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The 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
Many villages have rich histories reaching back thousands of years.
Artifacts from ancient
Chamorro settlements can be found in every village of Guahan. When
Spain colonized Guahan, 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 Chamorro were forced to live in the new villages, each centered on a church, so that they could learn Christianity and be more closely monitored by the Spanish. In the 18th century, there were six parishes on Guahan: Hagåtña, Hagat, Humåtak, Malesso', Inalåjan, and Pago.
Prior to Spanish colonization, Chamorro 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 Guahan into municipalities took place in the 1920s under U.S. Navy administration.
List of villages
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Village
!Area
km²
!Population
(2000
census)
!Region
!Pop.
Density
|-
|
Agana Heights
|align="right"|2.68
|align="right"|3,940
|Central
|1,470
|-
|
Agat
|align="right"|27.19
|align="right"|5,656
|South
|210
|-
|
Asan-Maina
|align="right"|14.35
|align="right"|2,090
|Central
|150
|-
|
Barrigada
|align="right"|21.96
|align="right"|8,652
|Central
|390
|-
|
Chalan-Pago-Ordot
|align="right"|14.73
|align="right"|5,923
|Central
|400
|-
|
Dededo
|align="right"|79.16
|align="right"|42,980
|North
|540
|-
|
Hagåtña
|align="right"|2.33
|align="right"|1,100
|Central
|470
|-
|
Inarajan
|align="right"|48.82
|align="right"|3,052
|South
|60
|-
|
Mangilao
|align="right"|26.45
|align="right"|13,313
|Central
|500
|-
|
Merizo
|align="right"|16.39
|align="right"|2,152
|South
|130
|-
|
Mongmong-Toto-Maite
|align="right"|4.79
|align="right"|5,845
|Central
|1,220
|-
|
Piti
|align="right"|19.26
|align="right"|1,666
|Central
|90
|-
|
Santa Rita
|align="right"|41.89
|align="right"|7,500
|South
|180
|-
|
Sinajana
|align="right"|2.20
|align="right"|2,853
|Central
|1,300
|-
|
Talofofo
|align="right"|45.81
|align="right"|3,215
|South
|70
|-
|
Tamuning (including
Tumon)
|align="right"|14.66
|align="right"|18,012
|North
|1,230
|-
|
Umatac
|align="right"|16.63
|align="right"|887
|South
|50
|-
|
Yigo
|align="right"|91.71
|align="right"|19,474
|North
|210
|-
|
Yona
|align="right"|52.53
|align="right"|6,484
|South
|120
|- style="background:#ccc;"
|
Guam
|align="right"|543.52
|align="right"|154,794
|
|}
See also
List of villages in the Northern Mariana Islands
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
External links
PDN Village Maps
Guampedia, Guam's Online Encyclopedia Guam Villages
Guam 1
Category:Lists of villages