Dededo ( ch, Dedidu; formerly in

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

: , in

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

: , ''Dededo'') is the most populated

village A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to ...

in the

United States territory In the United States, a territory is any extent of region under the sovereign jurisdiction of the federal government of the United States, including all waters (around islands or continental tracts). The United States asserts sovereign rights for ...

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 ...

. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Dededo's population was just under 45,000 in 2020. The village is located on the coral plateau of Northern Guam. The greater Dededo-Machanao-Apotgan Urban Cluster had a population of 139,825 as of the 2010 census, making up 87.7% of Guam's population and 29.8% of its area.

Etymology

The origin of the village name Dededo, Dedidu in Chamorro, may come from the practice of measuring using fingers. The Spanish word for finger is dedo. It can be theorized that someone measured out the original village this way. Another possibility is that the word "dededo" is a version of the word "dedeggo," which means "heel of the foot," or that it comes from the word "deggo" which means to "walk on tiptoes."

History

Before

World War II 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 opposin ...

, Dededo Village was at the bottom of Macheche Hill. Dededo grew into a major village after the war when the

U.S. Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage o ...

constructed housing for displaced Guamanians and for laborers coming from off-island to help in Guam's development. Following

Typhoon Karen Typhoon Karen was the most powerful tropical cyclone to strike the island of Guam, and has been regarded as one of the most destructive events in the island's history. It was first identified as a tropical disturbance on November 6, 1962, ...

in 1962, Kaiser Subdivision in Dededo was constructed for islanders displaced by the storm. Further housing subdivisions were constructed increasing the village's population. In 1984, the Northern Community Health Center opened. In addition to traditional health services provided by the village clinics, this center offered communicable disease control services and dental health as well as chronic disease care and crippled children services. In October 1988, the island's first large-scale and fully enclosed shopping mall, the

Micronesia Mall Micronesia Mall (Japanese: ミクロネシアモール) (Korean: 미크로네시아 몰) (Spanish: ) (Russian: Микронезия Молл), in Dededo at the intersection of Guam highways 1 and 16, is the largest shopping center in the Uni ...

, opened. U.S. military installations in the village include

Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Blaz is a U.S. Marine Corps facility located in the village of Dededo in northwest Guam. MCB Camp Blaz was activated on October 1, 2020, becoming the first new Marine Corps facility since the predecessor of Marine ...

Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Guam Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Guam (NCTS Guam) is a United States Navy communications facility on the U.S. territory of Guam. It is located on the Naval Base Guam North Finegayan Telecommunications Site along Guam Highway 3 in Ded ...

, and portions of Andersen Air Force Base, including

Northwest Field Northwest Field (historically Northwest Guam Air Force Base) is a military airfield in Guam. Built in 1945 during World War II, the airfield was used as a bomber base during and after the war until it was closed in 1949. Units deployed to the ...

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 ...

has the municipality in multiple census-designated places: Dededo, Astumbo, Finegayan Station, Liguan, Machanao, Machananao East, Machananao West, Macheche, Mogfog, Ukudu, Wusstig, Y Papao, and Y Sengsong.

Economy

is the largest shopping mall in Guam and serves as a cultural and recreational venue as well, with movie theaters and an amusement park. There is also a popular weekend flea market in town which attracts large crowds of vendors.

Geography

Dededo is situated on a relatively flat limestone plateau in the northern part of the island. It is located at the north central part of the island roughly at the center of population. It encompasses an area of about of Guam's . The headquarters for the

Guam National Wildlife Refuge The Guam National Wildlife Refuge is composed of three units: the Andersen Air Force Base Overlay Unit (Air Force Overlay Unit), the Navy Overlay Unit, and the Ritidian Unit. The Ritidian Unit, known to the native CHamoru people as Puntan Litekyan, ...

are in Dededo. Tourist sites in Dededo include the Ritidian Unit of the

, the

Two Lovers Point Two Lovers Point (Chamorro: Puntan Dos Amåntes) is prominent cape and seaside cliff in Tamuning, Guam, that overlooks northern Tumon Bay and the Philippine Sea. One of four National Natural Landmarks on Guam, it is closely associated with the fol ...

, as well as parks, trails, and beaches. Beaches include Tanguisson Beach, Shark Cove Beach, Haputo Beach, and Urono Beach. Haputo and Urono Beaches are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.Adams, Evan (2016). ''Guam History, Culture, Travel guide and Tourism: The origin of the Chamorro race, American Settlement, Government, Politics, Economy, People and tradition''. CreateSpace Independent Publishing. Page 70. . The

South Finegayan Latte Stone Park The South Finegayan Latte Stone Park is a small public park and archaeological site at 74 Golden Shower Lane in Dededo, Guam. Located in the United States Navy housing area known as Finegayan, it encompasses the remains of a latte stone house sit ...

is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Climate

Education

Dededo has several public and private schools to accommodate the growing number of residents of the island's most populous village including

Guam Department of Education 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 ...

institutions. The village is served by six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. * Astumbo Elementary School * Finegayan Elementary School * Juan M. Guerrero Elementary School * Maria A. Ulloa Elementary School * Wettengel Elementary School * Liguan Elementary School * Vicente S. A. Benavente Middle School * Astumbo Middle School *

Okkodo High School Okkodo High School ( Chamorro: ''Okkodo Mina'takhelo na Eskuela'') is a public secondary school located in Dededo in the United States territory of Guam. The school occupies of the island's most populated village, Dededo. Okkodo High School opene ...

Private schools: *

Santa Barbara Catholic School The following is a list of schools offering courses in Guam. Guam Department of Education schools Elementary schools * Adacao Elementary (Mangilao) * Agana Heights Elementary (Agana Heights) * Astumbo Elementary (Dededo) * C.L. Taitano Elementa ...

* St. Paul's Christian School * Pacific Christian Academy

Government

Sports

Wettengel Rugby Field Wettengel Rugby Field is a multi-use stadium in Dededo, Guam. It is currently used mostly for rugby and football matches. The stadium holds 1,500 people. It is named for the former Naval Governor of Guam The governor of Guam ( ch, I Maga'l� ...

and

GFA National Training Center The Guam Football Association (GFA) National Training Center is an association football venue in Dededo, Guam. The sporting venue can accommodate about 5,000 spectators. The first World Cup qualifier match held at the sporting venue was held on ...

are located in Dededo. Guam Track and Field Association is also located in the village.

Notable people

Joe Duarte Joe Duarte (born August 4, 1983) is a retired professional mixed martial arts champion and investor from Guam, and is of native Chamorro descent. He currently trains at The Arena Mixed Martial Arts gym in San Diego, California. Early life Dua ...

, mixed martial artist * Ping Duenas, politician * Louise Borja Muna - Guamanian singer, radio host, and politician. * Anthony Paulino, soccer player * Regine Tugade, sprinter

Gallery

File:SantaBarbaraSchoolDededoGuam.jpg, Santa Barbara School File:UlloaESDededoGuam.jpg, Maria A. Ulloa Elementary School in Dededo

References

External links

Dededo Village
– ''Guampedia'' {{Guam