No, The Dominican Republic Is Not Part of the United States (But These Caribbean Islands Are)

Situated in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic shares land mass as an island with Haiti. The island overall bears the name of Hispaniola, with Haiti taking up about three-eighths of the land and the Dominican Republic the other five-eighths. Hispaniola is only one of two countries in the Caribbean to have two nations sharing land mass. The other, Saint Martin, is shared between Sint Maarten (part of the Netherlands) and Saint Martin (part of France). Many folks don’t really understand the territories within the Caribbean Sea, though, and often wonder which islands belong to which nations. Many wonder if the Dominican Republic is a United States Caribbean island territory, some European country, or an independent nation.

Let’s explore and learn about the United States Caribbean islands.

Is The Dominican Republic a United States Caribbean Island?

The United States does possess some territories within the Caribbean islands. However, the Dominican Republic is not one of them. The country on Hispaniola is its own independent nation, with about 10 million residents. About 3 million of these folks live in the capital city of Santo Domingo and the metropolitan area.

The Dominican Republic once resided under both French and Spanish rule from the early 16th Century. However, in 1844, the country declared itself independent from its neighboring Haiti. In 1861, the nation reverted back to Spanish rule but regained its independence in 1865 and has remained so since.

The Dominican Republic-US Relation

Since the early days of the nation’s independence, the United States has held mostly positive diplomatic relations with the nation of the Dominican Republic. The relations have been complex, with many U.S. military interventions and occupation at some times. Today, though the countries consider each other allies, with the Dominican Republic partnering with the U.S. in hemispheric affairs, particularly in fighting the offenses of human trafficking and illegal substance smuggling.

What, Then, Are the United States Caribbean Islands?

Numerous islands in the Caribbean can claim themselves as United States territory. However, only a few of them are inhabited.

Is Puerto Rico a United States Caribbean Island?

Meaning “rich port” in Spanish, Puerto Rico officially goes by the title of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The island, often thought of a completely “foreign” nation by many Americans, is actually an unincorporated territory of the United States. The island has unofficial representation in the political realm, meaning the citizens are affected by American laws but don’t have state representation like some territories do. They do not vote in presidential elections and do not pay federal income tax.

The island lies approximately 1,000 miles southeast of Miami, Florida, situated between the Dominican Republic and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico contains both the main island known as Puerto Rico and smaller islands including Culebra, Vieques, and Mona. The islands have around 3.2 million residents, many of which live in or near the capital city of San Juan.

Since 1917, Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens and do not require passports to visit the mainland United States. Mainland Americans also do not require a passport to visit the islands of Puerto Rico.

Are the U.S. Virgin Islands American Caribbean Islands?

As the name implies, the United States Virgin Islands, or U.S. Virgin Islands, are, indeed, a part of the United States. Like Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands are unincorporated territories of the United States in the Caribbean. Three main islands exist, with many smaller islands as part of the chain. Saint Croix is the largest island with numerous tourist attractions that draw folks from around the world. The others, Saint Thomas and Saint John, also attract many visitors each year, but the smaller islands are harder to get to.

St. Thomas

Approximately 1,100 miles southeast of Miami, St. Thomas has been dubbed the shopping capital of the Caribbean. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit each year for duty-free shopping, laid-back island vibes, and tropical beauty. Local cuisine includes pates (savory pies), rice and whelks, fish and fungi, callaloo stew, and dumb bread intrigue visitors. The 1680 Fort Christian, the 1796 Sephardic Synagogue (second oldest in the western hemisphere), historic homes, golf course, spectacular beaches, and other attractions draw the rest of the visitors.

St. John

Take a short ferry from St. Thomas to St. John for the Virgin Islands National Park. Snorkeling, beaches, luxury resorts and hotels, hiking trails, vacation condos, and similar attractions bring people in. The third smallest of the main islands, St. John focuses on the outdoor life for locals and tourists alike. Sea turtles, sting rays and other wildlife draw attention to the waters, while the sparkling sands and tropical breezes lead to the beach. Hiking through lush green forests and climbing steep trails pull in the adventurous.

St. Croix

The largest of the three main islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands chain, St. Croix tends to be the one most visited by tourists. The many festivals, fine dining, luxury accommodations, golf sites, and intriguing history make the island destination exciting and enticing at once. Glorious beaches, excellent wildlife viewing, small rentals for relaxed visits, and the local cuisine all suggest the perfect vacation spot, without the passport.

Small, Uninhabited Or Private Islands of the U.S. Virgin Islands

The U.S. Virgin Islands also contains many tiny, uninhabited islands. Some, like Buck Island, contain national parks and wildlife refuges, while others simply lie unexplored or populated for accessibility, size, or lack of resources. Some are inhabited, but only by the owners as private islands.

The remaining islands include:

• Buck Island
• Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge
• Protestant Cay
• Ruth Island
• Cas Cay
• Dog Island
• Great Saint James
• Little Saint James
• Shark Island
• Thatch Cay
• Kalkun Cay
• Savana Island
• Hans Lollik Islands
• Inner Brass
• Outer Brass
• Capella Island
• Hassel Island
• Saba Island
• Turtledove Cay
• Carvel Rock
• Congo Cay
• Grass Cay
• Lovango Cay
• Mingo Cay
• Steven Cay
• Cinnamon Cay
• Henley Cay
• Ramgoat Cay
• Trunk Cay
• Waterlemon Cay
• Whistling Cay
• Flanagan Island
• Leduck Island
• Water Island

Is Navassa Island an American Caribbean Island?

Another small, uninhabited island, considered one of the main four territories of the United States in the Caribbean, is Navassa Island. The island rests between Haiti and Jamaica and exists primarily as part of the Caribbean National Wildlife Refuge System. No permanent residents reside here and only rangers and other personnel may ever visit the island. The intent is to keep the island as untouched and safe for the local wildlife as possible. The island technically is an appurtenance and has been since 1857, based on the Guano Islands Acts of 1856. This means that the island may be used by the United States as part of the parks and reserve system. There was debate about this with Haiti in the treaty at the time, but in current times remains under the United States’ rights.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Lena Serditova/Shutterstock.com