Sometimes you come across one of those stories you just can’t believe is true. Enter Point Roberts, Washington. Found 20 miles south of Vancouver Point Roberts is a small (I mean small) town that is completely cut-off from the rest of the United States, not my sea, but by Canada. The town of 1,100 full-time residents and a few thousand more season homeowners has many interesting features, almost all entirely due to the fact that it is the United States adjacent to Canada.

The entire town’s economy is pretty much dependent upon the border. For example there are five shipping and receiving businesses for Canadian residents who purchase from internet retailers that don’t ship to Canada. Also interestingly, it is home, unofficially, to a few dozen families and individuals in the United States witness protection program. One resident even remarked that Point Roberts is like living in the most secure gated community in the world given that you have to enter an international border to get inside.

It’s funny to see those holdovers from years gone by. I’m not even sure how Point Roberts came into being.

To learn more check out this great article by Atlantic Cities.