Let me introduce you to the village known as Savan, located in the northwestern subdivision of Charlotte Amalie. Savan was established in 1764 for free colored families. Simultaneous with slavery, there was a practice to allow people to buy their freedom and allow children of mixed parentage to be freed.

Inside the community there were variety shops, schools, places of worship, rum shops, tailors, dressmakers, shoemakers, pawn shops, bakeries, cook shops, community healthcare services, places of entertainment, hairdressers, barber shops and more. Some people had chicken coops to sell fresh eggs and fresh chicken. Some, especially the women, set up in stalls under the Bungalow at Market Square where they sold cooked food, seasoning, vegetables, provisions, local drinks and more. The list of resources developed inside the village and supported by the village is exhaustive.  

It is important to recognize that the people in the village were not wealthy, some were rather poor, but the community thrived because there was true communal spirit.

Today, people whose roots are planted in Savan still proudly refer to themselves as Savaneros. Some of the most influential community leaders, politicians, doctors, teachers and lawyers hail from Savan.