Johnston Atoll

Johnston Atoll as the 2005 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 30 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.

Position16 45 N, 169 31 W

Area2.8 sq km

LocationOceania, 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

2005

Every edition of Johnston Atoll

Populationas each edition published it

361 people 1,203 in 1990

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 0% in 1995

Introduction

1 field

Background

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. Johnston and Sand Islands were designated wildlife refuges in 1926. 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 was completed 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 fields

Land useshare of 2.8 sq km

permanent crops 0%other 100% (2001)arable land 0% in all · irrigated 0 sq km (1998 est.)

Area

2.8sq km

land: 2.8 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmabout 4.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Coastline

34km

land boundaries: 0 kmterritorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Highest point

Summit Peaklowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

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

Geographic coordinates

16 45 N, 169 31 W

Map references

Oceania

Climate

tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds with little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain

mostly flat

Natural resources

guano deposits worked until depletion about 1890, terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

Natural hazards

Environment - current issues

no natural fresh water resources

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;
the egg-shaped reef is 34 km in circumference;
closed to the public;
a former US nuclear weapons test site;
site of now-closed Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS);
most facilities dismantled and cleanup complete in 2004;
some low-growing vegetation

People

1 field

Population

361no indigenous inhabitants

Note

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 2004 the island population was just above 200 personnel, including US Air Force, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and civilian contractor personnel (July 2005 est.)

Government

4 fields

Country name

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Johnston Atoll

Dependency status

unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Honolulu, HI, by Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, and the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Legal system

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Flag description

the flag of the US is used

Economy

Economic activity is limited to providing services to US military personnel and contractors located on the island.

1 field

Economy - 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.