When the word ‘island’ comes to mind, what do you think of? A sandy beach close to the equator likely comes to mind, rather than the expansive land mass that makes up most of the United States.
Surprisingly, the US has a healthy number of islands dotted along its coastline, approximately 18,500. Many of these islands are located in Alaska, thanks to its extensive archipelagos, but you’re probably more well-acquainted with Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and New York City.
The largest island in the United States is “The Big Island,” which is located in Hawaii, followed by Alaska’s Kodiak Island. But this begs the question: what are the smallest islands in the United States?
Just Room Enough
Technically, the smallest inhabited island in the US is called Just Room Enough Island, which is located in the state of New York. It’s located along the St. Lawrence River and is roughly the same size as a tennis court.
The home famously has a house, one tree, and a teeny tiny beach. It’s owned by the Sizeland family, who purchased the property as a summer home back in the 1950s.
The home is a popular sightseeing spot for boaters and touring groups, but because it’s privately owned, it's not accessible to the public.
U Thant Island
Pacific Coast Highway at English Wikipedia on Wikimedia
This island is a total of 100x200 feet, and is located in New York City’s East River. It was created during the construction of the Steinway Tunnel, which runs from 42nd Street into Long Island City. The island’s official name is Belmont Island, after August Belmont Jr., who largely paid for the Steinway Tunnel. However, it’s dedicated to U Thant, who was a former Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Again, you can’t actually set foot on this island, and not just because of its size. The New York State Government sanctioned this island as a sanctuary for bird migration, and it was recognized as an Ecological Complex back in 2016.
However, you can still get good views of this (pretty underwhelming) space by taking a boat tour, or off of one of NYC’s many coastlines.
Kingman Reef
This triangular-shaped reef is located in the North Pacific Ocean, sitting between Hawaii and American Samoa. It was claimed by the US in 1859 and originally used as a stopover for trips to New Zealand. The reef has a total land mass of 0.012 square miles, equivalent to approximately 9% of Central Park, for reference.
Today, the reef is protected by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and is a protected area. It’s home to around 130 species of coral and a high shark population.
Due to its strict protections and remote location, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to visit or see Kingman Reef unless you have a permit. However, the Fish and Wildlife Service has plenty of photos of the area that you can check out.
