Hågat (formerly Agat) is a village in the United States territory of Guam. It is located south of Apra Harbor on the island's western shore. The village's population has decreased since the island's 2010 census.[2]
The village is 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Hagåtña,[3] with most of the residents ethnic Chamorros, the indigenous people of Guam. Some of Agat's most notable sites are Mount Alifan, the Agat Marina, the Spanish Bridge, and War In The Pacific National Historical Park.
In 1565, the Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi claimed Guam for Spain. Agat was founded between 1680 and 1684, by the Spanish Governor Don Jose Quiroga, as a military garrison for the purpose of controlling the Chamorro people and converting them to Christianity. Many of its first citizens were brought from the internal village of Fina which was destroyed while the Spanish pacified the island. It was one of six such settlements on Guam in the 18th century. During the 1830s, the Spanish Governor, Captain Villalobos, began constructing facilities in Agat planning to make it the island's new capital. Lack of funds prevented him from completing the project.
In 1898, Guam was transferred from Spain to the United States following the Spanish–American War. Under U.S. Naval administration, Agat was incorporated as a township with an American style municipal government.
During World War II, Japan occupied Guam from 1941 to 1944. During the Battle of Guam in 1944, Agat was one of the two landing sites for U.S. Marines. These sites are now part of the War in the Pacific National Historical Park. The old village was destroyed during the invasion. After capturing Guam, the U.S. military constructed a new residential community in Agat for Guam residents made homeless by the war south of the original village.
In August 2021, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero signed a bill officially changing the name of the village.[4]
The U.S. Census Bureau counts it under the Agat census-designated place.[5]
Guam Public School System serves the island. Marcial Sablan Elementary School and Oceanview Middle School are located in Agat. Southern High School in Santa Rita serves the village.[6] Oceanview Middle School was originally Oceanview High School; the campus became a middle school in 1997.[7]
In regards to the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), Hågat is in the school attendance zone for McCool Elementary and McCool Middle School, while Guam High School is the island's sole DoDEA high school. DoDEA school material describes the DoDEA school bus services going to Hågat as "limited".[8]
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School is located in Agat and accommodates students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.[9]
Guam Public Library System operates the Agat Library at 165 Follard Street.[10]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)13°22′53″N 144°39′17″E / 13.38139°N 144.65472°E / 13.38139; 144.65472