Point Roberts, Washington
From Freepedia
Point Roberts is a town in Whatcom County, Washington, United States located on the southernmost tip of Tsawassen Peninsula. The population is 1,308 (US 2000 census). Point Roberts is one of two exclaves of the continental United States; the other is the Northwest Angle in northern Minnesota.
Though Point Roberts would appear to be part of Canada (which it borders), it is part of the US because it is south of the 49th parallel, the official latitude defining the Canada-US border from British Columbia (excluding Vancouver Island) to the Lake of the Woods on the border between Manitoba, Ontario, and Minnesota.
Point Roberts assumed its present status in 1846, when the Oregon Treaty extended the 49th parallel as the boundary between the United States and British territory from the Rocky Mountains to Georgia Strait. The peninsula is attached to the municipality of Delta in British Columbia, and is about 2 miles from north to south and about 3 miles from east to west. Boundary Bay borders Point Roberts to the east, and the Strait of Georgia borders it to the west.
The only school is for K–3 students; older students must be bussed over two border crossings to Blaine, Washington, a 40-minute drive. Because of its unique geographical location, Point Roberts is a de facto gated community.
The only authorized access to Point Roberts by motor vehicle, bicycle, or on foot is 56th Street, a major street that runs through the community of Tsawwassen on the Canadian side of the border; south of the border, the road turns into Tyee Drive. Point Roberts also has a small runway and a large marina for air and water access. Many of the area's businesses are geared towards recreational visitors and weekend residents from Greater Vancouver, especially those in search of cheap groceries and gas. The handful of area bars and nightclubs are popular with visiting Canadians, and were even more popular in the days before Sunday drinking was legalized in British Columbia.
External links
Additional information
- National Geographic article on Point Roberts
- History of Point Roberts
- Point Roberts Pictures
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Local or Yahoo! Maps
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
- Satellite image from Google Local or Microsoft Virtual Earth
Community websites
- All Point Bulletin community newspaper
- Point Roberts community website (Expired on 5/15/05. Pending renewal or deletion.)
- Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce
- Point Roberts Golf & Country Club
- Point Roberts Marina Resort
- Lighthouse Marine Park
Categories: Canada and the United States | Towns in Washington | Whatcom County, Washington | Exclaves
