Point Roberts, Washington
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Point Roberts is an unincorporated community in Whatcom County, Washington, United States, on the southernmost tip of Tsawwassen Peninsula just south of the community of Tsawwassen in the Delta District Municipality of British Columbia, Canada. The population is 1,308 (US 2000 census). Point Roberts is one of several exclaves of the United States. It has a land area of 12.65 km² (4.884 sq mi).
Point Roberts is part of the US because it lies south of the 49th parallel, the official latitude defining the Canada-US border in that area.
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[edit] History
Point Roberts assumed its present 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 Territory, 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 unquestionable, Polk and his secretary, James Buchanan made a definite 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 This offer was rejected by the British and withdrawn by the US shortly thereafter.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
Point Roberts borders the municipality of Delta in British Columbia; the peninsula is about two miles from north to south and about three miles from east to west. Boundary Bay lies to the east of Point Roberts and the Strait of Georgia to the south and west.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, 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
The only school 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 events of September 11, 2001, school transportation became a serious problem, with massive delays at the border crossings. Similar trips are often required for residents who wish to obtain goods not available in the exclave.
Delta School Board, Point Roberts Proposal
[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. As reported in National Geographic Magazine, residents enjoy a low crime rate due to the high local security presence. Point Roberts medical patients, however, may find their USA health insurance is not honored at Vancouver hospitals and so paramedics must make the critical decision whether to transport patients further to hospitals in Bellingham, USA.
[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)
[edit] Churches
[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 in Point Roberts is provided by:
- American Providers:
- Canadian Providers (Reception from Canada):
[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
- Point Roberts Pictures (geocities), or (43places)
- 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 Tax Payers Association
- Point Roberts Water District #4
[edit] Recreation
- Lighthouse Marine Park
- Point Roberts Airpark[1] [2]
- Point Roberts Golf & Country Club
- Point Roberts Yacht Club
- Point Roberts Marina Resort
- Whalen's Campground and RV Park
