Johnston Atoll
Johnston Atoll as the 2002 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 36 fields, one of 24 editions from 1990 to 2020.
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.
No fields match. Try a shorter word.
Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Both the US and the Kingdom of Hawaii annexed Johnston Atoll in 1858, but it was the US that mined the guano deposits until the late 1880s. The US Navy took over the atoll in 1934, and subsequently the US Air Force assumed control in 1948. The site was used for high altitude nuclear tests in the 1950s and 1960s, and until late in 2000 the atoll was maintained as a storage and disposal site for chemical weapons. Munitions destruction is now complete. Cleanup and closure of the facility is progressing, with completion anticipated in 2004.
Geography
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 717 NM (1328 km) southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands
17 fieldsLand useshare of 2.8 sq km
Location
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 717 NM (1328 km) southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands
Climate
tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds with little seasonal temperature variation
Geography - note
- strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean;
- Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands, which have been expanded by coral dredging;
- North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging;
- egg-shaped reef is 34 km in circumference;
- closed to the public;
- former US nuclear weapons test site;
- site of Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS);
- some lowgrowing vegetation
People
1 fieldPopulation
no indigenous inhabitants
note: in previous years, there was an average of 1,100 US military and civilian contractor personnel present; as of September 2001, population had decreased significantly when US Army Chemical Activity Pacific (USACAP) departed;
as of January 2003 the island population was just above 800 personnel, including US Air Force, DoD civilian, and civilian contractor personnel (January 2003 est.)
Government
4 fieldsDependency status
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Honolulu, HI, by Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, and the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
Economy
Economic activity is limited to providing services to US military personnel and contractors located on the island.
3 fieldsEconomy - overview
Economic activity is limited to providing services to US military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Electricity - production
approximately 850,000 kWh weekly; note - there are six 25,000 kWh generators operated by the base operating support contractor (2002)
Communications
4 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- 33 commercial lines, 15 incoming and 18 outgoing; adequate telecommunications
- domestic:
- 60-channel submarine cable (broken in January 2002), 24 DSN circuits by satellite, Automated Digital Network (AUTODIN) with standard remote terminal, digital telephone switch, Military Affiliated Radio System (MARS) station (scheduled for decommissioning March 2003), UHF/VHF air-ground radio, a link to the Pacific Consolidated Telecommunications Network (PCTN) satellite
- international:
- NA (2002)
Radio broadcast stations
AM NA, FM 7 (1 island-run morale, welfare, and recreation station and 6 all-music digital radio stations broadcast over FM band), shortwave NA (2002)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1 256 KB circuit to DoD-run Nonsecure Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNET) (2002)
Transportation
4 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Military
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Johnston Atoll.” The World Factbook 2002. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/johnston-atoll/2002.