Island Groups of Kiribati

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Updates: 

Cruising through Wikipedia, I found that the Gilbert Islands were an eponym of Thomas Gilbert, not Joseph Gilbert.

Several papers issued by the office of the Geographer, Department of State, allow me to fill in some gaps in the history of Kiribati and its predecessors.

Country overview: 

The British Empire acquired the islands composing this country over the years, a few at a time, as protectorates. On 1915-11-12 a colony was created, under the name of Gilbert and Ellice Islands. As time went by, the colony was augmented by the Phoenix Islands, the Union Islands, and the Line Islands. The Union Islands were offered to New Zealand. On 1926-02-11, New Zealand took over their administration. On 1949-01-01 they became an overseas territory of New Zealand under the name of Tokelau Islands. Due to a territorial dispute, the United States and the United Kingdom agreed to form a condominium of Canton and Enderbury Islands on 1939-04-06. The Gilbert and Ellice Islands were occupied by Japan during World War II. On 1975-10-01, the Ellice Islands broke off as a separate country, Tuvalu. The remaining territory was renamed the Gilbert Islands. It became independent and took the name Kiribati on 1979-07-12. Shortly afterward, the United States renounced its claim to Canton, Enderbury, and other islands in the Phoenix and Line groups.

Other names of country: 

1. Danish: Kiribati, Republikken Kiribati (formal)
2. Dutch: Kiribati, Republiek Kiribati (formal)
3. English: Republic of Kiribati (formal), Gilbert Islands (obsolete)
4. Finnish: Kiribati
5. French: Kiribati m
6. German: Kiribati n
7. Icelandic: Kíribatí
8. Italian: Kiribati
9. Norwegian: Kiribati
10. Portuguese: Kiribati, Quiribati, República f do Kiribati m (formal)
11. Spanish: Kiribati, República f de Kiribati (formal)
12. Swedish: Kiribati

Origin of name: 

Gilbertese form of Gilbert[ Island]s, for Thomas Gilbert, ship captain

Primary subdivisions: 

Kiribati is divided into three island groups. They have no administrative function, but serve as a convenient geographical subdivision of Kiribati.

Territorial extent: 

The sequence of groups from west to east and their approximate limits of longitude is Gilbert, 180°, Phoenix, 165° W., Line.

1. The Gilbert Islands include Tarawa, Tabiteuea, Abaiang, Butaritari, Abemama, Nonouti, Beru, Marakei, Nukunau (Nikunau), Maiana, Onotoa, Makin, Arorae, Tamana, Kuria, Aranuka, and Banaba (Ocean).
2. The Line Islands include Kiritimati (Christmas), Tabuaeran (Fanning), Teraina (Washington), Starbuck, Caroline, Vostok, Malden, and Flint.
3. The Phoenix Islands include Kanton (Canton, Abariringa), Enderbury, Rawaki (Phoenix), McKean, Nikumaroro (Gardner), Orona (Hull), Manra (Sydney), and Birnie.

Change history: 

1. 1970: The Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony, a British dependency, was divided into four districts: Ellice Islands (capital Funafuti), Gilbert Islands (Tarawa), Line Islands (Christmas Island, now named Kiritimati), and Ocean Island (Ocean Island, now named Banaba).
2. 1972-01-01: Central and Southern Line Islands (claimed by the United States) united with Gilbert and Ellice Islands (probably joining Line Islands district) by Order in Council. The islands in this group were Caroline, Flint, Malden, Starbuck, and Vostok.
3. ~1974: Phoenix Islands district split from Gilbert Islands.
4. 1975-10-01: Ellice Islands separated to become a new country, Tuvalu. Name of Gilbert and Ellice Islands changed to Gilbert Islands.
5. 1979-07-12: Gilbert Islands became independent; name changed to Kiribati.
6. 1983-09-23: The United States relinquished its claim to fourteen Pacific islands in the Line and Phoenix groups by the treaty of Tarawa (signed 1979-09-20, effective 1983-09-23).

Other names of subdivisions: 

Canton and Enderbury Islands: Canton und Enderbury Inseln (German); Îles Canton et Enderbury (French); Ilhas Cantão e Enderbury (Portuguese); Islas Canton y Enderbury (Spanish)