Barrigada ( ch, Barigåda) is a village in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

territory of

Guam Guam (; ch, Guåhan ) is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States (reckoned from the geographic cent ...

. A largely residential municipality, its main village is located south of the Antonio B. Won Pat International 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 along

Tumon Bay Tumon Bay is a bay in the United States territory of Guam, opening to the Philippine Sea. It is bounded to the north by Two Lovers Point and to the south by Ypao Point. The entirety of the bay falls within the Tumon Bay Marine Preserve, also known ...

. Another significant location is Mount Barrigada, nearly 200 meters above sea level. Its location in the center of the island means it houses most of the island's radio masts and towers; the position and height make it easier for radio signals to reach the entire island.

History

From 2 to 4 August 1944, the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

engaged troops from the

Empire of Japan The also known as the Japanese Empire or Imperial Japan, was a historical nation-state and great power that existed from the Meiji Restoration in 1868 until the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of Japan, 1947 constitu ...

at present-day Barrigada Heights during the battle of Guam, a year before the end of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

. When the Japanese line collapsed, American forces 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 The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, ...

Memorial Highway; Route 10 is designated Vietnam Veterans Highway; and Route 16 is designated Army Drive.

Tiyan (Former NAS Agana)

North of Routes 8 and 16 is the former

Naval Air Station Agana Naval Air Station Agana is a former United States Naval air station located on the island of Guam. It was opened by the Japanese Navy in 1943 and closed by the United States government in 1995. During and after its closure, it was operated alongs ...

, most of which lies within the boundary of Barrigada. When NAS Agana (now Antonio B. Won Pat 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, such as th
Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation
have since moved elsewhere. Most of the original NAS housing facilities have been demolished to make room for airport-related commercial buildings. The original Chamorro-language

toponym Toponymy, toponymics, or toponomastics is the study of '' toponyms'' (proper names of places, also known as place names and geographic names), including their origins, meanings, usage and types. Toponym is the general term for a proper name of ...

for the area, ''Tiyan'' (, "belly"), has been restored and is in common use. The closing of NAS Agana resulted in the opening of Central Avenue and Sunset Boulevard on the north side of the runways to the general public. This busy, but yet unnumbered highway offers a shortcut from Barrigada to

Tamuning Tamuning, also known as Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon ( ch, Tamuneng) is a village located on the western shore of the United States territory of Guam. The village of Tamuning is the economic center of Guam, containing tourist center Tumon, Harmon Indu ...

and Tumon, Guam's economic center.

Demographics

The

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

includes the municipality in the Barrigada, and Barrigada Heights

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the count ...

Infrastructure and government

Government of Guam

The offices of the A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authority (GIAA; ch, Aturidat Puetton Batkon Airen Guahan Entenasionat) is located in the main passenger terminal, on the airport property and in Barrigada. The Guam Environmental Protection Agency has its administrative headquarters and its operation building in Tiyan, as does the

Guam Police Department The Guam Police Department ( ch, Dipåttamenton Polisian Guåhan) is the law enforcement agency in the United States territory of Guam. The department has jurisdiction across the entire territory, except for areas covered by the port, airport and ...

U.S. federal government

The

United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the U ...

operates the Barrigada Post Office, which is Guam's main post office and commonly known as "Guam Main Facility" (GMF). The

Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic ...

operates the Guam Air Route Traffic Control Center at 1775, Admiral Sherman Boulevard in Tiyan. The Guam ARTCC serves as the

TRACON Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled airsp ...

and en route control for the airspace within radar range of Guam. The

National Weather Service The National Weather Service (NWS) is an agency of the United States federal government that is tasked with providing weather forecasts, warnings of hazardous weather, and other weather-related products to organizations and the public for the ...

operates a Weather Forecast Office at 3232, Hueneme Road in Tiyan. This office provides services to Guam, the

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI; ch, Sankattan Siha Na Islas Mariånas; cal, Commonwealth Téél Falúw kka Efáng llól Marianas), is an unincorporated territory and commonwea ...

, and U.S.-affiliated

Federated States of Micronesia The Federated States of Micronesia (; abbreviated FSM) is an island country in Oceania. It consists of four states from west to east, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosraethat are spread across the western Pacific. Together, the states comprise a ...

. Radio Barrigada, a military communications facility with properties operated by

Naval Base Guam Naval Base Guam is a strategic U.S. naval base located on Apra Harbor and occupying the Orote Peninsula. In 2009, it was combined with Andersen Air Force Base to form Joint Region Marianas, which is a Navy-controlled joint base. The Ship Repa ...

and Andersen Air Force Base is located mostly in Barrigada.

Economy

Fly Guam and

Freedom Air Freedom Air (legally ''Freedom Air International'') was a New Zealand low-cost airline which operated since 8 December 1995 to March 2008. It was part of the Air New Zealand Group which ran scheduled passenger services from New Zealand to Aust ...

have their headquarters in Building 17-80 in Tiyan, Barrigada.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Guam Public School System The Guam Department of Education (GDOE), formerly the Guam Public School System, is a school district that serves the United States territory of Guam. The school district can be thought of as analogous to the school districts of other cities and co ...

serves the island. Two K-5 elementary schools (B.P. Carbullido Elementary School
Pedro C. Lujan Elementary School
an
Luis P. Untalan Middle School
are in Barrigada. Tiyan High School is in Barrigada. The school opened in August 2014. Historically George Washington High School in

Mangilao Mangilao is a village on the eastern shore of the United States territory of Guam. The village's population has decreased slightly since the island's 2010 census. Cliffs lie along much of the village's shoreline provide dramatic views, including ...

has served the village.Guam's Public High Schools
(). ''Guam Public School System''. Accessed September 8, 2008. The Protestant Harvest Christian Academy is located in Barrigada.

Public libraries

Guam Public Library System operates the Barrigada Library at 177 San Rogue Drive.

Government

Gallery

File:Guam Police Department Building.JPG, Guam Police Department Building

References

External links

Guampedia, Guam's Online Encyclopedia Barrigada Village
{{Coord, 13, 28, 06, N, 144, 47, 56, E, type:city_region:US-GU, display=title