Christiansted is nestled between a reef-protected, shallow harbor and steep hills on the island's north coast. At one point the bustling port of Christiansted was the capital of the territory under Danish rule, and the attractive, six-block historic district reflects the glory days of Danish prosperity on St Croix during the 18th and 19th C.
Today, Christiansted features over 100 gold, pink, and brown neoclassical buildings a broad range of modern choices for accommodation, dining and entertainment. With a population of 2,555, Christiansted is St Croix's largest town and is easily explored on foot. Several cruise ships dock at the harbor each week.
Christiansted was designed using Norway's town of Christiania (now Oslo) as a model in 1735. Named for the reigning Danish monarch at the time, Christian VI, Christiansted included a fort to protect the commercial buildings of the Danish West India and Guinea Company. By 1800 the town's population had reached 5,284.
The downfall of the sugar industry caused economic hardship in Christiansted, and little changed over the next 200 years. The introduction of tourism in the 1960s brought many pubs, boutiques, restaurants and inns to town that largely function in the original (and restored) 18th and 19th C buildings.
The Christiansted Historical District covers 27ac/11ha in the center of town and is administered by the National Parks Service. The rich colonial history in Christiansted offers much to visitors looking for more than a beach vacation.
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