Garapan is the largest village and the center of the tourism industry on the island of Saipan

Saipan

Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...

, which is a part of the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 Commonwealth

Commonwealth (United States insular area)

In the terminology of the United States insular areas, a Commonwealth is a type of organized but unincorporated dependent territory.The definition of "Commonwealth" according to current U.S. State Department policy reads: "The term 'Commonwealth' does not describe or provide for any specific...

 of the Northern Mariana Islands

Northern Mariana Islands

The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , is a commonwealth in political union with the United States, occupying a strategic region of the western Pacific Ocean. It consists of 15 islands about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines...

 (CNMI).

Garapan, as a Census Designated Place, has an area of 1.2 km² and a population of 3,588 (census of population, 2000).

Garapan is located on Saipan’s west coast and is home to the majority of the island’s major hotels and the American Memorial Park

American Memorial Park

American Memorial Park on the island of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, was created as a living memorial honoring the sacrifices made during the Marianas Campaign of World War II...

, which honors American soldiers who died during the Battle of Saipan

Battle of Saipan

The Battle of Saipan was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the island of Saipan in the Mariana Islands from 15 June-9 July 1944. The Allied invasion fleet embarking the expeditionary forces left Pearl Harbor on 5 June 1944, the day before Operation Overlord in Europe was...

. Numerous shops, restaurants, and one of the CNMI's largest elementary schools can be found here, which is Garapan Elementary School, Home of the Mallards. Garapan also now has newly built Paseo De Marianas, a popular tourist attraction. One of the several churches on island is located in Garapan, just to the right of the Horiguchi Building is Kristo Rai Church and right near the church is an apartment called Chamorro House owned by Anicia and Jesse Sonoda

Prior to its dissolution, Pacific Island Aviation

Pacific Island Aviation

Pacific Island Aviation was an airline headquartered on the second floor of the Cabrera Center in Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. It operated passenger and cargo services. Its main base was Saipan International Airport...

was headquartered on the second floor of the Cabrera Center in Garapan.