Point Roberts, Washington
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A geopolitical oddity, Point Roberts is a small unincorporated community in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. It sits on the southernmost tip of the Tsawwassen Peninsula just south of the community of Tsawwassen in the Delta District Municipality of British Columbia, Canada. Like Alaska; the Northwest Angle, Minnesota; Elm Point, Minnesota; and Alburgh, Vermont; Point Roberts cannot be reached from the rest of the U.S. without either going through Canada or crossing water — specifically, Boundary Bay.
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[edit] History
The first Europeans to see Point Roberts were members of George Vancouver's expedition of 1791-1795; he named the point after his friend Henry Roberts who had originally been given command of the expedition. Point Roberts assumed its present political status in 1846, when the Oregon Treaty extended the 49th parallel as the boundary between American and British territory from the Rocky Mountains to Georgia Strait.
[edit] Treaty history specific to Point Roberts
After years of joint occupation of the disputed area between the Columbia River and Alaska known as the Oregon Country to the Americans, and as the Columbia District to the British, James K. Polk was elected president of the United States on the campaign slogan "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight".
While his government asserted that the title of America to the entire territory was unquestionable, Polk and his secretary, James Buchanan made an offer of a boundary at 49 degrees with the line straight across Vancouver Island, with no commercial privilege to be granted to the British south of the line, with the exception of free ports on Vancouver Island. This offer was rejected by the British and withdrawn by the US shortly thereafter.
On April 18, 1846, notice was forwarded to London that the US Congress had adopted a joint resolution abrogating the treaty of 1827 which provided for joint occupancy.
The British emissary, Richard Packenham, had previously been advised that the last concession which could be expected of America was in bending the boundary at the 49th parallel around the lower end of Vancouver Island.
At this point in time Fort Victoria was viewed as the future center for settlements on Vancouver Island. It was deemed necessary around this point in time to give up territory on the Lower Mainland to keep Vancouver Island part of British North America.
In June 1848, Lord Aberdeen, British Foreign Secretary, proposed a treaty making the 49th parallel the boundary to the sea, giving Great Britain the whole of Vancouver Island. The treaty was concluded on June 15, 1855.
[edit] Geography
A Canadian enclave 35 km (22 miles) south of downtown Vancouver, B.C., Point Roberts is one of several exclaves of the United States. Point Roberts is part of the U.S. because it lies south of the 49th parallel, the official latitude defining the Canada-US border in that area.
Point Roberts borders the municipality of Delta in British Columbia. Boundary Bay lies to the east of Point Roberts and the Strait of Georgia to the south and west. The peninsula is about 3 km (two miles) from north to south and about 5 km (three miles) from east to west. It has a land area of 12.65 km² (4.884 sq mi).
[edit] Demographics
As of the US 2000 census, there were 1,308 people, 1,820 households, and 474 families residing in the CDP. There were 1,838 housing units. The racial makeup of the CDP was 75.1% White, 12.3% African American, 0.9% Native American, 3.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.5% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.5% of the population.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 19, 2.2% from 20 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 32.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.2 years.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $36,146, and the median income for a family was $45,417.
The zip code is 98281.
[edit] Education
Point Roberts Primary School, the only school on the Point, is for K–second-grade pupils; older public school students must be taken by bus into British Columbia and back into the United States at the Blaine, Washington, border crossing; it is a 40-minute drive.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, school transportation became a question, with massive delays at the border crossings, however, school busses were regularly given right of way and the issue was averted. Similar trips are often required for residents who wish to obtain goods not available in the exclave.
[edit] Transportation
The only authorized land access to Point Roberts is 56th Street, a major thoroughfare that runs through the community of Tsawwassen on the Canadian side of the border; southward, the road turns into Tyee Drive. Point Roberts also has a small airport and a large marina for air and water access.
[edit] Economy
Many of the area's businesses are geared toward recreational and weekend visitors from Greater Vancouver, especially those in search of cheap gasoline. The handful of area bars and nightclubs are popular with visiting Canadians, and were even more so in the days before Sunday drinking was legalized in British Columbia. The local post office rents hundreds of post office boxes to individuals and businesses from the Greater Vancouver area (including the US Consulate in Vancouver) which find it a convenient and fast way to receive mail and parcels from the United States.
As reported in National Geographic Magazine, residents enjoy a low crime rate due to the high local security presence.
[edit] Climate
Also referred to as "The Point" and "Point Bob", Point Roberts lies within a Blue hole created by Vancouver Island, the north shore mountains surrounding Vancouver, and the North Cascades (including Mount Baker). This micro-climate provides some of the mildest weather in the Pacific Northwest. With an average annual rainfall of about 1000 mm (40 inches), Point Roberts enjoys more sunny days and a milder climate than its neighbors.
[edit] Parks and features
- Maple Beach (NE)
- Monument Park (NW)
- Lighthouse Marine Park (SW)
- Nature Trail (SW)
- Point Roberts Skate Park (Central - recreational open space)
- Lily Point (SE - private property)
- Cascadia Marine Trail (E)
[edit] Neighborhoods
- Bells Grove
- Crystal Waters
- Freeman Beach
- Lily Point
- Maple Beach
- Waters Plat
[edit] Telecommunications
Until 1988, Point Roberts telephone numbers were in British Columbia's 604 area code and served by BCTel, a Canadian telephone company. Point Roberts current area code-prefix is 360-945-xxxx, and the landline telecom provider is Whidbey Island Telephone Company. Point Roberts is served by DirectTV, and Delta Cablevision (cable TV, and high speed internet). Mobile telephone service is provided by a variety of companies, both American and Canadian.
[edit] References
- Clark, Richard E. Point Roberts, USA: The History of a Canadian Enclave. Textype Publishing, 1980.
- Murray, Anne, A Nature Guide to Boundary Bay. Nature Guides B.C., Delta, 2006
- Point Roberts Census County Division, Whatcom County, Washington United States Census Bureau
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] Additional information
- Discover Vancouver (article on Point Roberts, and its history, from a British Columbian perspective)
- National Geographic article on Point Roberts
- Washington Post article on Point Roberts
- History of Point Roberts
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
- Geologic Map from Washington State Department of Natural Resources
- Zoning Map from Whatcom County
[edit] Community
- All Point Bulletin community newspaper
- Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce
- Point Roberts Fire Department
- Point Roberts Primary School
- Point Roberts Tax Payers Association
- Point Roberts Water District #4
- Trinity Community Lutheran Church
[edit] Recreation
- Lighthouse Marine Park
- Point Roberts Airpark[1] [2]
- Point Roberts Golf & Country Club
- Point Roberts Yacht Club
- Point Roberts Marina Resort
