Agat, Guam

Agat
Hagat
Village

Location of Agat within the Territory of Guam.
Country United States
Territory Guam
Government
 • Mayor Carol S. Tayama (R)
 • Vice mayor Kevin J.T. Susuico (R)
Population (2010)[1]
 • Total 4,917
 • Ethnic groups (as of 2,000[2]) 57.8% Chamorro, 23.4% Filipino, 11.6% two or more races
Time zone ChST (UTC+10)
Village Flower Yellow gumamela

Agat (Chamorro: Hagat) is a village in the United States territory of Guam. It is located south of Apra Harbor on the island's western shore. The village's population has decreased since the island's 2000 census.[3]

The village is 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Hagåtña,[4] with most of the residents ethnic Chamorros, the indigenous people of Guam. Some of Agat's most notable sites are Mount Alifan, the Agat Marina, the Spanish Bridge, and War In The Pacific National Historical Park.

History

Marines cross a bridge in Agat during the liberation of Guam in 1944.
Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19603,107—
19704,30838.7%
19803,999−7.2%
19904,96024.0%
20005,65614.0%
20104,917−13.1%
Source:[1]

In 1565, the Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi claimed Guam for Spain. Agat was founded between 1680 and 1684, by the Spanish Governor Don Jose Quiroga, as a military garrison for the purpose of controlling the Chamorro people and converting them to Christianity. Many of its first citizens were brought from the internal village of Fina which was destroyed while the Spanish pacified the island. It was one of six such settlements on Guam in the 18th century. During the 1830s, the Spanish Governor, Captain Villalobos, began constructing facilities in Agat planning to make it the island's new capital. Lack of funds prevented him from completing the project.

In 1898, Guam was transferred from Spain to the United States following the Spanish–American War. Under U.S. Naval administration, Agat was incorporated as a township with an American style municipal government.

During World War II, Japan occupied Guam from 1941 to 1944. During the Battle of Guam in 1944, Agat was one of the two landing sites for U.S. Marines. These sites are now part of the War in the Pacific National Historical Park. The old village was destroyed during the invasion. After capturing Guam, the U.S. military constructed a new residential community in Agat for Guam residents made homeless by the war south of the original village.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

Guam Public School System serves the island.

Marcial Sablan Elementary School and Oceanview Middle School are located in Agat. Southern High School in Santa Rita serves the village.[5]

Oceanview Middle School was originally Oceanview High School; the campus became a middle school in 1997.[6]

Public libraries

Guam Public Library System operates the Agat Library at 165 Follard Street.[7]

Mayor of Agat

Mayor

Vice Mayor

See also

References

  1. 1 2 2010 Guam Statistical Yearbook PDF (4.3 MB), (rev. 2011)
  2. ↑ 2000 Census of Population and Housing: Guam, (rev. May 2004) p. 14
  3. ↑ Therese Hart, "Guam Population slightly up, latest census says," Marianas Variety, August 26, 2011, http://mvguam.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19623:guam-population-slightly-up-latest-census-says&catid=59:frontpagenews
  4. ↑ "Area Maps - Agat." Pacific Daily News. Retrieved on October 11, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Guam's Public High Schools." Guam Public School System. Accessed September 8, 2008.
  6. ↑ http://www.gdoe.net/rpe/annual_grad_ratesSY96_02.htm
  7. ↑ http://gpls.guam.gov/Portals/50/GPLS_LOC/GPLS_Location_2007Apr12.xml

Further reading

Coordinates: 13°22′53″N 144°39′17″E / 13.38139°N 144.65472°E / 13.38139; 144.65472

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