National Register of Historic Places

Cruz Bay Town Historic District

Cruz Bay, St. John County, U.S. Virgin Islands

Listed

October 3, 2016

Type

District

Period

Listed

Ref No.

16000699

About this property

Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands is the main census-designated place (CDP) on the island of Saint John in the United States Virgin Islands. It is the fourth largest town or census-designated place (CDP) in the U.S. Virgin Islands (after Charlotte Amalie, Anna's Retreat, and Charlotte Amalie West). According to the 2020 census, Cruz Bay had a population of 2,772. Cruz Bay, located on the west coast of Saint John, is the island's largest commercial center and the location of the main port on Saint John. The primary access to Saint John is through Cruz Bay Harbor. Frequent barge and ferry, including car ferry, service connects Saint John to the neighboring more-developed island of Saint Thomas. Ferries also run regularly between Cruz Bay and Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands. Cruz Bay is home to numerous shops and restaurants which are frequented by tourists and locals alike. The Virgin Islands National Park Visitor Center, the Elaine Sprauve Library, and a United States Post Office are also located in Cruz Bay. Cruz Bay beach is lined with beach bars and shops. There is also a casino. The beach has soft white sand, a designated swimming area, and space for day boaters to anchor. The National Park Service has its headquarters near the waterfront in Cruz Bay as does U.S. Customs and Immigration. The Cruz Bay Town Historic District was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2016. According to the Köppen system, Cruz Bay has a tropical savanna climate, abbreviated Aw on climate maps. On 31 July 1988, Cruz Bay recorded a temperature of 37.2 °C (99.0 °F), which is the highest temperature to have ever been recorded in the United States Virgin Islands.

Location

Cruz Bay, St. John County, U.S. Virgin Islands

Everything a full report reveals about Cruz Bay Town Historic District

This page lists Cruz Bay Town Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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Questions about this property

When was Cruz Bay Town Historic District listed on the National Register?

Cruz Bay Town Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 3, 2016.

What type of historic resource is Cruz Bay Town Historic District?

Cruz Bay Town Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Cruz Bay Town Historic District?

The period of significance for Cruz Bay Town Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Cruz Bay Town Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Cruz Bay Town Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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U.S. Virgin Islands history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

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