Meet Slowjamastan: The New Nation in America's Desert Where Crocs Are Banned and Tacos Are Sacred

Somewhere between California's date palm farms and the Mexican border, a strip of sunburnt desert holds what its founder calls the world's youngest nation.

The Republic of Slowjamastan spans 11 acres of scrubland, issues passports, mints its own currency, and has accumulated over 25,000 self-registered citizens from 120 countries.

It also has a constitution that bans Crocs, forbids reply-all emails, and permits speeding only if you are racing home with tacos.

This is not satire. Well, it is. But it is also very real.

What is Slowjamastan?

Slowjamastan is a micronation located on an undeveloped, 11-acre parcel of land in California's desert, purchased in 2021 for $19,500.

It operates as a self-proclaimed republic with its own flag, passports, currency, border checkpoint, and national anthem, written to the tune of Elton John's Rocket Man.

Who founded it, and why?

The republic was founded by Randy Williams, known on air as R Dub, the programme director for radio stations Z90 and Magic 92.5 in San Diego.

Reportedly, Williams spent years visiting every UN-recognised country before the pandemic grounded his final trip. Stuck at home in 2020, he decided to create his own.

How does one become a citizen?

Citizenship is free and open to all via a simple online form.

According to BBC Travel, Slowjamastan currently has 25,000 self-registered citizens from 120 countries, surpassing the populations of recognised nations including Vatican City, Tuvalu, and Palau.

What are the actual laws of this nation?

Crocs are constitutionally banned. Reply-all emails are illegal. Speeding is permitted, but only when transporting tacos.

The national animal is the raccoon, and the land is divided into territories including Dublândia, Bucksylvania, and the Queendom of Hotdamnastan.

Can you hold an official title there?

Yes, for a fee. Those wishing to become ambassadors pay between $10 and $25 per month.

Positions such as Member of Parliament are also available for purchase, with Williams reportedly joking that it makes for a strong LinkedIn entry.

Does Slowjamastan have a military?

The nation launched its first naval vessel, a decommissioned submarine named the SS Badassin, designed to protect Slowjamastan from smuggling threats. The ceremony was open to the public.

What is next for the world's most absurd republic?

Slowjamastan will host MicroCon 2027, a gathering of delegates from over 43 self-proclaimed micronations worldwide, to be held in a San Diego skyscraper penthouse.

Williams also has plans for an airport on the desert property, listed on an existing sign as "coming soon(ish)."

For its citizens, Slowjamastan is less a novelty and more a refuge: a deliberately joyful corner of the world at a time when joy feels increasingly hard to find.

(With inputs from yMedia)