There are free microstates in the USA with their own constitution, parliament and even currency: here are the most famous of them

In theory, all you have to do to create your microstate is buy your own piece of paradise and then secede from the United States. Sounds too simple to be true, right? In fact, that's really almost all you need to create your own micronation, reports Roadtrippers.

Photo: IStock

By most standards, the US is a pretty pleasant country to live in... but for some people, the temptation to rule a private kingdom is too tempting to resist. And it's actually not that hard to create your own country.

Microstates are entities that claim to be sovereign states but are not recognized by any organization or other governments. In most cases, they have their own flags, currencies, government systems, seals, passports, and more.

There are many of them around the world, and some are more famous than others. Several are scattered across America, so if you're interested in "international" travel without leaving the continental US, you can visit these micronations... that aren't technically "located" in the US. A complete list of US microstates can be found here.

Molossia

Republic Molossia was founded on September 3, 1999 by Kevin Baugh. It administers several distinct areas of the province of New Harmony in Nevada, which includes the capital city of Boston, where Government House (aka the home of President Kevin Baugh) is located, as well as lands in Northern and Southern California.

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Same-sex marriage has been allowed in Molossia since 2002, they have a Department of Aerospace Research, a post office and a railway department, and they claim to be one of the first countries to recognize Kosovo as an independent republic. Their currency is the valorah and its relative value is based on the Pillsbury cookie dough standard, which is way cooler than the gold standard, IMO. Tobacco and incandescent lamps are prohibited, so don't think about taking them with you when you visit.

The population of Molossia is 33 people, while only three permanently live in the territory of the republic, reports Dzen. At the same time, it is surprisingly well equipped: from the wooden “administrative buildings” to the coat of arms, laid out from the old emblems of the British army.

Of course, there is a rather extensive legislation in place in the republic. According to it, for example, walruses and onions are prohibited in the country.

You don't need a visa to enter Molossia, but problems can arise at the border if you don't have a passport. However, not everyone can obtain citizenship.

The system in Molossia - a military dictatorship - is not typical for other microstates. One of the reasons for choosing such a formation was the chic uniform that any dictator has: dark glasses, a stylish cap and, of course, medals. According to Bow, he presents himself with new orders every year.

You don't need a visa to enter Molossia, but problems can arise at the border if you don't have a passport. However, not everyone can obtain citizenship.

“We receive requests for Molossian citizenship two to three times a week. Mostly they are sent in all seriousness by Midwesterners who would like to move anywhere,” says the president. - If we gave citizenship to everyone, today the population of our country would be about five thousand people. It's really sad that so many people are willing to move to a country they don't know anything about just by stumbling across its name on the internet."

Molossia is open to the public about once a month from April to October. This state has many holidays - both original and borrowed from other cultures, but the main one is May 26 - the Day of the Founder of Molossia.

Zakistan

Republic Zakistan slightly more versatile as she sees herself as an art installation rather than a micronation. Zachary Landsburg, a Brooklyn-based sculptor, bought land near Great Salt Lake in Utah on eBay for $610 and visits it several times a year.

There are no buildings in Zakistan, but there is a border patrol gate that surrounds the sculptures. The country's main import is water, its main export is conceptual art. Their motto translates to “Something from Nothing,” and despite their desert location, their national animal is the squid.

Zachary came up with the name of the capital - Zakopolis, the flag and coat of arms of the country and is happy to distribute passports. Initially, there were 25 citizens in Zakistan - all from among the friends of Zakistan, today there are more than 400. Tourists who decide to spontaneously come to Zakistan are given the opportunity to purchase official passports worth $ 40, which will even be stamped upon arrival and departure from these places .

“I have a concept plan,” he says. – I want Zakistan, being an art project, to become a real country. I understand that this is impossible, but I will still try to work in this direction. For example, the idea of ​​passports works great. What looks like an official document is perceived by people as an official document.”

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“I get hundreds of emails from people all over the world asking how to get a visa or business license to work in my country, or from journalists and filmmakers who want to film us. This means that the “Zakistan project” is working. It's funny, isn't it? - he says.

Kingdom of Thalos

Kingdom Talossa is an interesting microstate because even though it claims a lot of territory, especially in the Milwaukee area, many of its members and its popularity arose from the Internet after the country's website began to attract the attention of publications such as Wired and New York Times.

The kingdom dates back to the late 1970s, when Robert Madison began inventing a fictional country that at first fit in his bedroom. He invented the language (one of the most detailed fictional languages ​​ever devised) and the flag, and started publishing a newspaper to keep a dozen or so members, mostly friends and family, up to date with what was happening in the country.

The country has national holidays and commemorations, national historic sites, national ethnic cuisine (Taco Bell) and songs of cultural significance ("Anthem" by ABBA and "Tusk" by Fleetwood Mac). They have an incredibly detailed map of their territories and a very complex management system.

North Dumpling

Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway, bought a historic island off the coast of Connecticut and New York. When he was not allowed to build a wind turbine on the island to power everything, he joked that he might have to secede from the US in order to build his dream home on the island.

He eventually succeeded in making the island carbon neutral by using a combination of solar and wind power and replacing the lighting with LEDs. He still calls the island, which has a lighthouse and a replica of Stonehenge, "the Kingdom of North Dumpling" and has just about everything needed to justify that name: it has a constitution, a national anthem, a currency, a flag, and a navy (consisting of one lonely boat).

Republic of Konk

We all know about the Florida Keys, but did you know that some have left Florida and the US to form their own country?

Republic conch was founded on April 23, 1982, when tourists and citizens heading from the Keys to the Florida mainland were subjected to roadblock checks. The authorities were checking every car for illegal immigrants and drugs, which caused epic traffic jams. When people's requests to the US government fell on deaf ears, they took matters into their own hands...and left the country.

On April 23, 1982, the mayor of Key West, Dennis Wardlow, declared the archipelago an independent republic, arguing that the US authorities had set up an analogue of the border checkpoint between them and the mainland. Dennis Wardlaw became the country's first president. After reading the declaration of withdrawal from the United States, he declared war on the United States by symbolically breaking a loaf of stale Cuban bread on the head of a man in a US Navy uniform. A minute later, Dennis Wardlaw announced his surrender and demanded $1 billion in foreign aid. The US authorities did not publicly react to these events, but the patrol was removed. The US media hype lasted for several days.

The name was chosen in honor of the nickname of the Bahamians of European origin, who make up a significant part of the local population.

The Declaration of Independence has become a "highlight" attracting new tourists to the Florida Keys. The republic issues its own passports, which are sold to tourists and the public through a website.

In 1995, the Republic "invaded" the United States in a small flotilla of civilian and fireboats. This was done in protest against the closure of the local Dry Tortugas National Park.

In 1995, an army reserve battalion conducted an exercise simulating an invasion of a foreign island... and they foolishly decided to conduct this exercise in Key West without informing the Republic of Conques. The residents took this as an act of aggression and fought back, raining water cannons and stale Cuban bread on the battalion. They then took their complaints to the Department of Defense, which surrendered.

Today, you can buy souvenir passports, dance to their national anthem, celebrate their independence day at their week-long festival, and even join their military. The motto of the country is "We have separated where others have failed." Their motto is: "Reducing World Tensions Through Humor". This is something that even the US government can fall behind!

Slowjamastan

Welcome to Slowjamastan, a “micronation” hidden in California, reports Fox5.

The radio DJ from San Diego has traveled all over the world. Now Randy "R Dub!" Williams is the "sultan" of his own "country".

Over the course of a decade or so, Williams has traveled to every country recognized by the UN, from the usual tourist favorites to some of the world's most elusive places such as North Korea and Venezuela, South Sudan and Somalia.

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Before crossing off the 193rd country on his list, the radio host was looking for new frontiers to explore. It was then that he visited the "micronation" or self-proclaimed territory in Nevada, the Republic of Molossia.

This visit cemented his next mission: to found his country.

“It was an absolute dream and mission to see every country in the world,” Williams said. “I saw incredible places that many people don’t have the opportunity to go to... What I will do next is create my own country.”

In the fall of 2021, Williams bought a 4,5-hectare piece of empty desert land deep in the arid Southern California landscape to build his new nation on.

A few months later, on December 1, he formally declared independence from the United States.

“The Sultan is the sultan of slow jams,” Williams said of his sovereign persona. “He loves Boys II Men and Usher and Alicia Keys and Luther Vandross and Anita Baker.”

“This is exactly what we wanted – a land of slow jams where people could come and just have fun and relax,” he continued, “enjoy good music and good people.”

Slowjamastan has all these trappings: it has a national anthem called "Slowjamastan (I think it's going to be an amazing place)", a "parliament", a recognized national animal (the ring-tailed raccoon) and its own currency called the "double".

The national “government,” as Williams described it, is a dictatorship that is sometimes a democracy.

“Some days we are a republic, but other days we are a dictatorship,” Williams said. “I am a great leader who sets the rules, although sometimes... we allow the community to interfere in matters that are important to Slowjamastan.”

It doesn't take much to become a citizen of a nation—there are just a few eccentric laws that citizens must abide by in order to avoid being "exiled."

Slowjamastan laws prohibit wearing Crocs, eating cheese, listening to mumble rap music, and driving in the left lane unless you are actually overtaking another car.

While no citizen of the micronation actually resides in its claimed territory, Williams says the new country has more than 500 registered citizens, while another 4500 have received conditional permission or are waiting in line for citizenship.

“We have citizens from all six continents,” Williams said. “We are very proud citizens... These people are proud to be part of something new and fresh.”

Despite the lack of infrastructure in the barren desert state, Williams has grand plans for the micronation's future development, including building solar farms, a river, an armadillo farm, and a Mongolian barbecue restaurant.

He also hopes to secure diplomatic recognition from the United States, although this is likely to be a difficult task for the Sultan.

For now, tourists can visit the country inside California by obtaining a "visa" to cross the country's borders, Williams said. All travelers who do not have a guide or visa are advised to take selfies in front of the border markers.

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