Dates: Location: 1857 - Claimed by the United States. 1917 - lighthouse was built. 1996 lighthouse was shut down, and administration of Navassa Island transferred from the Coast Guard to the Department of the Interior. 1998 - scientific expedition to the island described it as a unique preserve of Caribbean biodiversity. 1999 National Wildlife Refuge. Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, about one-fourth of the way from Haiti to Jamaica. COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS Status: Dependency Commonwealth in political union with the United States. Federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs. Dates: Location: Administered as part of the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific. 1972 - Negotiations for territorial status with the United States. 1975 - covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the United States. 1978 - A new government and constitution. Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines. PALMYRA ATOLL Dependency Incorporated territory of the United States. Status: Privately owned, but administered by the Fish and Wildlife Dates: Location: 1862 - claimed by the Kingdom of Hawaii. 1898 - included within the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands. 1959 Hawaii Statehood Act did not provide for its inclusion. Privately owned by the Nature Conservancy. This organization is managing the atoll as a nature preserve. 2001 - The lagoons and surrounding waters within the 12 nautical mile United States territorial seas were transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and were designated a National Wildlife Refuge. Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa. COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO Dependency Commonwealth associated with the United States. Status: Dates: Location: 1493 - Claimed by the Spanish Crown. 1898 - Ceded to the United States after the SpanishAmerican War. 1917 - population granted citizenship. 1948 Elected governors. 1952 - constitution was enacted providing for internal self-government. Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS Dependency Organized, unincorporated territory of the United States. Status: Dates: Location: Policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the United 1600s - archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. 1848 - slavery abolished in Danish portion. 1917 the United States purchased the Danish portion. which had been in economic decline since the Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the WAKE ISLAND Dependency Unincorporated territory of the United States. Status: Dates: Location: Administered by the Department of the Interior; activities on the island are managed by the United States Army under a United States Air Force permit. 1899 - annexed by the United States. 1940-41 - United States Air and Naval bases were constructed. 1941 - Captured by the Japanese in December. 1974 Airstrip used by the military and commercial planes. Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands. TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC The United States administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific from July 18, 1947 through October 1, 1994. Dependency Dates: Location: Constitutional government in free association with the Compact of Free Association entered into force on October 1947 - United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific under United States administration. 1978 - opted for independence from the Federated States of Miconesia. 1986 approved Compact of Free Association with the United States. 1993 Compact of Free Association ratified. 1994 - islands gained independence. Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines. Compact of Free Association entered into force on Dates: Location: 1947 - United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific under United States administration. 1979 - adopted a constitution. 1986 - independence under a Compact of Free Association with the United States. Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia. REPUBLIC of the MARSHALL ISLANDS Dependency Constitutional government in free association with the Status: Dates: Location: United States. Compact of Free Association entered into force on 1947 - United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific under United States administration. 1947 - 1962 - nuclear testing on atolls. 1964 - United States Army Base Kwajalein 1986 - independence under a Compact of Free Association. Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific |