Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands

Town of Frederiksted

Along Company Street In Downtown Frederiksted
Nickname(s): Freedom City
Town of Frederiksted
Coordinates: 17°42′42″N 64°52′55″W / 17.71167°N 64.88194°WCoordinates: 17°42′42″N 64°52′55″W / 17.71167°N 64.88194°W
Country United States
Territory  United States Virgin Islands
District District of Saint Croix
ZIP code 00840, 00841
Area code(s) 340

Frederiksted is a town on the west end of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. It is home to Fort Frederik, constructed to protect the town from pirate raids and attacks from rival imperialist nations. It was named after Frederick V of Denmark, who purchased the Danish West Indies in 1754.

Frederiksted is often referred to as "Freedom City" by locals. This nickname has to do with the fact that the town was the site of the emancipation of slaves in the then-Danish West Indies. The emancipation of slaves was proclaimed on July 3, 1848, at Fort Frederik on the waterfront at the northern edge of Frederiksted by Governor-General Peter von Scholten after slaves led by General Buddhoe (a slave) revolted.

Frederiksted is home to one of two deep water ports on St. Croix, the other being located at the South Port which includes Hovensa oil refinery tank farm and Renaissance Industrial Park. It is the main port for cruise ships visiting the island. Passengers disembark at the pier, where they may explore the town or catch a waiting taxi that will bring them to Christiansted or other points of interest across St. Croix.

History

Fort Frederik

The town was destroyed by a labor revolt (known as "The Fireburn" because arson was utilized as a means of revolt) in October 1878, which was led by four Crucian female laborers. Frederiksted was later restored during the Victorian era, as reflected in the town's architecture.

Modern Frederiksted operates at a slower pace than Christiansted, except for carnival in January and whenever cruise ships dock in Frederiksted's deepwater port. In recent years successful redevelopment efforts have begun to restore and revitalize this National Historic Site. The 2000 census population of the town was 732, and that of the larger sub-district was 3,767.[1]

Points of interest

Frederiksted maintains its original seven street by seven street city design and is host to several historic structures. Among them are St. Patrick's Catholic Church built in the 1840s and its primary school, the Customs House, the 19th Century Apothecary, and many other buildings; some which due to hurricanes past have fallen into ruins.

Things to do

Seahorse at the pier in Frederiksted.

Scuba diving in Frederiksted is ideal and rated one of the best dive sites in the Virgin Islands.[2] Calm waters and shore entry make this side of the island a destination for scuba with warm waters and more dive sites than most of the island combined, featuring the Pier, wrecks, reef, seahorses, and underwater archaeology.[3] The Pier in Frederiksted is considered the best night dive in the Caribbean with a dive shop directly at the pier.[4][5]

Jazz in the Park is featured every third Friday of the month from 5:30-7:30pm.[6] Admission is free as this is a community sponsored event featuring food and drinks.

Carnival is the biggest event of the year starting in late December and ending the first weekend of the New Year. The event startes with the construction of Carnival Village, which is the traditional county fair. The last weekend hosts the largest parties with J'ouvert at the crack of dawn, followed the next day with the Food Fair. The first Friday is the Children's Parade and the blowout event is the Adult Parade with its full festival status.

Paddleboarding is very popular with the calm waters on the Frederiksted side of the island. Weekly events for night boarding and general competitions are hosted by Freedom City Surf Shop.

Wilderness tours are available by both bicycle and ATV.[7][8][9]

Climate

Climate data for Frederiksted, United States Virgin Islands
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 82
(28)		 82
(28)		 84
(29)		 84
(29)		 86
(30)		 87
(31)		 87
(31)		 87
(31)		 87
(31)		 87
(31)		 86
(30)		 84
(29)		 85.3
(29.8)
Average low °F (°C) 69
(21)		 69
(21)		 69
(21)		 71
(22)		 73
(23)		 75
(24)		 75
(24)		 75
(24)		 75
(24)		 73
(23)		 71
(22)		 71
(22)		 72.2
(22.6)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.2
(56)		 1.9
(48)		 1.6
(41)		 2.6
(66)		 4.0
(102)		 2.7
(69)		 3.3
(84)		 4.3
(109)		 5.6
(142)		 5.4
(137)		 4.5
(114)		 3.6
(91)		 41.7
(1,059)
Source: Weatherbase[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01cn172.html
  2. ↑ http://www.scubadiving.com/travel/caribbean-atlantic/us-virgin-islands-top-10-dives
  3. ↑ http://www.scubaearth.com
  4. ↑ http://www.n2theblue.com
  5. ↑ http://www.scubadiving.com/travel/caribbean-atlantic/2012-top-100-readers-choice-awards
  6. ↑ http://www.gotostcroix.com/events/sunset-jazz-in-frederiksted
  7. ↑ http://www.geckosislandadventures.com/
  8. ↑ http://www.freedomcitycycles.com/
  9. ↑ http://www.thingstodoinstcroix.com/
  10. ↑ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands". Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved on November 24, 2011.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Frederiksted.