Background: The US took formal possession of the islands in 1867. The laying of the trans-Pacific cable which passed through the islands brought the first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and 1947 Midway was used as a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights. The US naval victory over a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was one of the turning points of World War II. The islands continued to serve as a naval station until closed in 1993. Today the islands are a wildlife refuge open to the public.
Area Total: 6.2 km² Land: 6.2 km² Water: 0 km² Note: includes Eastern Island and Sand Island Comparative: about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Economy overview: The economy is based on providing support services for any remaining activities located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.