Jarvis Island JQ
A remote, uninhabited coral island in the South Pacific Ocean, managed as a National Wildlife Refuge and one of the least-visited places under the American flag.
About Jarvis Island
Jarvis Island is a small, flat coral island in the South Pacific Ocean, located just south of the equator roughly halfway between Hawaii and the Cook Islands. About 1.75 square miles in size, the island is a barren landscape of coral rubble, sparse grasses, and low shrubs baking under an equatorial sun. No humans have lived here permanently since 1942.
Jarvis holds the distinction of being the only U.S. territory in the Southern Hemisphere. It has also been claimed by two nations: Great Britain annexed it in 1889, but the United States reoccupied it in 1935 and has administered it ever since. Like its neighbors Baker and Howland, it was mined for guano in the 19th century and briefly colonized in the 1930s before being abandoned during World War II.
Today Jarvis is a federally protected wildlife refuge surrounded by some of the most pristine reef waters in the Pacific. Marine scientists regard it as a reference ecosystem for what unfished tropical reefs look like, making it valuable far beyond its size.
Aerial view of Jarvis Island
Nesting seabirds — the island's primary residents
Jarvis Island vs. a U.S. State
| Feature | Jarvis Island | U.S. State |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent Population | None | Yes |
| Local Government | None | State government |
| Congressional Representation | None | Senators + Representatives |
| Voting in Federal Elections | No residents | Yes |
| U.S. Constitution Applies | Partially (by statute) | Fully |
| Administered By | Fish & Wildlife Service | Elected officials |
| Incorporated Territory | No | Yes (as a state) |
| Public Access | Restricted permit only | Generally open |