Agat, Guam
Encyclopedia
Agat is a village
on the island
of Guam
, an unincorporated territory of the United States
. 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.
The village is 10 miles (16.1 km) southwest of Hagåtña
, 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
.
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.
serves the island.
Marcial Sablan Elementary School and Oceanview Middle School are located in Agat. Southern High School
in Santa Rita
serves the village.
Oceanview Middle School was originally Oceanview High School; the campus became a middle school in 1997.
operates the Agat Library at 165 Follard Street.
Villages of Guam
||The United States territory of Guam is divided into 19 municipalities more commonly called villages. Each municipality is governed by an elected mayor. Village populations range in size from under 1,000 to over 40,000. As of the 2000 census, the total population of Guam was 154,805. - History...
on the island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
of Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, an unincorporated territory of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located south of Apra Harbor
Apra Harbor
Apra Harbor is a deep-water port on the western side of Guam in the Mariana Islands. The harbor is formed by Orote Peninsula in the south and Cabras Island in the north. To the south, the harbor narrows and then widens again to form an inner harbor. The southern end of the harbor is the location...
on the island's western shore. The village's population has decreased since the island's 2000 census.
The village is 10 miles (16.1 km) southwest of Hagåtña
Hagåtña, Guam
Hagåtña , formerly English Agana and in Spanish Agaña, is the capital of the United States island territory of Guam. It is the island's second smallest village in both area and population. From the 18th through mid 20th century, it was Guam's population center...
, with most of the residents ethnic Chamorros
Chamorros
The Chamorro people, or Chamoru people, are the indigenous peoples of the Mariana Islands, which include the American territory of Guam and the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Micronesia. Today, significant Chamoru populations also exist in several U.S. states...
, the indigenous people of Guam. Some of Agat's most notable sites are Mount Alifan
Mount Alifan
Mount Alifan is a peak on the island of Guam. It is located in the southwest of the island.-References:*Bendure, G. & Friary, N. Micronesia:A travel survival kit. South Yarra, VIC: Lonely Planet....
, the Agat Marina, the Spanish Bridge, and War In The Pacific National Historical Park
War in the Pacific National Historical Park
The War in the Pacific National Historical Park is a protected area that was established in 1978 in honor of those who participated in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Various sites on the island of Guam comprise the Park...
.
History
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
explorer Miguel López de Legazpi
Miguel López de Legazpi
Miguel López de Legazpi , also known as El Adelantado and El Viejo , was a Spanish conquistador who established one of the first European settlements in the East Indies and the Pacific Islands in 1565. He is the first Governor-General in the Philippines...
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
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. 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
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
. Under U.S. Naval administration, Agat was incorporated as a township with an American style municipal government.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
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
War in the Pacific National Historical Park
The War in the Pacific National Historical Park is a protected area that was established in 1978 in honor of those who participated in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Various sites on the island of Guam comprise the 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.
Public schools
Guam Public School SystemGuam Public School System
Guam Public School System , formerly the Guam Department of Education, is a school district that serves the entire island of Guam, a United States insular area...
serves the island.
Marcial Sablan Elementary School and Oceanview Middle School are located in Agat. Southern High School
Southern High School (Guam)
Southern High School is a public secondary school located at #1 Jose Perez Leon Guerrero Drive in Santa Rita, Guam, United States.The school, a part of the Guam Public School System, opened in 1997 and serves grades 9 through 12....
in Santa Rita
Santa Rita, Guam
Santa Rita is a village located on the southwest coast of the United States territory of Guam with hills overlooking Apra Harbor. According to the 2000 census it has a population of 7,500, down from 11,857 in 1990....
serves the village.
Oceanview Middle School was originally Oceanview High School; the campus became a middle school in 1997.
Public libraries
Guam Public Library SystemGuam Public Library System
Guam Public Library System is the public library system of Guam, a United States territory. The main library is the Nieves M...
operates the Agat Library at 165 Follard Street.
Further reading
- Rogers, Robert F (1995). Destiny's Landfall: A History of Guam: University of Hawai'i Press. ISBN 0-8248-1678-1
- Sanchez, Pedro C. Guahan, Guam: The History of our Island: Sanchez Publishing House.