In Pics and Words

The Republic of Slowjamastan is located in the Imperial County, an agricultural region within Southern California’s Colorado desert (so-named because it is fed by the 1,450-mile long Colorado River).

Slowjamastan is a short drive from my hometown of El Centro, the county seat. Highlighted on the map is the Naval Air Facilty (NAFEC), winter training grounds of the Blue Angels, and Slab City, the last free place in America (see linked post). To the east is Yuma, Arizona; to the west San Diego; to the south Mexicali, capital of Baja California.

(The Salton Sea was formed in 1905 when the Colorado River broke a dike and flooded the valley. The parachute recovery systems for America’s space program were tested over the sea.)

Slow Jam DJ Randy Williams founded the micronation in 2021. He proclaimed himself both Sultan and dictator. Williams, who has a nighttime gig spinning records in San Diego, was inspired by a micronation he discovered in the Nevada desert while traveling to Las Vegas.

He paid $19,000 for an 11-acre plot of desert near the sea. Although a micronation has no legal status, Slowjamastan does have a fire department, police department, and security force. Williams office is a stand-alone desk in the middle of sagebrush and sand. While the landscape is bleak and barren, there are plans to develop the land including the addition of a bowling alley.

Residents of the sparsely populated region think that Williams is nuts, but Salton City merchants hope he will draw tourists to the area. (The Salton Sea was once a destination that rivaled the desert oasis of Palm Springs.)

Visitors can only enter by invitation via the guard station.

Officer of the kingdom’s police force.

General of the kingdom’s security force.

Ministry of Tourism issues passports. There are about 500 citizens in the kingdom with a backlog of 4,500 applicants.

Taking the oath of allegiance.

The Sultan meets with officers and Cabinet. (A citizen can apply for a Cabinet position.)

Citizens must abide by certain laws. For instance, you must know the difference between “your” and “you’re” — and, this is important, if you don’t know the proper way to load a roll of bathroom tissue (over or under) then don’t bother applying. Also, speeding is not allowed unless “you’re” bringing everyone tacos. Be advised that visitors caught wearing Crocs will be subject to the pillory and public ridicule.