January 30, 2025, 6:50 am | Read time: 3 minutes

If you like minimalism, this is the place for you. Hub Island is just half the size of a tennis court, making it the smallest inhabited island in the world. But who actually lives on this miniature island? TRAVELBOOK reveals the secret of “Hub Island”, also known as “Just Room Enough Island”.

According to Business Insider, the history of the piece of land dates back to the 1950s. The island off Alexandria Bay in New York State, located in the St. Lawrence River, came into the possession of the Sizeland family. They built a vacation home to enjoy the peace and quiet there on a regular basis. A move that ultimately made the island the smallest inhabited island in the world. In order to be recognized as part of the chain of Thousand Islands, they also planted trees and plants. There is also a small beach on the islet.

Hub Island Becomes ‘Just Room Enough Island’

Previously, the lighthouse island of Bishop Rock, off the coast of Cornwall, had claimed the (unofficial) title of the smallest built-up island in the world. However, as the lighthouse was gradually automated, Hub Island secured the record in 1992. The island, whose surface area offered little more than room for a small house, was eventually christened “Just Enough Room Island” by its owners.

Tourist Attraction Instead of Retreat

However, the idyll did not last long. The small island soon became a sensation, attracting streams of tourists who regularly visit the 1864 islands in the Thousand Islands chain. The charming tiny house, nestled amidst the water, presents an irresistibly picturesque photo opportunity.

Those yearning to tread upon the secluded shores of this lonely island will find their hopes dashed. Still under private ownership, “Just Room Enough Island” remains an elusive gem, not inhabited year-round and only viewable from the tranquil waters that surround it. At the same time, the island is also regularly in danger of being flooded.

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Not the Only Miniature Island

However, there are other islands that are similar to the record holder. Fox Island in Alaska, for example, is around 5 square kilometers in size and, with its tundra landscape, offers the opportunity for hiking tours. In Germany, too, lies a tiny inhabited gem. The 3-square-kilometer island of Neuwerk, nestled in the south-eastern waters of Helgoland Bay. According to NDR, it is visited by tens of thousands of tourists every year.