STX vs STT ?

There are definite differences between the two islands. I have lived in STX for two years. I have visited STT a couple of times, so most of my experience is with STX. STX tends to seem more like a rural area in the states. STT impresses me as more like a city. We have two small towns on STX. Like most small towns everywhere, they do tend to look a little tired and run down. STT doesn't have as much flat area as STX. STX is about twice the size of STT and has about the same population so we have more open space. I personally consider the Daily News to be a yellow rag, but that's another story. I think the crime rates of the two islands are about the same. I am sure there are those who will disagree with me. I tell folks who come to STX, "Welcome to the 1950's". That's not necessarily a derrogatory statement. Hope this helps.

Ric

Hello Barbara,

St. Thomas as a whole is not over run by tourists. When there are cruise ships in port then Havensight (where the ships dock) and Charlotte Amalie (shopping area) and Magens, Coki & Mountain Top (main attractions/beaches for tourists) are over-run. But you go any where else on the island and things look normal. You go to other beaches and they are sparsely populated. St. Thomas has high traffic areas (the commercial areas) and low traffic areas (everywhere else).

St. Thomas is smaller than St. Croix. St. Croix has many more flat areas or areas with rolling hills. St. Thomas is pretty much all mountainous; flattest areas are on the southside along the waterfront. But the flat area quickly rises to mountains - part of what makes Charlotte Amalie such a beautiful harbor.

Not looking at statistics and making a real comparison with numbers but St. Thomas and St. Croix are similar in terms of crime. You might look at the Police Dept. website, it has some statistics. http://www.vipd.gov.vi/

I think Christiansted is a quaint town, not run down. Sure if you walk a couple blocks from the main center of town things look run down... anyway Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas is the main shopping area for tourist so its bustling with shops/restaurants and bars. But sort of like Christiansted if you move a few blocks over and back then the area changes to a run down, densely populated residential area.

--Islander

ok i will give this one a shot.. 1) no its not over run w/ tourist however there are times when downtown is crowded w/ tourists but it really depends on how many cruise ships are in and time of year. 2) mountainous YES. 3)I dont think the crime in st. croix is worse than stt. there are problems on both islands as well as "every city" usa. 4)there are definatly economically depressed sections in stt. i am definately partial to stt for sure but that is just my opinion and im not going to bash stx.

) Is STT as mountainous as STX ? (I'm from FL so anything above sea level is a mountain to me!)

St Thomas is more "mountainous"

3) It appears to me from my 3 months of daily reading of the Virgin Islands Daily News that there is way more violent crime on St Croix. Is this correct? Do other folks feel this way?

I live on St. Croix. That is NOT true. St. Croix gets a really bad rap in the press, for whatever reason. Cancun recently had seven people killed in one day, and I bet you never heard that. Don't even ask about Puerto Rico. People will talk about 'per capita', but if you check the violent crimes you will find that it is people who know each other and it is usually young boys (can't call them men) who have some kind of grudge fest going. You are unlikely to be the victim of a violent crime unless you are raising pit bulls for fighting and dealing illicit drugs. If you worry about property crimes against your house, get a couple of large dogs. I have a German Shepherd and a Weimeraner. Nobody comes into my yard without discussing it with them first. It is NOT paradise, you have to exercise the same caution you would anywhere where money is king.

4) Are the downtown areas in STT as run down and economically depressed as Christensted looked to me?

Christiansted is quaint, not "run down." It is an example of what happens when communities build malls and the businesses move out of town. Judging from the amount of traffic flowing through town, mostly new or near-new vehicles, I have a hard time seeing "economic depression" here. Drive a few miles east of Christiansted to the Bucaneer Estates (Shoys) neighborhood and you will see palatial homes. Keep driving east and you will see even more. Go visit Carambola Golf course and the housing community there. Also Queen's Quarter, Judith's Fancy, Carlton, Estate St. George. Don't base your idea of St. Croix on what you see in Christiansted. Our island has its problems, yes. But it is also a community of peaceful, church-going people who are stone masons, carpenters, doctors, attorneys, cashiers, teachers, etc. who love to kick back and enjoy life.

I'm really sorry that folks who responded to my questions seemed offended by the questions.

Thanks for the responses I really appreciate them and my apologies, if my questions weren't appropriately worded.

Native Son, are you saying that the Dailty News, hypes St Croix crime more then STT ?

Perhaps I should re-phrase my question:

Why do people who move the the VI prefer STT or STX ?

Is STT as mountainous as STX ? (I'm from FL so anything above sea level is a mountain to me!)

Funny. I'm from FL also. When I first got here I decided not to drive as I found it impossible to take a hairpin turn at the same time as I was cresting a "hill" wihtout closing my eyes. (Yes, they call them hills here!). From someone with the T-shirt "I climbed Mt. Dora" it was an awakening. But now, doubt that I could stay awake on the interstate. What's the fun in being able to see the road for miles and miles?

We've only lived in STT and STJ so not much help on the STX question. Found more employment and more "affordable" housing on St. Thomas. I drive through town every day to work from Mandahl and don't find it too bad even with six and eight cruise ships in. You just check the ships and adjust your time, put on a good radio station and lime.....

Moving here from FL was easy. I miss thunderstorms without a name or number, oak trees and cheap produce. Other than that, it's pretty easy to adapt. Think Ocala with hills ...
Pamela

Native Son, are you saying that the Dailty News, hypes St Croix crime more then STT ?

Sometimes they do...St. Thomas is much more tourist-oriented and it is in their best economic interest to make it appear that the crimes are committed anywhere but on St. Thomas. They make a clear distinction between crimes committed against tourists and crimes committed against locals.

Perhaps I should re-phrase my question:

Why do people who move the the VI prefer STT or STX ?

St. Thomas appears, on the surface, to have more economic potential. It also has more night life, and more hustle and bustle. Some people like that. St. Croix appears to be a sleepy place where not a whole lot is going on. I for one like it that people think that, because it keeps the island more liveable. St. Thomas appeals to people who want to feel like they are still very much part of the life on the mainland. St. Croix is more for people who want to unplug. In my humble opinion, it is really kind of silly. I can go to St. Thomas anytime I wish, it is only a 12-minute ride on the seaplane...shorter than the average commute to work on St. Thomas. St. Thomas is more geared towards hospitality industry occupations. St. Croix has one of the world's largest oil refineries, along with numerous manufacturing plants. Anodyne is getting ready to set up shop in the Industrial Park, along with Patriot. Anodyne will be manufacturing a diabetes-monitoring device and Patriot will be making hydraulic lifts for tractor trailers. St. Croix wants to attract small industry and manufacturing, St. Thomas wants to attract cruise ships. St. Thomas may have 5 or so cruise ships in port on any given day, St. Croix may have 5 or so supertankers at the big refinery on any given day.
Most people on St. Croix get up each day and go to work to support their families. They are concerned about crime, yes, but not to the point of obsession. It's really not as bad as all that.

OK I had to chime in here too.

My background... 4 years STT, 14 STX, 2 back on STT and A little STJ.

THe daily is totally slanted towards STT. For a long time until I called them and asked they would print the blooter like this:

STX

Buglary: 1..... Time, Place, People involved, more particulars.
Grand Larceny 1..... Time, place etc
Assault.... 1 details taking a paragraph to detail like the above

STT:

Burglary 5 .. one line no details
Assault 7 .
Grand larceny....6

So when you see the blotter STX has 3/4 the space and stt has way more incidences nealty swept under the column.

I can go on... STT has more night life but that is regular meat market night life. Do a "jump up" and whatch what happens. The place is crawling with desireable species every where.

Once you get into the scene in STX it is a really great place to be. Breaking in is not that easy though.

Great things are going on in both Islands. Either one will prove to be really fun. I don'tlike people to bash STX or STT.

It seems there is a real chiity grudge between the Islands and that is a shame. Only the truly enlightend can appreciate both Islands for thier unique enviroments.

Get here and you'll love it. Either one.

Also, depends on your age, gender and marital status. We're mid 50's and married. We like the social life available to us on STX. But can't speak for the youngsters who are looking for lots of fun and companionship.