Tern island and La Perouse Pinnacle of the French Frigate Shoals

A number of islands were claimed as insular areas on behalf of the United States under the Guano Islands Act of 1856. These claims were made by private individuals to the U.S. Department of State and were not accepted by the United States unless certain conditions were met. The islands had to be unoccupied and outside the jurisdiction of another government; the claims also had to be bonded before the U.S. government would consider them insular areas of the country. As of 2023, only the eight islands administered as the US Minor Islands and the ones now part of Hawaii and American Samoa remain under the jurisdiction of the United States. Any other unresolved claims, if they exist, are dormant, and have not been contested by the United States in many years with the exception of Navassa.

Table

Island Region Alternate name Coordinates Current status Resolution of U.S. claim[1]
Alto Velo Island Caribbean Alta Vela Island; Isla Alto Velo 17°28′42″N 71°38′05″W / 17.47833°N 71.63472°W / 17.47833; -71.63472 (Alto Velo Island) Dominican Republic  Claim rejected with U.S. acknowledging Dominican claims. See Alto Velo Claim.
Atafu Oceania Duke of York Group 8°33′06″S 172°30′03″W / 8.55167°S 172.50083°W / -8.55167; -172.50083 (Atafu) Tokelau Claim bonded in 1860, but was never acted upon. Britain claimed in 1899. Final renouncement of any U.S. claim with Treaty of Tokehega
Bajo Nuevo Bank Caribbean Petrel Islands 15°53′N 78°38′W / 15.883°N 78.633°W / 15.883; -78.633 (Bajo Nuevo Bank) Disputed Remains in place as an unincorporated territory.
De facto administered by Colombia, and also claimed by Jamaica and Nicaragua.
Baker Island Oceania New Nantucket 0°11′41″N 176°28′46″W / 0.19472°N 176.47944°W / 0.19472; -176.47944 (Baker Island) US Minor Islands Unincorporated territory
Birnie Island Oceania 3°35′S 171°33′W / 3.583°S 171.550°W / -3.583; -171.550 (Birnie Island) Kiribati Treaty of Tarawa
Butaritari Oceania Makin Atoll, Makin Island, Touching Island 3°10′04″N 172°49′33″E / 3.16778°N 172.82583°E / 3.16778; 172.82583 (Butaritari) Kiribati Treaty of Tarawa
Caroline Island Oceania Millennium Island 9°56′13″S 150°12′42″W / 9.93694°S 150.21167°W / -9.93694; -150.21167 (Caroline Island) Kiribati Treaty of Tarawa
Carondelet Reef Oceania 5°34′S 173°51′W / 5.567°S 173.850°W / -5.567; -173.850 (Carondelet Reef) Kiribati Treaty of Tarawa
Clipperton Island Pacific Ocean Passion Island 10°18′N 109°13′W / 10.300°N 109.217°W / 10.300; -109.217 (Clipperton Island) France U.S. claim never bonded with the U.S. acknowledging France's claim. French and Mexican dispute settled via arbitration in France's favor by King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy in 1931.
Ducie Island Oceania 24°40′09″S 124°47′11″W / 24.66917°S 124.78639°W / -24.66917; -124.78639 (Ducie Island) British Territory Never bonded. Administered by Pitcairn Islands.
Enderbury Island Oceania Guano Island 3°08′S 171°05′W / 3.133°S 171.083°W / -3.133; -171.083 (Enderbury Island) Kiribati Treaty of Tarawa
Fakaofo Oceania Bowditch Island 9°21′55″S 171°12′54″W / 9.36528°S 171.21500°W / -9.36528; -171.21500 (Fakaofo) Tokelau No formal claim filed; however, any U.S. claim renounced in Treaty of Tokehega
Flint Island Oceania 11°25′48″S 151°49′9″W / 11.43000°S 151.81917°W / -11.43000; -151.81917 (Flint Island) Kiribati Treaty of Tarawa
French Frigate Shoals  Oceania Kānemilohaʻi 23°44′56″N 166°8′46″W / 23.74889°N 166.14611°W / 23.74889; -166.14611 (French Frigate Shoals) Hawaii Assumed sole competing claim through annexation of Hawaii
(1898); included in State of Hawaii (1959).
Funafuti Oceania Ellice's Group 8°31′S 179°13′E / 8.517°S 179.217°E / -8.517; 179.217 (Funafuti) Tuvalu Tuvalu–US Treaty of 1983
Howland Island Oceania Worth Island 0°48′07″N 176°38′3″W / 0.80194°N 176.63417°W / 0.80194; -176.63417 (Howland Island) US Minor Islands Unincorporated territory
Isla de Aves Caribbean Isla de Aves 15°40′18″N 63°36′59″W / 15.67167°N 63.61639°W / 15.67167; -63.61639 (Isla Aves) Venezuela United States–Venezuela Maritime Boundary Treaty
Îles du Connétable Atlantic Ocean  Constable Islands 4°49′25″N 51°56′11″W / 4.82361°N 51.93639°W / 4.82361; -51.93639 (Iles du Connétable) France Rescinded. Administered by French Guiana.
Jarvis Island Oceania Bunker Island 0°22′S 160°01′W / 0.367°S 160.017°W / -0.367; -160.017 (Jarvis Island) US Minor Islands Unincorporated territory
Johnston Atoll Oceania 16°44′13″N 169°31′26″W / 16.73694°N 169.52389°W / 16.73694; -169.52389 (Johnston Atoll) US Minor Islands Unincorporated territory
Kanton Island Oceania Canton Island 2°50′S 171°40′W / 2.833°S 171.667°W / -2.833; -171.667 (Kanton Island) Kiribati Treaty of Tarawa
Kingman Reef Oceania Danger Rock 6°24′N 162°24′W / 6.400°N 162.400°W / 6.400; -162.400 (Kingman Reef) US Minor Islands Unincorporated territory
Kiritimati Oceania Christmas Island 1°52′N 157°24′W / 1.867°N 157.400°W / 1.867; -157.400 (Kiritimati) Kiribati Treaty of Tarawa
Lacepede Islands Oceania Lacapade [sic] Islands 16°51′55″S 122°08′12″E / 16.86528°S 122.13667°E / -16.86528; 122.13667 (Lacepede Islands) Australia Claim made on 26 June 1876; repudiated by US government in 1877.
Makin (atoll) Oceania Little Makin 3°23′00″N 173°00′00″E / 3.38333°N 173.00000°E / 3.38333; 173.00000 (Makin (islands)) Kiribati Treaty of Tarawa
Malden Island Oceania Independence Island 4°01′S 154°56′W / 4.017°S 154.933°W / -4.017; -154.933 (Malden Island) Kiribati Treaty of Tarawa
Manihiki Oceania Island of Pearls 10°24′S 161°00′W / 10.400°S 161.000°W / -10.400; -161.000 (Manihiki) Cook Islands Cook Islands–United States Maritime Boundary Treaty
Manra Oceania Sydney Island 4°27′S 171°16′W / 4.450°S 171.267°W / -4.450; -171.267 (Manra Island) Kiribati Treaty of Tarawa
McKean Island Oceania Wigram Island 3°35′S 174°02′W / 3.583°S 174.033°W / -3.583; -174.033 (McKean Island) Kiribati Treaty of Tarawa
Midway Atoll Oceania Middlebrook Islands 28°12′N 177°21′W / 28.200°N 177.350°W / 28.200; -177.350 (Midway Atoll) US Minor Islands Unincorporated territory
Minami-Tori-shima Oceania Marcus Island 24°18′N 153°58′E / 24.300°N 153.967°E / 24.300; 153.967 (Minami Torishima) Japan Returned to Japan in 1968 after it had been given to US by Treaty of San Francisco
Navassa Island Caribbean Navaza 18°24′10″N 75°0′45″W / 18.40278°N 75.01250°W / 18.40278; -75.01250 (Navassa Island) Disputed Administered by the United States as an unincorporated territory and one of the US Minor Islands. Also claimed by Haiti.
Nikumaroro Oceania Gardner Island 4°40′S 174°31′W / 4.667°S 174.517°W / -4.667; -174.517 (Nikumaroro) Kiribati Treaty of Tarawa
Niulakita Oceania Sophia Island, Rocky Island, Nurakita 10°45′S 179°30′E / 10.750°S 179.500°E / -10.750; 179.500 (Niulakita) Tuvalu Tuvalu–US Treaty of 1983
Nukufetau Oceania De Peyster's Group 8°00′S 178°30′E / 8.000°S 178.500°E / -8.000; 178.500 (Nukufetau) Tuvalu Tuvalu–US Treaty of 1983
Nukulaelae Oceania Mitchell's Group 9°22′52″S 179°51′08″E / 9.38111°S 179.85222°E / -9.38111; 179.85222 (Nukulaelae) Tuvalu Tuvalu–US Treaty of 1983
Nukunonu Oceania Duke of Clarence Island 9°10′06″S 171°48′35″W / 9.16833°S 171.80972°W / -9.16833; -171.80972 (Nukunonu) Tokelau Claim bonded in 1860, but was never acted upon. Britain claimed in 1899. Final renouncement of any U.S. claim with Treaty of Tokehega
Orona Oceania Hull Island 4°30′S 172°10′W / 4.500°S 172.167°W / -4.500; -172.167 (Orona) Kiribati Treaty of Tarawa
Palmyra Atoll Oceania 5°53′N 162°5′W / 5.883°N 162.083°W / 5.883; -162.083 (Palmyra Atoll) US Minor Islands Incorporated territory.[2] U.S. assumed sole competing claim through annexation of Hawaii (1898), but not included in State of Hawaii (1959).
Penrhyn Island Oceania Tongareva 9°00′20″S 157°58′10″W / 9.00556°S 157.96944°W / -9.00556; -157.96944 (Penrhyn Island) Cook Islands Cook Islands–United States Maritime Boundary Treaty
Providence Island Indian Ocean 9°13′7″S 51°1′47″E / 9.21861°S 51.02972°E / -9.21861; 51.02972 (Providence Island) Seychelles Claim never bonded. Administered by Seychelles.
Pukapuka Oceania San Bernardo Island 10°53′S 165°40′W / 10.883°S 165.667°W / -10.883; -165.667 (Pukapuka) Cook Islands Cook Islands–United States Maritime Boundary Treaty
Quita Sueño Bank Caribbean Quitasueño 14°19′N 81°10′W / 14.317°N 81.167°W / 14.317; -81.167 (Quita Sueño Bank) Colombia Vásquez–Saccio Treaty of 1972
Rakahanga Oceania Grand Duke Alexander Island  10°02′S 161°05′W / 10.033°S 161.083°W / -10.033; -161.083 (Rakahanga) Cook Islands Cook Islands–United States Maritime Boundary Treaty
Rawaki Island Oceania Phoenix Island 3°42′40″S 170°42′43″W / 3.71111°S 170.71194°W / -3.71111; -170.71194 (Rawaki Island) Kiribati Treaty of Tarawa
Roncador Bank Caribbean 13°34′N 80°05′W / 13.567°N 80.083°W / 13.567; -80.083 (Roncador Bank) Colombia Vásquez–Saccio Treaty of 1972
Scorpion Reef Gulf of Mexico  Arrecife Alacranes (Isla Pérez, Isla Chica, Isla Pájaros) 22°24′N 89°42′W / 22.400°N 89.700°W / 22.400; -89.700 (Scorpion Reef) Mexico The islets of Pájaros, Pérez, and Chica were bonded in 1884. In response to a protest by Mexico, the U.S. claims were abandoned in 1894.[3]
Serrana Bank Caribbean 14°20′N 80°20′W / 14.333°N 80.333°W / 14.333; -80.333 (Serrana Bank) Colombia Vásquez–Saccio Treaty of 1972
Serranilla Bank Caribbean 15°50′N 79°50′W / 15.833°N 79.833°W / 15.833; -79.833 (Serranilla Bank) Disputed Remains in place as an unincorporated territory. Colombia and Jamaica agreed to a condominium of Serranilla's exclusive economic zone; Nicaragua also lays claim.
Starbuck Island Oceania Volunteer Island 5°37′S 155°56′W / 5.617°S 155.933°W / -5.617; -155.933 (Starbuck Island) Kiribati Treaty of Tarawa
Swains Island[4] Oceania Olohega, Olosega, Quirós, Isla de la Gente Hermosa, Jennings Island 11°03′20″S 171°04′40″W / 11.05556°S 171.07778°W / -11.05556; -171.07778 (Swains Island) American Samoa Occupied by an American since 1856. Bonded under the Guano Islands Act in 1860. Acknowledged as U.S. territory by Britain in 1910. In 1925 was incorporated into the territory of American Samoa. U.S. claim recognized in Treaty of Tokehega.
Swan Islands Caribbean Islas Santanilla 17°24′38″N 83°55′19″W / 17.41056°N 83.92194°W / 17.41056; -83.92194 (Swan Islands) Honduras Honduras–US Treaty of 1972
Tabuaeran Oceania Fanning Island 3°51′36″N 159°21′52″W / 3.86000°N 159.36444°W / 3.86000; -159.36444 (Tabuaeran) Kiribati Treaty of Tarawa
Teraina Oceania Washington Island 4°41′00″N 160°22′40″W / 4.68333°N 160.37778°W / 4.68333; -160.37778 (Teraina) Kiribati Treaty of Tarawa
Vostok Island Oceania Staver Island 10°06′S 152°23′W / 10.100°S 152.383°W / -10.100; -152.383 (Vostok Island) Kiribati Treaty of Tarawa
Winslow Reef Oceania 1°36′S 174°57′W / 1.600°S 174.950°W / -1.600; -174.950 (Winslow Reef) Kiribati Treaty of Tarawa

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See also

References

  1. ^ "Formerly Disputed Islands". Office of Insular Affairs. 2007-01-11. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  2. ^ "History: Under the American Flag". Office of Insular Affairs. 2006-01-30. Archived from the original on 2012-01-11. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  3. ^ Magoon 1900, p. 16.
  4. ^ Skaggs, Jimmy M. (1994). The Great Guano Rush: Entrepreneurs and American Overseas Expansion. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 213. ISBN 0-312-10316-6. OCLC 28506113..

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