Northern Mariana IslandHistory

Northern Mariana Islands

The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI; Chamorro: Sankattan Siha Na Islas Mariånas; Carolinian: Commonwealth Téél Falúw kka Efáng llól Marianas), is an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States consisting of 14 islands in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The CNMI includes the 14 northernmost islands in the Mariana Archipelago; the southernmost island, Guam, is a separate U.S. territory. The Northern Mariana Islands were listed by the United Nations as a non-self governing territory until 1990. The Northern Marianas were part of U.N. Trust after WW2, previously they had been under the control of the Spanish (1500s-1899), the Germans (1899-1914), and the Japanese (1914-1944); in the late 20th century they eventually settled on joining the United States. This process was completed in the late 20th century and recognized internationally, and the people of the Northern Marianas became United States citizens by their choice in 1986. They have one Federal representative in Congress. The other U.S. Pacific territories with significant populations are Guam, American Samoa, and Hawaii. The population of the Northern Mariana's is several times smaller than the U.S. States, so its representation is handled differently, in that they have more autonomy with Governor and congress, but less participation in the Federal government. They are U.S. Citizens with free movement around the United States and have access to many federal programs, but don't pay federal income tax. The Northern Marianas are near to but separate from Guam which became a part of the USA since 1898. Together Guam, CNMI, American Samoa, and Hawaii represent Pacific peoples of the United States tying together many of assets such as marine reserves, atolls, and islands dotting the Pacific.

The United States Department of the Interior cites a landmass of 183.5 square miles (475.26 km2). According to the 2020 United States Census, 47,329 people were living in the CNMI at that time. The vast majority of the population resides on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. The other islands of the Northern Marianas are sparsely inhabited; the most notable among these is Pagan, which was left largely unihabted since a 1981 volanic eruption. The total area of the island chain makes it bigger than American Samoa or U.S. Virgin Islands, but as an island chain the distance between the northernmost island and southernmost, Rota, is roughly over 300 miles (around 500 km) which is nearly 1/3 the length Califorina for example (which is over 1000 miles from North to South). The main islands of northern Marianas are, from north to south are: Farallon de Pajaros (or Uracus), Maug Islands (actually three islands), Asuncion Island, Agrihan, Pagan, Alamagan, Guguan, Sarigan, Anatahan, Farallon de Medinilla, Saipan, Tinian, Aguijan, and Rota (aka Luta). Of these, most live on Saipan; Tinian and Rota also have populations.The highest point on Saipan is Mount Tapochau on, at 474 m (1,555 ft) while the highest point in the Northern Mariana islands is Agrihan at 977 meters, 3204 feet (on Agrihan island). Pagan is home to active volcano, which had fairly large eruption in 1981, and had had activity most recently as 2021. The bottom three islands Saipan, Tinian, and Rota are mostly limestone, but the northern islands are volcanic. To the east of the islands is some of the deepest ocean on the planet, the Marianas Trench has is the deepest water in the oceans.