

[note_n5-20] This is a reformed synod within the United Church of Christ that is distinct in heritage, doctrine and practice from the rest of the denomination.

[note_n2-21] 1 2 Outside the Anglican Communion

[note_n8-22] 1 2 3 4 5 6 This is more of a movement then an institutionalized denomination.

[note_n10-23] Denominations that don't fit in the subsets mentioned above.

[note_n7-24] Those are traditions and denominations that trace their origin back to the Great Awakenings and/or are joined together by a common belief that Christianity should be restored along the lines of what is known about the apostolic early church.

[note_n9-25] The Holiness movement is an interdenominational movement that spreads over multiple traditions (Methodist, Quakers, Anabaptist, Baptist, etc.). However, here are mentioned only those denominations that are part of Restorationism as well as the Holiness movement, but are not part of any other Protestant tradition.

v t e Caribbean Americans
Anglo-Caribbean	Antiguan and Barbudan Bahamian Barbadian Belizean Garifuna Bermudian Dominican (Dominica) Grenadian Guyanese Jamaican Kittian and Nevisian Saint Lucian Trinidadian and Tobagonian Vincentian
Americo-Caribbean	Puerto Rican Virgin Islands
Franco-Caribbean	Haitian Guadeloupean Martiniquan
Hispano-Caribbean	Cuban Dominican (Dominican Republic) Panamanian Puerto Rican
Dutch Caribbean	Dutch West Indians Surinamese
Ethnic groups	Indo-Caribbean Americans

Total population
U.S. Virgin Islands origin: 15,014
Languages
English, Virgin Islands Creole
Religion
Predominantly Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Caribbean