The American Town “Trapped” Inside Canada Due to a Border Blunder in 1846

Point Roberts, Washington

Point Roberts is technically part of Washington state, but you’ll need a passport to get there. When 19th-century mapmakers drew set the U.S.-Canada border at the 49th parallel, they left Point Roberts dangling off the end of British Columbia.

This created one of the oddest border situations in North America. Here’s the story.

Kids Need Passports To Go To Fourth Grade

If you’re raising children in Point Roberts, they’ll attend the local primary school only through third grade. After that, they’ll make a 40-minute journey through Canada twice daily to reach Blaine, crossing four international borders every day.

The primary school opened in 1993 with just three classrooms and Washington State calls it a ‘remote and necessary school.’ With only about 15 students and one teacher, it’s the smallest school in Whatcom County.

This Tiny Town Has One of America’s Busiest Border Crossings

You might not expect it, but the Point Roberts-Boundary Bay crossing ranks fifth busiest on the entire US-Canada border. It handles over 2 million crossings each year, and summer weekend lines can stretch for two hours.

The crossing stays open 24/7 for regular cars but only lets commercial vehicles through on weekdays between 8am and 5pm. If you have a NEXUS card, you can use the special lanes daily from 7am to 7pm going to Canada and 9am to 7pm heading to the US.

People Took Boats to Reach Mainland America During COVID

When COVID-19 shut the US-Canada border for 19 months in 2020-2021, folks in Point Roberts couldn’t drive to the rest of America. The Port of Bellingham started running a temporary ferry in August 2020 so residents could get to essential services.

By that time, Point Roberts had already lost 80% of its business income and hundreds of seasonal residents. The isolation did have one upside—zero COVID-19 cases through September 2020 earned the community the nickname ‘the safest place’ during the pandemic.

You Could Accidentally Walk Into Another Country Here

On Roosevelt Way, the international boundary is just a small yellow curb. Step to one side, and you’re in America. Step to the other, and you’re in Canada.

In 2025, officials in Delta put up a 6-foot chain-link fence at the end of English Bluff Road after an elderly person accidentally walked into Point Roberts. This fence caused immediate arguments, with locals and at least one Delta council member demanding they take it down.

You can still see several official boundary monuments from 1861 marking the 49th parallel through Point Roberts.

Border Checkpoints Make This America’s Safest Small Town

Having to pass through two international border checkpoints creates natural security for anyone wanting to enter Point Roberts. The crime rate here is 87% lower than the Washington State average.

Despite having only 1,233 residents, the community has its own police force with four officers. You’ll almost never hear about violent crimes here, and property crimes happen at less than one-fifth the rate of surrounding areas.

Canada Supplies The Town’s Drinking Water

Point Roberts can’t provide its own water—it relies on Canadian infrastructure for this basic need. An agreement signed on August 28, 1987, requires Point Roberts Water District to buy water from the Greater Vancouver Water District.

The town stores water in the Benson Reservoir, which holds 250,000 gallons. Point Roberts Water District #4 runs a 15.2-meter water tower and delivers water to about 600 homes and businesses through 20 miles of underground pipes.

People Think The Witness Protection Program Operates Here

Local stories suggest Point Roberts serves as a hiding place for people in the Federal Witness Protection Program.

The isolation and border security make it hard for anyone to enter without being noticed. While no official records confirm or deny this, the rumor has persisted since the 1980s.

The US Marshals Service, which runs the program, doesn’t have an office in Point Roberts. Still, several former law enforcement officials have called the community an ‘ideal location’ for protected witnesses.

A Fence Built in 2025 Caused International Problems (no free recent pics)

Border relations got tense when Canadian officials built a barrier to stop accidental crossings. The 380-foot chain-link fence at English Bluff Road cost $47,000 and stands 6 feet tall.

Delta City Council approved it on February 12, 2025, after three separate incidents of people accidentally crossing the border. Upset residents collected 879 signatures against the barrier.

Despite ongoing talks between officials, the fence is still there today.

Netflix Had Its Own Mailbox Slot in the Post Office

Before Netflix stopped its DVD-by-mail service in September 2023, the Point Roberts post office had a special slot just for returning Netflix discs.

This small post office has been running since 1891 and holds 2,800 post office boxes—more than twice the town’s population of 1,233.

About 70% of these boxes belong to Canadians who use them to get American mail and packages without paying international shipping fees.

Canadians Rent Mailboxes Here To Save on Shipping Costs

The post office in Point Roberts offers a clever shopping shortcut for Canadians. Over 1,900 post office boxes are rented by Canadians who avoid paying international shipping this way.

The post office started in 1891 and got much bigger in 1998 to keep up with Canadian demand. You’ll pay between $64 and $234 per year to rent a box, depending on its size.

Even the US Consulate in Vancouver used Point Roberts for mail until 2017, when they switched to using a facility in Blaine.

Celebrities Have Used This Town as a Hideaway

The privacy of this isolated spot has attracted some famous residents looking for peace and quiet. NHL coach John Tortorella lived here during the 2013-2014 season while coaching the Vancouver Canucks, driving 27 miles each way to work.

Actress Katee Sackhoff stayed in Point Roberts from 2004-2009 while filming Battlestar Galactica in Vancouver. Nancy Wilson and Roger Fisher from the band Heart lived here in 1975-1976 while writing their debut album ‘Dreamboat Annie,’ which sold over a million copies worldwide.

You Can See 2,000 Rubber Ducks in One Place

One of Point Roberts’ quirky attractions is a museum dedicated to bath toys. Inside Kora’s Corner gift shop at 1480 Gulf Road, you’ll find the Rubber Duck Museum with over 2,000 rubber ducks.

The collection started in 1987 and includes ducks from 37 different countries. The smallest duck is just 0.5 inches while the biggest stands 4 feet tall.

You don’t have to pay to get in, but they welcome donations to support the yearly ‘Ducky Derby’ fundraiser for local charities.

Visiting Point Roberts

To get to Point Roberts, you’ll need to drive through Canada using the Point Roberts-Boundary Bay Border Crossing, which is open 24 hours every day.

Make sure to bring your passport or NEXUS card (starting May 7, 2025, you’ll need REAL ID compliant documents). The Bald Eagle Golf Course reopens in April 2025 with green fees between $42-75.

You can watch orcas at Lighthouse Marine Park (1300 Roosevelt Way) from May through September, hike 3.4 miles of trails at the 275-acre Lily Point Marine Reserve, or visit the Point Roberts History Center (1487 Gulf Road) on weekends from 1-4pm.

Summer events include Canada Day celebrations on July 1-2 and the Fourth of July parade at noon on Gulf Road. If you’re bringing a boat, the marina at 713 Simundson Drive charges $1.50 per foot for moorage.