Some U.S. territories are uninhabited due to their remote locations, lack of Natural Resources, or harsh environmental conditions that make habitation difficult. For example, territories like Baker Island and Howland Island are small, arid, and devoid of freshwater sources, which limit their suitability for human settlement. Additionally, historical factors, such as military use or conservation efforts, have led to these areas remaining unpopulated.
Colonialism.
The University of Connecticut Libraries list the following as United States Territories: American Samoa Baker Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Federated States of Micronesia Guam Howland Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Jarvis Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Johnston Atoll -- (under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Air Force) Kingman Reef -- (uninhabited, under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Navy) Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Midway Islands -- (under the responsibility of the US Fish & Wildlife Service) Navassa Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Palmyra Atoll -- (uninhabited, under the responsibility of the U.S. Dept. of Interior) Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands Wake Island -- (under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Air Force)
U.S. territories and outlying areas: American Samoa Baker Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Federated States of Micronesia ( In 1979 they adopted a constitution, and in 1986 independence was attained under a Compact of Free Association with the United States. Guam Howland Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Jarvis Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Johnston Atoll -- (under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Air Force) Kingman Reef -- (uninhabited, under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Navy) Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Midway Islands -- (under the responsibility of the US Fish & Wildlife Service) Navassa Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Palmyra Atoll -- (uninhabited, under the responsibility of the U.S. Dept. of Interior) Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands Wake Island -- (under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Air Force)
Puerto Rico Bahammas Virgin Islands
The University of Connecticut Libraries list the following as United States Territories: American Samoa Baker Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Federated States of Micronesia Guam Howland Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Jarvis Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Johnston Atoll -- (under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Air Force) Kingman Reef -- (uninhabited, under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Navy) Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Midway Islands -- (under the responsibility of the US Fish & Wildlife Service) Navassa Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Palmyra Atoll -- (uninhabited, under the responsibility of the U.S. Dept. of Interior) Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands Wake Island -- (under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Air Force)
colonialism
colonialism
Colonialism.
Colonialism.
The University of Connecticut Libraries list the following as United States Territories: American Samoa Baker Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Federated States of Micronesia Guam Howland Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Jarvis Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Johnston Atoll -- (under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Air Force) Kingman Reef -- (uninhabited, under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Navy) Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Midway Islands -- (under the responsibility of the US Fish & Wildlife Service) Navassa Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Palmyra Atoll -- (uninhabited, under the responsibility of the U.S. Dept. of Interior) Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands Wake Island -- (under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Air Force)
U.S. territories and outlying areas: American Samoa Baker Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Federated States of Micronesia ( In 1979 they adopted a constitution, and in 1986 independence was attained under a Compact of Free Association with the United States. Guam Howland Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Jarvis Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Johnston Atoll -- (under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Air Force) Kingman Reef -- (uninhabited, under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Navy) Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Midway Islands -- (under the responsibility of the US Fish & Wildlife Service) Navassa Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Palmyra Atoll -- (uninhabited, under the responsibility of the U.S. Dept. of Interior) Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands Wake Island -- (under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Air Force)
The University of Connecticut Libraries list the following as United States Territories: American Samoa Baker Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Federated States of Micronesia ( In 1979 they adopted a constitution, and in 1986 independence was attained under a Compact of Free Association with the United States. Guam Howland Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Jarvis Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Johnston Atoll -- (under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Air Force) Kingman Reef -- (uninhabited, under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Navy) Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Midway Islands -- (under the responsibility of the US Fish & Wildlife Service) Navassa Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Palmyra Atoll -- (uninhabited, under the responsibility of the U.S. Dept. of Interior) Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands Wake Island -- (under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Air Force)
The University of Connecticut Libraries list the following as United States Territories: American Samoa Baker Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Federated States of Micronesia ( In 1979 they adopted a constitution, and in 1986 independence was attained under a Compact of Free Association with the United States. Guam Howland Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Jarvis Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Johnston Atoll -- (under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Air Force) Kingman Reef -- (uninhabited, under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Navy) Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Midway Islands -- (under the responsibility of the US Fish & Wildlife Service) Navassa Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Palmyra Atoll -- (uninhabited, under the responsibility of the U.S. Dept. of Interior) Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands Wake Island -- (under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Air Force)
Puerto Rico Bahammas Virgin Islands
The University of Connecticut Libraries list the following as United States Territories: American Samoa Baker Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Federated States of Micronesia Guam Howland Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Jarvis Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Johnston Atoll -- (under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Air Force) Kingman Reef -- (uninhabited, under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Navy) Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Midway Islands -- (under the responsibility of the US Fish & Wildlife Service) Navassa Island -- (uninhabited, administered from Washington, DC) Palmyra Atoll -- (uninhabited, under the responsibility of the U.S. Dept. of Interior) Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands Wake Island -- (under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Air Force)
Four. In 1910 Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii were all incorporated territories. Wake Island was an uninhabited unincorporated territory at the time. Puerto Rico was not a territory per se but held special status as a US possession. The Philippines, American Samoa, The Panama Canal Zone, Guam, were occupied by the US at the time but did not hold the status of an incorporated territory. This was important because in 1905 the Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution did not fully apply in unincorporated territories or other possessions. The Guantanamo Bay Navy Base was in US possession at the time but it has always been considered to be an extraterritorial jurisdiction under the rule of the US Navy rather than a territory. The US held possession of numerous small and often uninhabited Caribbean and Pacific islands as well but none of them held the status of a territory.
US Territories:Palmyra Atoll, an Incorporated unorganized territory.Four Unincorporated organized territories including: Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.Eight Unincorporated unorganized Pacific island territories including: American Samoa, Wake Island, Midway Island, Johnston Atoll, Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island and Kingman Reef. Four others: Navassa Island which is also claimed by Haiti, Bajo Nuevo Bank which is also claimed by both Colombia and Jamaica, Serranilla Bank which is also claimed by Colombia and Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.That is seventeen existing US territories, some of which have been uninhabited for years that remain in the inventory. Thirty-one former US Territories have become US States and others have been returned to other countries by treaty.