Count down to paradise

• 5000 BC The glaciers melt, resulting in the separation of the islands
• 1000 BC First St. John inhabitants migrating from South American establish a village at Salt Pond Bay
• 500 BC Second round of immigrants-the ancestors of the Taino's arrive and the original inhabitants are either killed or taken in
• 1000 AD-1492 AD,  the Taino's live peacefully on St. John and leave prior to Columbus' arrival

Timeline of facts utilized can be found in: 

• St. John Off The Beaten Path, by Gerald Singer. Published by Sombrero Company, St. John USVI, 2016-revised edition.

• 1493 AD Columbus' second voyage passes through and he dubs them St. Ursula and the 11,000 Virgins-later referred to as "The Virgins."
• 1500-1717 Pirates, Fugitives,  Fisherman and Woodcutters in small groups reside on island
• 1718 Erik Bredal takes formal possession of the island in the name of Denmark and the Danish West India Company.
• 1718 The plantation era begins on St. John, enslaved Africans clear forests, terrace hillsides and plant sugar, cotton and other crops.
• 1733, November 23rd, Akwamu tribe of African slaves-former royalty in Africa, lead the infamous slave revolt and hold control of the island for over 6 months
• 1739, St. John's plantation system is fully operating again
• 1834, The BVI declares Emancipation of Slaves making the nearby island of Tortola a popular option for escaping St. John slaves
• 1848 Emancipation of slaves in the Danish West Indies however police forces prohibit the newly freed from leaving the island
• 1849 Labor Act forced freed slaves to remain on the plantations, however over the next few years epidemics, natural disasters and a decline in the sugar cane demand cause a major economic decline
• 1867 the final blow to the plantation system occurs from a devasting hurricane and the U.S.'s plan to purchase the islands diminish
• 1868, the U.S. interest returns and they offer $7.5 million to the Danish for St. Thomas and St. John only to be rejected
• 1902, U.S. offers $5 million for St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix, rejected again
• 1917, in order to strengthen and improve their military position during WWI, the U.S. reaches agreement with the Danish to purchase all three islands for $25 million, the U.S. Navy manages the territory with the Department of Interior

Timeline of facts utilized can be found in: 

• St. John Off The Beaten Path, by Gerald Singer. Published by Sombrero Company, St. John USVI, 2016-revised edition.
• Virgin Islands History, VI Now. https://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/history/

Visit the Virgin Islands Government Website

• 1917, the United States purchased the islands from the Danish for $25 million
• 1927,  U.S. citizenship was conferred on U.S. Virgin Islanders
• 1931, the Department of the Interior becomes the federal authority of the U.S. territory 
• 1936, The Organic Act lays the foundation for self-government, in the revised Organic Act of 1954 a more elaborate governmental structure emerged 
• 1944, the U. S. purchased Water Island from the Danish for $10,000; 1996, the territory purchase it for $25,000,000 from the federal government (exactly what they paid for all 3 major islands combined!)
• 1970, the first elections for constitutional officers were held 
• 1971, the first elected governor was Melvin H. Evans