Christiansted turns 275
Published: June 3, 2010
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By GENEVIEVE RYAN
Daily News Staff
This year, the town of Christiansted celebrates its 275th anniversary. Founded 25 years before Frederiksted, Christiansted has served as a bustling port town; a residential, business and civic center; and now, a historic and modern town that is home to more than 2,000 people, and a place for business, shopping, dining and more for St. Croix’s residents and visitors.
Founded in 1735 by the Danish West India and Guinea Company on behalf of the Danish monarchy — and named for the then-king of Denmark — Christiansted was built as a port town for the importing and exporting of goods and supplies related to the island’s plantation-based economy.
“The idea is to get the products in the international marketplace and bring in supplies for the people and the plantations,” said historian George Tyson.
At the time of Christiansted’s development, St. Croix’s economic prosperity was primarily dependent on the sugar and cotton industries, though its creation would also put the island on the map as a hub of business and trading for the Danish. Ships carrying cargos of rum, molasses and enslaved human beings would dock there while traveling the trade route between Europe and Africa.
With city planning and architecture by the Danish, Christiansted’s biggest boom in development occurred between 1753 and 1755 when the population grew from 1,100 to 5,000. A growth spurt, says Tyson, that was due to the fact that from 1755 to 1871 Christiansted served as the capital of the Danish West Indies.
The impact of enslaved Africans on the town is often overlooked, Tyson said.
“Despite the Danish planning and despite the economic activity, the town was basically built by enslaved Africans,” Tyson said.
“This has been a forgotten element in Christiansted history — I think it’s important to recognize the contributions of the black population.”
Many of the buildings he refers to still stand today and include landmarks that have been in use since the town’s earliest days like Fort Christianvaern, once used as a base of defense for the Danish Army; the Old Customs House; The Danish West India and Guinea Company Warehouse; and the Steeple Building, which was constructed as a Lutheran church.
Restored and cared for by the National Park as part of the Christiansted National Historic Site, these buildings offer visitors a glimpse into the history of the town.
According to architect and planner Bill Taylor, Christiansted is the United States’ fourth oldest planned town. The plan included the open spaces and arcaded sidewalks that both contribute to the town’s character and protect against the elements today.
“They all grow out of the fact that Denmark-Norway developed, over a 60-year period, planned towns, and those planned towns, including Christiansted, continue to give back to their users for hundreds of years,” said Taylor.
“The virtues of a planned town never go out of style.”
On Friday, the merchants of Christiansted will throw the town a birthday bash block party from Church Street to Queen Cross featuring outdoor candlelight dining on local delicacies, music from Bully and The Kafooners and shopping. Company street art galleries will feature exhibitions of Christiansted-themed works.
— Contact reporter Genevieve Ryan at 774-8772 ext. 340 or e-mail gryan@dailynews.vi
