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Jarvis Island

2020 Edition — territory

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
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Geography
Area [time series]
total: 5 sq km | land: 4.5 sq km | water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Coastline [time series]
8 km
Environment - current issues [time series]
no natural fresh water resources
Geographic coordinates [time series]
0 22 S, 160 01 W
Geography - note [time series]
sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Location [time series]
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and the Cook Islands
Map references [time series]
Oceania
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island poses a maritime hazard
Natural resources [time series]
guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Terrain [time series]
sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
Government
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: none | conventional short form: Jarvis Island | etymology: named after three brothers JARVIS, the owners of the British ship from which the island was discovered in 1821
Dependency status [time series]
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
the flag of the US is used
Legal system [time series]
the laws of the US apply where applicable
Introduction
Background [time series]
First discovered by the British in 1821, the uninhabited island was annexed by the US in 1858 but abandoned in 1879 after tons of guano deposits had been removed for use in producing fertilizer. The UK annexed the island in 1889 but never carried out plans for further exploitation. The US occupied and reclaimed the island in 1935. Abandoned after World War II, the island is currently a National Wildlife Refuge administered by the US Department of the Interior.
Military and Security
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the US; visited periodically by the US Coast Guard
People and Society
Population [time series]
uninhabited | note: Millersville settlement on western side of island occasionally used as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when it was abandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical Year by scientists who left in 1958; public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area in the middle of the west coast and another near the southwest corner of the island
Transportation - note [time series]
there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast