List of Guano Island claims

	Map all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap
	Download coordinates as: KML

The United States claimed a number of islands as insular areas under the Guano Islands Act of 1856. Only the eight administered as the US Minor Islands and the ones 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	Rejected. 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	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	Original treaty between Mexico and France. Also claimed by Mexico.
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	Dormant. 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	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		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)	US Minor Islands	Unincorporated territory. 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	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		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		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	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
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	Vasquez-Saccio Treaty of 1981
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	Vasquez-Saccio Treaty of 1981
Rosalind Bank	Caribbean	Rosa Linda Bank	16°26′N 80°31′W / 16.433°N 80.517°W / 16.433; -80.517 (Rosalind Bank)	Disputed	Multiple nations claim this submerged bank as a part of their EEZs. The Colombia-US Vasquez-Saccio Treaty of 1981 is silent on the matter. Administered by Colombia, and claimed by Nicaragua, Honduras, the United States, and Jamaica.
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	Abandoned claim 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	Vasquez-Saccio Treaty of 1981
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	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

Images[]

Guano tramway on Jarvis Island
Hermit crabs on Baker Island
Navassa Island Lighthouse

References[]

^ "Formerly Disputed Islands". Office of Insular Affairs. 2007-01-11. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2009-09-09. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ "History: Under the American Flag". Office of Insular Affairs. 2006-01-30. Archived from the original on 2012-01-11. Retrieved 2009-09-09. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ Magoon, Charles E. (1900). Report on the Legal Status of the Territory and Inhabitants of the Islands Acquired by the United States During the War with Spain. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 16.
^ Page 213, in Jimmy M. Skaggs (1994), The Great Guano Rush: Entrepreneurs and American Overseas Expansion. ISBN 978-0-312-10316-3.

v t Political divisions of the United States
List of states and territories
States	Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Federal district	Washington, D.C.
Insular areas	American Samoa Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands
Outlying islands	Baker Island Howland Island Jarvis Island Johnston Atoll Kingman Reef Midway Atoll Navassa Island Palmyra Atoll Wake Island
Indian reservations	List of Indian reservations
Others	Federal enclave

List of Guano Island claims

Contents

Table[]

Images[]

See also[]

References[]

Further reading[]

v t Territorial expansion of the United States
Thirteen Colonies (1776) Treaty of Paris (1783) Louisiana Purchase (1803) Red River Cession (1818) Adams–Onís Treaty (1819) Texas Annexation (1845) Oregon Treaty (1846) Mexican Cession (1848) Gadsden Purchase (1853) Guano Islands Act (1856) Alaska Purchase (1867) Annexation of Hawaii (1898) Treaty of Paris (1898) Tripartite Convention (1899) Treaty of Cession of Tutuila (1900) Treaty of Cession of Manuʻa (1904) Treaty of the Danish West Indies (1917) Acquisition of the Northern Mariana Islands (1986)
Concept: Manifest destiny