Villages of Guam

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Guam This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Guam Organic Act Governor Felix Camacho Legislature Political parties Elections: 2004 Villages See also: Politics of the U.S. Other countries • Politics Portal view • talk • edit

The territory of Guam is divided into 19 municipalities more commonly called villages. Each municipality is governed by an elected mayor and appointed council. 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.

Contents 1 History 2 List of villages 3 References 4 External links

[edit] History

Many villages have rich histories reaching back thousands of years. Artifacts from ancient Chamorro settlements can be found in every village of Guam. When Spain colonized Guam, the island was divided into separate districts. Each district consisted of a parish with a village center governed by an alcalde, appointed by the island's governor.

Many Chamorros, the indigenous people of Guam, were forced to live in the new villages, each centered on a church, so they could learn Christianity. In the 18th century, there were six parishes on Guam: Agana, Agat, Umatac, Merizo, Inarajan, and Pago.

Prior to Spanish colonization, Chamorros regularly held village celebrations. After adopting Christianity, these celebrations became fiestas in honor of the patron saint of each village. Annual village fiestas are still held throughout Guam every year.

The current division of Guam into municipalities took place in the 1920s under U.S. Navy administration.

[edit] List of villages

• Agana Heights
• Agat
• Asan-Maina
• Barrigada
• Chalan-Pago-Ordot
• Dededo
• Hagåtña
• Inarajan
• Mangilao
• Merizo
• Mongmong-Toto-Maite
• Piti
• Santa Rita
• Sinajana
• Talofofo
• Tamuning
• Tumon
• Umatac
• Yigo
• Yona

[edit] References

• Rogers, Robert F (1995). Destiny's Landfall: A History of Guam: University of Hawai'i Press. ISBN 0-8248-1678-1
• Carter, Lee D; Carter, Rosa Roberto; Wuerch, William L (1997). Guam History: Perspectives Volume One: MARC. ISBN 1-878453-28-9
• Sanchez, Pedro C. Guahan, Guam: The History of our Island: Sanchez Publishing House.
• Districts of Guam, United States Census Bureau

[edit] External links

• PDN Village Maps
• Municipalities of Guam at Statoids

	Territory of Guam
Topics	Geography · Economy · Demographics · Communications · Transportation
Capital	Hagåtña
Islands	Cocos Island · Guam
Villages	Agana Heights · Agat · Asan-Maina · Barrigada · Chalan-Pago-Ordot · Dededo · Hagåtña · Inarajan · Mangilao · Merizo · Mongmong-Toto-Maite · Piti · Santa Rita · Sinajana · Talofofo · Tamuning · Umatac · Yigo · Yona