St. Croix

The biggest of the Islands, St. Croix has been inhabited for centuries. Various indigenous people groups like the Igneri, Taino, and Caribs inhabited the island throughout its early history.

After Spanish colonizers landed in 1493, the Island’s population began dwindling from forced dispersal and disease, ultimately becoming uninhabited by the late 16^th century.

Throughout the 17^th century, several European colonizing powers gained and lost control of the island. Eventually, St. Croix came under Dutch control in 1733.

The Dutch retained ownership until selling all three islands to the United States in 1916 (officially selling in 1917). St Croix has been part of the U.S. Virgin Islands ever since.