Hågat, Guam

Hågat (formerly Agat) 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 2010 census.[1]

Hågat
Village
Location of Agat within the Territory of Guam.
Location of Agat within the Territory of Guam.
CountryUnited States
TerritoryGuam
Government
 • MayorKevin J.T. Susuico (R)
 • Vice mayorChristopher J. Fejeran (R)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total4,515
 • Ethnic groups
(as of 2,000[2]) 57.8% Chamorro 23.4% Filipino 11.6% two or more races
Time zoneUTC+10 (ChST)
Village FlowerYellow gumamela

The village is 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Hagåtña,[3] 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
CensusPop.Note%±
19603,107—
19704,30838.7%
19803,999−7.2%
19904,96024.0%
20005,65614.0%
20104,917−13.1%
20204,515−8.2%
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.

In August 2021, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero signed a bill officially changing the name of the village.[4]

Demographics

The U.S. Census Bureau counts it under the Agat census-designated place.[5]

Education

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.[6] Oceanview Middle School was originally Oceanview High School; the campus became a middle school in 1997.[7]

In regards to the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), Hågat is in the school attendance zone for McCool Elementary and McCool Middle School, while Guam High School is the island's sole DoDEA high school. DoDEA school material describes the DoDEA school bus services going to Hågat as "limited".[8]

Private schools

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School is located in Agat and accommodates students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.[9]

Public libraries

Guam Public Library System operates the Agat Library at 165 Follard Street.[10]

Government
Commissioner of Hågat
Name Term begin Term end
Antonio P. Carbullido (1st term) 1930 1937
Tomas C. Charfauros 1934 1937
Francisco R. Chaco 1937 1940
Francisco C. Sablan 1941 1944
Antonio P. Carbullido (2nd term) 1945 1956
Juan L.G. Leon Guerrero 1956 1963
Jose B. Guevara 1963 1965
Thomas F.P. Muña 1965 1969
Mayor of Hågat
Name Party Term begin Term end
Jose S. San Nicolas Republican January 1, 1973 January 3, 1977
Antonio R. Terlaje Democratic January 3, 1977 January 5, 1981
Antonio C. Babauta Republican January 5, 1981 September 30, 1996
Joaquin G. Topasna October 1, 1996 January 6, 1997
Johnny M. Reyes Democratic January 6, 1997 January 3, 2005
Carol S. Tayama Republican January 3, 2005 January 2, 2017
Kevin J.T. Susuico January 2, 2017 present

Deputy Commissioner
  • Jose Pereda (1898–1903)
  • Jesus Carbullido (1903–1908)
  • Pedro C. Charfauros (1931–1933)
  • Vicente M. Salas (1934–1937)
  • Jose S. San Nicolas (1970–1973)
Vice-Mayor of Hågat
Name Party Term begin Term end
Vicente Q. Guerrero Republican January 1, 1973 January 3, 1977
Antonio C. Babauta Democratic January 3, 1977 January 5, 1981
Jose R. Reyes January 5, 1981 January 2, 1989
John A. Quidachay Republican January 2, 1989 January 4, 1993
Joaquin G. Topasna January 4, 1993 September 30, 1996
Jessie S. Pendon Democratic October 1, 1996 January 6, 1997
Jesus B. Chaco January 6, 1997 November 11, 2009
Office vacant November 11 – December 23, 2009
Agustin G. Quintanilla Republican December 23, 2009 March 19, 2015
Office vacant March 19 – June 8, 2015
Kevin J.T. Susuico Republican June 8, 2015 January 2, 2017
Christopher J. Fejeran January 2, 2017 present

Notable people

See also

References
  1. Population of Guam: 2010 and 2020, U.S. Census Bureau.
  2. 2000 Census of Population and Housing: Guam, (rev. May 2004) p. 14
  3. "Area Maps - Agat." Pacific Daily News. Retrieved on October 11, 2010.
  4. Healy, Shane (19 August 2021). "Gov. Leon Guerrero signs bills to change names of five southern villages". Guam PDN. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  5. "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Agat CDP, GU" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  6. "Guam's Public High Schools Archived 2006-05-19 at the Wayback Machine." Guam Public School System. Accessed September 8, 2008.
  7. http://www.gdoe.net/rpe/annual_grad_ratesSY96_02.htm%5B%5D
  8. "DoDEA Guam School Boundaries and Bus Transportation Zones". Military Morale, Welfare and Recreation Guam. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
  9. "Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School – Guam". Archived from the original on 2018-07-10. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  10. "Archived copy". gpls.guam.gov. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

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.

13°22′53″N 144°39′17″E

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