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Point Roberts is a piece of the USA accessible only through Canada. Learn how an 1846 treaty created this enclave and how its residents live today.
In 1846, a treaty between the United States and the British Empire set the American border along the 49th parallel — a straight line that completely ignored the coastline’s shape. The result was a geographical accident that persists to this day: the small peninsula of Point Roberts, in the state of Washington, became physically connected to Canadian territory but politically belongs to the USA. Anyone living there who wants to reach any American city by land must, necessarily, cross Canada — and pass through two international checkpoints in each direction.
The routine of those living in Point Roberts: bureaucracy even for the basics
The isolation of Point Roberts is not just geographical — it translates into practical obstacles for daily life. Simple tasks, such as going to the supermarket, seeing a doctor, or taking children to school, require crossing the international border. This means documentation, queues, and the additional time that crossing demands.
Among the peculiarities that mark the lives of residents, the following stand out:
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It looks like a spaceship landed on the roof, but it’s actually an old fire station with a glass structure, housing about 500 employees and showcasing one of the most impressive administrative headquarters in Europe.
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While many green buildings use plants only as decoration, in Japan an entire building has become an urban mountain with 14 levels of gardens, terraced steps, and a direct connection to a park in the center of Fukuoka.
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While smart facades often seem like something out of a futuristic movie, in Sweden a round building uses triangular windows, bold colors, and a screen on top that rotates following the sun.
- Students attending American public schools need to cross four border checkpoints every day — two on the way, two on the return
- Basic products undergo customs screening before reaching residents, which increases the cost of everyday items
- Emergency services — such as ambulances and police cars — depend on international cooperation agreements to move between the two countries swiftly
- Monitoring of the region involves joint action by US immigration agencies, like CBP (Customs and Border Protection), and census bodies to ensure sovereignty over the territory
Why some still choose to live in Point Roberts
Despite logistical difficulties, the locality attracts residents who seek exactly what isolation provides: tranquility, low crime rates, and the slow pace of a small coastal community.
The distance from major urban centers functions, for some residents, not as a disadvantage — but as an attraction.
Therefore, Point Roberts is at the same time a historical anomaly, an administrative challenge, and a deliberate lifestyle choice for those who decide to stay — or move there.
With information from Revista Forum
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