Agat, Guam

Infobox Settlement
settlement_type = Village
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = Territory
subdivision_name1 = Guam
subdivision_type2 =
subdivision_name2 =
timezone=ChST
utc_offset=+10
unit_pref=Imperial
map_caption =Location of Agat within the Territory of Guam.
latd= |latm= |lats= |latNS=
longd= |longm= |longs= |longEW=
elevation_ft =
official_name = Agat

---

area_total_sq_mi =
population_total = 5656|population_footnotes= [http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/island/GUAMprofile.pdf 2000 Census of Population and Housing: Guam] , (rev. May 2004) p. 14]
population_as_of = 2000
population_blank1 = 57|population_blank1_title=Ethnic groups|.8% Chamorro, 23.4% Filipino, 11.6% two or more races
leader_title=Mayor
leader_name = Carol S. Tayama
Mayor_since =
leader_title1=Vice mayor
leader_name1 = Jesus B. Chaco
blank_info = Yellow gumamela
blank_name=Village Flower|

Agat ( _ch. Hagat) 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 is governed by an elected mayor and council. Most of the residents of Agat are ethnic Chamorros, the indigenous people of Guam. Some of Agat's most notable sites are Mount Alifan, the Agat Marina, the Spanish Bridge, War In The Pacific National Historical Park, and Nimitz Hill.

History

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.

Korean Air Flight 801 crashed in Nimitz Hill in Agat on August 6, 1997.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

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." [http://www.gdoe.net/ci/high_sch_crse_desc/guam_PHS.pdf Guam's Public High Schools] ." "Guam Public School System". Accessed September 8, 2008.]

Oceanview Middle School was originally Oceanview High School; the campus became a middle school in 1997.http://www.gdoe.net/rpe/annual_grad_ratesSY96_02.htm]

Public libraries

Guam Public Library System operates the Agat Library at 165 Follard Street. [http://gpls.guam.gov/Portals/50/GPLS_LOC/GPLS_Location_2007Apr12.xml]

See also

*Villages of Guam

References

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.