Wake Island Is Annexed By The United States

Wake Island was annexed as empty territory by the United States on January 17, 1899.

In 1935, Pan American Airways constructed a small village, nicknamed "PAAville", to service flights on its U.S.–China route. The village was the first human settlement on the island and relied upon the U.S. mainland for its food and water supplies; it remained in operation up to the day of the first Japanese air raid.

Wake Island, annexed in 1899 (the claim is currently disputed by the Marshall Islands.)