The United States Minor Outlying Islands (Encore)

Early Settlements

The United States Minor Outlying Islands, consisting of eight coral atolls, came under U.S. possession in the 19th century. Gary Arndt provides a detailed overview of each island, highlighting their unique histories and uses. For instance, Baker Island saw limited guano mining and a small landing strip built during World War II, while Johnston Atoll served multiple military purposes, including as a nuclear test site and missile testing site 1.

All of these islands came into the possession of the United States in the 19th century.

--- Gary Arndt

These islands, except Midway, are now part of the Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Monument, protecting their surrounding waters from commercial activities.

   

Colonization Project

The American Equatorial Islands Colonization Project aimed to establish small communities on Howland, Baker, and Jarvis Islands. Gary Arndt explains that the project, launched in 1935, sought to set up landing strips and weather stations to solidify American claims 2.

The federal government tried to set up small communities on Howland, Baker, and Jarvis Islands.

--- Gary Arndt

However, the project was abandoned in 1942 with the onset of World War II, leaving these islands largely uninhabited and under military control.