What’s in a Name? The Shared History of the British and U.S. Virgin Islands

How colonial choices shaped one archipelago — and why the “BVI” and “USVI” labels exist today.

The Virgin Islands hold a rich and complex history shaped by colonial ambitions, cultural exchange, and geographic unity. What we now know as the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) were once part of the same archipelago — the Virgin Islands — before politics and power divided them.

From the Danish West Indies to the U.S. Virgin Islands

The islands of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John were once known collectively as the Danish West Indies. Denmark controlled these islands for more than two centuries while neighboring islands came under British rule.

That era ended on March 31, 1917, when the United States purchased the Danish West Indies for $25 million, merely one week before entering World War I. The acquisition was a strategic move intended to prevent German naval use of the islands. Following the transfer, the territory became the Virgin Islands of the United States, marking a major shift in governance and identity.

The Name “Virgin Islands” — One Archipelago, Two Nations

Even today, the term “Virgin Islands” can be confusing. To differentiate the territories, people commonly use British Virgin Islands (BVI) and United States Virgin Islands (USVI). However, as historian Dr. Quincy F. Lettsome notes, the entire island chain has always been known as the Virgin Islands.

In other words, the modern split is primarily political — colonial borders superimposed on a single geographic archipelago.

British Presence

Britain’s formal presence in the Virgin Islands began around 1672.

Local Names and Island Identities

Beyond official labels, islanders have long used colorful local names that reflect identity and pride:

• St. Croix — “Twin City”
• St. Thomas — “Rock City” or “Rock”
• St. John — “Love City”
• Tortola — “Chocolate City”
• Virgin Gorda — “Musical City”
• Jost Van Dyke — “Jost”

These nicknames capture the social rhythms and affectionate shorthand used by locals — a reminder that island identity often sits alongside formal governance.

How the Islands Compare Today

On the U.S. side, St. Croix is the largest, St. Thomas the most populous, and St. John the smallest. On the British side, Tortola is the largest and most populated island, followed by Virgin Gorda. Islands like Anegada and Jost Van Dyke remain smaller and more low-key in population and development.

Though governed separately, both territories continue to celebrate a shared heritage — an enduring reminder that nature created one archipelago even if history divided it into two nations.