Point Roberts

Point Roberts is an unincorporated census-designated place in Whatcom County, Washington, United States.

Point Roberts is an unincorporated census-designated place in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. It is a U.S. exclave at the southern tip of the Tsawwassen Peninsula, separated from the rest of Washington by Canada and accessible by land only through British Columbia. The community lies south of the 49th parallel and has a small year-round population.

Geography

Point Roberts occupies the southern tip of the Tsawwassen Peninsula in Washington State. It is surrounded on three sides by water and on the land side by Canada, making it a geographic exclave of the United States.

Border status

The area became part of the United States because the international boundary in this region follows the 49th parallel. Since Point Roberts lies south of that line, it remained on the U.S. side of the border.

Community and access

Point Roberts is a small rural community with a year-round population of around 1,200. Overland travel to the rest of the United States requires passing through Canada, which has shaped local life and access to services.

Local identity

Point Roberts is often described as a pene-exclave or near-exclave because it belongs to one country but is reachable by land only through another. Its location has made it notable in geography, border studies, and travel writing.