Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands
Charlotte Amalie | |
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Top: Lookout View of Charlotte Amalie; Upper Middle: Fort Christian , Emancipation Garden; Lower Middle: Villa Nottman, Blackbeard's Castle; Bottom:Rothschild Francis Square , Waterfront promenade with the VI Alexander A Farrelly Justice Complex and Ron De Lugo US Federal Building in the background. | |
| Nicknames: Town Charlotte Amalie the Town | |
Location within the United States Virgin Islands | |
| Coordinates: 18°21′N 64°57′W / 18.350°N 64.950°W | |
| Country | United States |
| Territory | U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Administrative District | Saint Thomas-Saint John |
| Island (Census District) | Saint Thomas |
| Subdistrict(s) | Charlotte Amalie |
| Named after | Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | None |
| Area | |
| 3.14 km2 (1.213 sq mi) | |
| • Urban | 8.7 km2 (3.36 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 9 m (31 ft) |
| Population (2020) | |
| 8,194 | |
| • Density | 2,600/km2 (6,800/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 14,477 (subdistrict) |
| Time zone | UTC-04:00 (AST) |
| ZIP code(s) | 00801, 00802, 00803, 00804 |
| Area code | 340 |
| Highways and Routes | |
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Charlotte Amalie (/ˈʃɑːrlət əˈmɑːli(ə)/ SHAR-lət ə-MAH-lee(-ə); Danish: [ʃɑˈlʌtʰə ɑˈmɑːljə]), located in Saint Thomas, is the historical capital and largest town of the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is located on the island's southern shore at the head of Charlotte Amalie Harbor. The town is known for its historic sites, Danish colonial architecture, harbor, and shopping. In 2020, it had a population of 8,194, making it the most densely populated town in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
It has a deep-water harbor that was once a haven for pirates (including Blackbeard) and is now one of the busiest ports of call for cruise ships in the Caribbean. About 1.5 million-plus cruise ship passengers land there annually, and hundreds of ferries and yachts pass by each week. Protected by Hassel Island, the harbor has docking and fueling facilities, machine shops, and shipyards and was a U.S. submarine base until 1966.