Barrigada, Guam

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Barrigada
Bariggada
Location of Barrigada, Guam within the Terrority of Guam.
Location of Barrigada, Guam within the Terrority of Guam.
Country United States
Territory Guam
Government
 - Mayor Jesse B. Palican
 - Vice mayor June U. Blas
Population (2000)
 - Total 8,652
 - Ethnic groups Chamorro
Time zone ChST (UTC+10)

Barrigada is a municipality (or village) in central Guam. A largely residential municipality, its main village is located south of the airport near the intersections of Routes 8, 10, and 16. The community east of the airport known as Barrigada Heights is considered an affluent neighborhood on the island, where homes have excellent views overlooking much of Guam including the island's airport and hotels at Tumon Bay.

From August 2 to August 4 in 1944, American marines engaged Japanese soldiers at present day Barrigada Heights during the battle of Guam in World War II. When the Japanese line collapsed the Americans pursued them to the north winning the battle.

In recent years, the three main highways in Barrigada have been renamed in honor of the U.S. military. Route 8 is designated "Purple Heart Memorial Highway". Route 10 is designated "Vietnam Veterans Highway". Route 16 is designated "Army Drive".

Contents

[edit] Tiyan (Former Agana NAS)

North of Routes 8 and 16 is the former Agana Naval Air Station, most of which lies within the boundary of Barrigada. When Agana NAS (now Guam International Airport) was closed in the mid 1990s, the land and buildings were handed over to the Government of Guam, which utilized many former base buildings as government offices. (Some agencies have since moved out.) The original Chamorro name, Tiyan, has been restored and is in common use for this area.

Barrigada is also home to Guam's main post office commonly known as "Guam Main Facility" (GMF).

The closing of Agana NAS resulted in the opening of Central Avenue/Sunset Boulevard, on the north side of the runways, to the general public. This busy, but yet unnumbered highway offers a short cut between Barrigada and Tamuning and Tumon, Guam's economic center.

[edit] Shopping and Activities

The village has two small commercial districts. One stretches along Route 8 in the main village and the other along Route 16 in Barrigada Heights, where discount retailers Costco and PriceSmart once operated a store.

[edit] Education

Guam Public School System serves the island.

Two K-5 elementary schools (B.P. Carbullido Elementary School, P.C. Lujan Elementary School) and Luis P. Untalan Middle School are in Barrigada.

[edit] See also

Coordinates: 13°28′06″N, 144°47′56″E

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