Barrigada () is a village in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

territory of

Guam Guam ( ; ) is an island that is an Territories of the United States, organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. Guam's capital is Hagåtña, Guam, Hagåtña, and the most ...

. 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. 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 Radio masts and towers are typically tall structures designed to support antenna (radio), antennas for telecommunications and broadcasting, including television. There are two main types: guyed and self-supporting structures. They are among the ...

; 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 or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...

engaged troops from the

Empire of Japan The Empire of Japan, also known as the Japanese Empire or Imperial Japan, was the Japanese nation state that existed from the Meiji Restoration on January 3, 1868, until the Constitution of Japan took effect on May 3, 1947. From Japan–Kor ...

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 (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. 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, 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 ''wikt:toponym, 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 ...

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 and Tumon, Guam's economic center.

Demographics

The U.S. Census Bureau 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 counte ...

Infrastructure and government

Government of Guam

The offices of the A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authority (GIAA; ) 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.

U.S. federal government

The

Federal government of the United States The Federal Government of the United States of America (U.S. federal government or U.S. government) is the Federation#Federal governments, national government of the United States. The U.S. federal government is composed of three distinct ...

owns portions of the land in Barrigada; the Government of Guam stated that it was one of several villages that are "characterized primarily by the large proportion of land owned by the federal government". The

United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or simply the Postal Service, is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the executive branch of the federal governmen ...

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 a Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government agency within the United States Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates civil aviation in t ...

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 air ...

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

National Weather Service The National Weather Service (NWS) is an Government agency, agency of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government that is tasked with providing weather forecasts, warnings of hazardous weather, and other weathe ...

operates a Weather Forecast Office at 3232, Hueneme Road in Tiyan. This office provides services to Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S.-affiliated

Federated States of Micronesia The Federated States of Micronesia (, abbreviated FSM), or simply Micronesia, is an island country in Micronesia, a region of Oceania. The federation encompasses the majority of the Caroline Islands (excluding Palau) and consists of four Admin ...

. Radio Barrigada, a military communications facility with properties operated by Naval Base Guam and Andersen Air Force Base is located mostly in Barrigada.

Economy

Fly Guam and Freedom Air have their headquarters in Building 17–80 in Tiyan, Barrigada.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Guam Public School System serves the island. Two K-5 elementary schools (Baltazar Pangelinan 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 has served the village.Guam's Public High Schools
(). ''Guam Public School System''. Accessed September 8, 2008. In regards to the

Department of Defense Education Activity The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is a federal school system headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and managing prekindergarten through 12th grade educational programs on beh ...

(DoDEA), Barrigada is in the school transportation zone for Andersen Elementary and Andersen Middle School, while Guam High School is the island's sole DoDEA high school. The Protestant Harvest Christian Academy is located in Barrigada.

Public libraries

Guam Public Library System Guam Public Library System (Chamorro language, Chamoru: Sisteman Laibirihan Pupbleko Guåhan) is the public library system of the United States territory of Guam. The main library is the Nieves M. Flores Memorial Library at 254 Martyr Street in t ...

operates the Barrigada Library at 177 San Rogue Drive.

Government

Gallery

File:Guam Police Department Building.JPG, Old Guam Police Department Building in Tiyan, Barrigada (no longer standing)

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