Jarvis Island is an uninhabited 4.5 square kilometer island with no economic activity in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to the Cook Islands.
The island is thought to have been first discovered by Europeans on 21 August 1821 by the British ship Eliza Francis, and named by her commander, one Captain Brown.
The Millersville settlement on western side of island was occasionally used as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when it was abandoned; it was reoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical Year by scientists who left in 1958. Public entry is by special-use permit from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service only and is generally restricted to scientists and educators. The island is visited annually by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
- See also :
- Geography of Jarvis Island
- Politics of Jarvis Island
- Transportation on Jarvis Island
- Military: defense is the responsibility of the United States; visited annually by the US Coast Guard
