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 ...

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 opposing ...

, 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, and portions of Andersen Air Force Base, including Northwest Field.

Demographics

The U.S. Census Bureau 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 are in Dededo. Tourist sites in Dededo include the Ritidian Unit of the Guam National Wildlife Refuge, 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 f ...

, 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 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 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 Private schools: * Santa Barbara Catholic School * St. Paul's Christian School * Pacific Christian Academy

Government

Sports

Wettengel Rugby Field and GFA National Training Center 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