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Tamuning, Guam
View on WikipediaTamuning, also known as Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon (Chamorro: 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 Industrial Park, and other commercial districts. Its central location along Marine Corps Drive, the island's main thoroughfare, has aided in its development.
Key Information
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5,944 | — | |
| 1970 | 10,218 | 71.9% | |
| 1980 | 13,580 | 32.9% | |
| 1990 | 16,673 | 22.8% | |
| 2000 | 18,012 | 8.0% | |
| 2010 | 19,685 | 9.3% | |
| 2020 | 18,489 | −6.1% | |
| Source:[1] | |||
Tamuning is the site of the access roads and the old passenger terminal of Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport, the passenger airport for Guam.[2] Fort Juan Muña, in Harmon, is a facility for the Guam Army National Guard.
The present and former locations of Guam Memorial Hospital, Guam's only civilian and government operated hospital, are in Tamuning. With Guam's only private birthing center[3] also in the village, most modern civilian births on Guam take place in Tamuning.
Etymology
[edit]
The ancient Chamorro word for Tamuning was Apurgan or Apotgan. "Tamuning" is a Carolinian word that was given to the area where Carolinians settled after an earthquake on January 25, 1849, near Guam caused a tsunami that devastated Lamotrek and Satawal. It is possibly the name of the clan of a Carolinian chief, though the American administration relocated the Carolinians to Saipan in the early 1900s. The area was also called Maria Christina in the 19th century.[4]
Geography
[edit]The Federal government of the United States owns portions of the land in Tamuning; 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".[5]
Economy
[edit]Beside the tourist district of Tumon, Tamuning is home to the Guam Premier Outlets, one of three major shopping centers of the island. United Airlines is headquartered in the old terminal building at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport in Tamuning.[6][7] United Airlines, with about 1,400 jobs, is Guam's largest single employer.[8]

As of January 2024, Tamuning is home to one of only six Kmart stores left worldwide.[9]
Demographics
[edit]The U.S. Census Bureau has the municipality in multiple census-designated places: Tamuning,[10] Apotgan,[11] Harmon Industrial Park,[12] Oka,[13] Tumon,[14] and Upper Tumon.[15]
Infrastructure and government
[edit]Government of Guam
[edit]The Guam Department of Land Management and the Guam Economic Development Authority have their headquarters in the Guam International Trade Center (ITC) Building in Tamuning.[16][17]
The Guam Power Authority has its headquarters in Harmon, Tamuning.[18]
The Guam Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse has its main facility in Tamuning, across from Guam Memorial Hospital.[19][20]
U.S. federal government
[edit]The United States Postal Service operates the Tamuning Post Office at 143 Edward T. Calvo Memorial Parkway.[21]
Climate
[edit]Under the Köppen climate classification, Tamuning features a tropical rainforest climate. While the town does experience a noticeably drier season from February through April, it does not have a true dry season as all months average more than 60 mm (2.4 in) of precipitation. Tamuning averages roughly 2,300 mm (91 in) of precipitation annually, while maintaining relatively consistent temperatures throughout the course of the year.
| Climate data for Tamuning, Guam | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 85.1 (29.5) |
85.3 (29.6) |
86.1 (30.1) |
87.0 (30.6) |
87.4 (30.8) |
87.8 (31.0) |
87.2 (30.7) |
86.9 (30.5) |
86.9 (30.5) |
87.1 (30.6) |
86.8 (30.4) |
85.9 (29.9) |
86.6 (30.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 75.1 (23.9) |
74.6 (23.7) |
75.0 (23.9) |
76.2 (24.6) |
76.9 (24.9) |
77.1 (25.1) |
76.5 (24.7) |
76.2 (24.6) |
76.1 (24.5) |
76.4 (24.7) |
76.7 (24.8) |
76.1 (24.5) |
76.1 (24.5) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.5 (110) |
3.5 (89) |
2.6 (66) |
3.3 (84) |
5.0 (130) |
6.3 (160) |
10.4 (260) |
14.4 (370) |
13.4 (340) |
12.2 (310) |
8.4 (210) |
5.5 (140) |
89.5 (2,270) |
| Source: Weatherbase[22] | |||||||||||||
Education
[edit]
Primary and secondary schools
[edit]Public schools
[edit]
Guam Public School System serves the island.
Public schools serving Tamuning:[23]
- Chief Brodie Memorial Elementary School (Tamuning)
- Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary School (Tamuning)
- Tamuning Elementary School (Tamuning)
- Jose L. G. Rios Middle School (Piti)
- John F. Kennedy High School (Tamuning)
In regards to the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), Tamuning 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.[24]
Private schools
[edit]- St. John's School
- Saint Anthony Catholic School
Diplomacy
[edit]Five countries maintain consulates in Tamuning,[25] four of which are located in the landmark Guam ITC building at 590 South Marine Corps Drive.[26][27][28][29] They are:
Micronesia (Suite 613B, ITC Building)[26]
Japan (Suite 604A, ITC Building)[27]
Palau (Suite 615B, ITC Building)[28]
Philippines (Suite 601A, ITC Building)[29]
South Korea (125C Tun Jose Camacho Street)[30]
Government
[edit]
| Commissioner of Tamuning | ||
| Name | Term begin | Term end |
|---|---|---|
| Simon A. Sanchez | 1946 | 1948 |
| Jose P. Castro | 1948 | 1957 |
| Eugenio I. San Nicolas | 1957 | 1963 |
| Gregorio A. Calvo | 1965 | 1973 |
| Mayor of Tamuning | |||
| Name | Party | Term begin | Term end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gregorio A. Calvo | Republican | January 1, 1973 | January 7, 1985 |
| Alfredo C. Dungca | Democratic | January 7, 1985 | January 6, 1997 |
| Luis S.N. Herrero | January 6, 1997 | January 1, 2001 | |
| Concepcion "Connie" Duenas | Republican | January 1, 2001 | January 3, 2005 |
| Francisco "Frank" C. Blas | January 3, 2005 | January 7, 2013 | |
| Louise C. Rivera | January 7, 2013 | present | |
| Vice Mayor of Tamuning | |||
| Name | Party | Term begin | Term end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maria S.N. Leon Guerrero | Republican | January 1, 1973 | January 3, 1977 |
| Alfredo C. Dungca | January 3, 1977 | January 7, 1985 | |
| Peter S. Calvo | Democratic | January 7, 1985 | January 2, 1989 |
| Teresita C. Borja | January 2, 1989 | January 6, 1997 | |
| Concepcion M. Duenas | Republican | January 6, 1997 | January 1, 2001 |
| Nancy Leon Guerrero | January 1, 2001 | January 3, 2005 | |
| Louise C. Rivera | January 3, 2005 | January 7, 2013 | |
| Kenneth C. Santos | January 7, 2013 | October 30, 2020 | |
| Office vacant October 30, 2020 – January 4, 2021 | |||
| Albert M. Toves | Republican | January 4, 2021 | present |
Notable people
[edit]- Reyn Johnson (born 1990), Guamanian international footballer
- Julius Naranjo (born 1991), Guamanian weightlifter, coach, and filmmaker
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Population of Guam: 2010 and 2020, U.S. Census Bureau.
- ^ "CBC66010_009.pdf." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on October 6, 2010.
- ^ "Sagua Managu". guambuildupnews.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
- ^ "Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon (Tamuneng-Tomhom)". Guampedia. October 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "North and Central Guam Land Use Plan" (PDF). Government of Guam Bureau of Statistics and Plans. September 2009. pp. 2–8 (PDF p. 24/64). Retrieved 2023-07-04.
- ^ "Docket No. SDWA-06-2005-1516." United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved on February 5, 2009.
- ^ Letter Archived 2012-03-09 at the Wayback Machine. United States Department of Transportation Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings. May 23, 1997. Retrieved on October 4, 2010. "Continental Micronesia Old Terminal Bldg. P.O. Box 8778-G Tamuning, GU 96931-8778."
- ^ Kerrigan, Kevin. "Guam Will Be The Pacific Hub for Merged Airlines Archived 2010-05-11 at the Wayback Machine." Pacific News Center. Wednesday May 5, 2010. Retrieved on October 5, 2010. "Continental Micronesia is Guam's single largest employer. About 14-hundred jobs here on dependant on the airline."
- ^ Last recorded reliable source quoted the total number of Kmart stores globally as seven, after the planned closure of West St. Croix. This report is from June 2023:
- Cobb, Sian (7 June 2023). "One Kmart on St. Croix to Close, Retail Consulting Firm Reports". St. Thomas Source. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
Only a handful of Kmarts now remain, including two on St. Thomas, two on St. Croix, one in Guam, and two on the U.S. mainland.
The West St. Croix store was confirmed closed on June 5, 2023: "Kmart West is Closing; Mall Owner Says Redevelopment Plan Will Provide 'First Rate Center'". The Virgin Islands Consortium. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- Cobb, Sian (7 June 2023). "One Kmart on St. Croix to Close, Retail Consulting Firm Reports". St. Thomas Source. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- ^ "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Tamuning CDP, GU" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2020-10-09. - See "Tamuning muny"
- ^ "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Apotgan CDP, GU" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
- ^ "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Harmon Industrial Park CDP, GU" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
- ^ "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Oka CDP, GU" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
- ^ "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Tumon CDP, GU" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2020-10-09. - 1 and 2, and 3.
- ^ "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Upper Tumon CDP, GU" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
- ^ "DLM%20Contact%20Info.pdf Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine." Guam Department of Land Management. Retrieved on October 21, 2010. "Street Address: 590 S. Marine Corps Drive Suite 733, ITC Building, Tamuning, GU 96913"
- ^ "GEDA Guam – Invest In Guam".
- ^ "Grants and Resources." Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved on October 13, 2010. "1911 Route 16 Harmon, GU 96911."
- ^ "About DMHSA Archived 2010-09-25 at the Wayback Machine." Guam Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. Retrieved on October 21, 2010.
- ^ "Facilities Archived 2010-07-28 at the Wayback Machine." Guam Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. Retrieved on October 21, 2010. "DMHSA Facility ( Click here to view Location Map ) Location : 790 Gov. Camacho Road, Tamuning, Guam 96913." Map Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Post Office Location - TAMUNING." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 4, 2008.
- ^ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Tamuning, Guam". Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved on November 24, 2011.
- ^ "筋トレ豆知識 | 筋トレ豆知識". www.lk4kids.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2006. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "DoDEA Guam School Boundaries and Bus Transportation Zones". Military Morale, Welfare and Recreation Guam. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
- ^ "Largest & Most Trusted Listing in Guam". Guam Phone Book.
- ^ a b "Federated States of Micronesia Consulates in the USA Archived 2018-07-02 at the Wayback Machine." Embassy of the Federated States of Micronesia, Washington, DC. Retrieved on December 4, 2008.
- ^ a b Home page. Consulate-General of Japan in Hagatna. Retrieved on December 4, 2008.
- ^ a b "Palau - U.S. Consulates and Overseas Missions." Embassy of the Republic of Palau, Washington, DC. Retrieved on December 4, 2008.
- ^ a b Home page. Consulate-General of the Philippines in Agana, Guam. Retrieved on December 4, 2008.
- ^ "총영사관 소개 Archived 2008-12-28 at the Wayback Machine." Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United States of America. Retrieved on December 4, 2008.
External links
[edit]Tamuning, Guam
View on GrokipediaHistory
Origins and Early Settlement
The name Tamuning originates from the Carolinian language and refers to the area settled by migrants from the Central Caroline Islands following a catastrophic typhoon in 1849 that destroyed crops and homes on Lamotrek and Satawal atolls.[3] This event prompted significant migration to Guam, where Carolinians established a community in the coastal region north of Agaña (present-day Hagåtña), previously known to the indigenous Chamorro as Apotgan or Apurgan.[6] Spanish colonial authorities permitted these settlers to reside on underutilized lands, marking the initial formal naming and ethnolinguistic imprint of Tamuning.[7] Carolinian presence in the vicinity dates to at least 1816, with sporadic voyages for trade and refuge evolving into permanent settlement after the 1849 disaster.[7] These migrants, navigating open-ocean canoes across approximately 1,500 miles, integrated gradually with local Chamorro communities under Spanish governance, which enforced reducciones but allowed cultural retention for Carolinians. Early records indicate the settlers relied on fishing along the reefs and subsistence agriculture on fertile coastal plots, adapting traditional practices from their atoll origins to Guam's volcanic soils.[6] A notable influx occurred between 1869 and 1901, when over 100 migrants from Namonuito atoll relocated to Tamuning, expanding the enclave on the periphery of Agaña. This group, known as Refaluwasch, maintained distinct navigational and kinship traditions while intermarrying with Chamorros, contributing to a hybrid coastal society focused on marine resources and small-scale farming.[7] Spanish censuses from the late 19th century document this population as separate from core Chamorro villages, highlighting the empirical pattern of refuge-driven settlement rather than conquest or displacement.[8]Colonial and Wartime Periods
During the Spanish colonial period from 1565 to 1898, Guam functioned primarily as a resupply point for Manila galleons with minimal infrastructure development beyond basic pueblos and churches.[9] Tamuning emerged as a semi-autonomous Carolinian enclave following typhoon-driven migrations; in 1849, Governor Pablo Perez established the village as a refuge for survivors from the Central Caroline atolls of Lamotrek and Satawal, devastated by a 1848 typhoon.[10] Further migrations reinforced this community, including over 400 from Namonuito atoll after a 1868 typhoon, allowing Carolinians to maintain distinct cultural practices amid sparse Spanish oversight.[7] Following the Spanish-American War, the United States acquired Guam via the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898, establishing naval governance in 1899 that introduced limited administrative reforms but preserved the island's underdeveloped status.[9] Tamuning, as part of the territory, saw minor changes such as the 1901 relocation of some Carolinians to Saipan under Governor Seaton Schroeder, yet retained its role as a peripheral settlement focused on fishing and ranching.[10] The Japanese occupation commenced on December 10, 1941, with landings at Dungca's Beach in Tamuning, enabling rapid seizure of the island from outnumbered U.S. forces.[11] Over the subsequent 2.5 years, approximately 14,000 Japanese troops imposed harsh controls, including forced labor for airstrips and defenses, property confiscations, curfews, and cultural assimilation efforts like renaming Guam "Omiya Jima" and mandatory Japanese education.[11][12] Chamoru residents endured widespread atrocities, with 1,170 killed and over 14,000 suffering abuses such as executions, rapes, and massacres, severely impacting local infrastructure and population in areas like Tamuning near the capital.[11] U.S. forces recaptured Guam starting July 21, 1944, in Operation Forager, landing on western beaches including vicinity of Tamuning to secure a strategic Pacific bastion for staging B-29 bomber operations against Japan and denying enemy naval bases.[11] The battle, lasting until August 10, resulted in 1,800 U.S. deaths and 17,500 Japanese casualties, with pre-invasion bombardments and ground fighting destroying much of the island's rudimentary structures.[11] Post-liberation, U.S. military administration from 1944 restored order, provided aid to displaced civilians, and laid foundations for governance stability, transitioning full civilian control by 1946 under naval oversight.[11]Postwar Growth and Urbanization
Following World War II, Tamuning experienced rapid reconstruction driven by U.S. military and civilian investments, transforming the area from wartime devastation into a foundational economic zone. Postwar efforts included rebuilding infrastructure essential for civilian use, such as roads and utilities, which laid the groundwork for subsequent commercialization, countering narratives of mere dependency by enabling local diversification beyond military reliance.[13] By the late 1940s and 1950s, former military lands in the Harmon area, originally ranches in the early 1900s, transitioned toward industrial purposes, evolving into Harmon Industrial Park to support manufacturing and logistics, fostering job creation independent of tourism.[10] In the 1950s through 1970s, Tumon Bay within Tamuning emerged as Guam's premier tourist district, spurred by U.S.-facilitated infrastructure like expanded roadways and the lifting of security restrictions in 1962 under President Kennedy, which allowed private hotel development.[14] This period saw initial hotel constructions and condominium projects by the late 1960s, drawing early visitors and establishing Tumon as a high-rise hub, with U.S. investments in ports and airports amplifying accessibility and economic spillover.[15] The advent of organized tourism in the early 1970s further accelerated urbanization, as demand-driven marketing and air travel improvements attracted international arrivals, boosting local commerce and residential expansion.[16] The 1980s and 1990s marked a hotel and commercial boom in Tamuning, propelled by a surge in Japanese tourists, who comprised 83% of Guam's 668,748 visitors in 1989, fueling construction of luxury resorts along Tumon Bay and ancillary retail districts.[17] Visitor numbers doubled from 338,000 in 1987 to over 700,000 by 1989, creating economic opportunities in hospitality and services that drove population influx and urban densification, though vulnerability to external shocks like the 1997 Asian financial crisis highlighted the benefits of underlying U.S. military ties for baseline stability and infrastructure resilience against typhoons and downturns.[18]Physical Environment
Geography and Topography
Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon lies along the northwestern coast of Guam, incorporating the sheltered Tumon Bay, a crescent-shaped inlet protected by fringing coral reefs.[3] The village borders Dededo to the north, with its southern extent approaching Hagåtña and inland areas contiguous with Barrigada.[19] This coastal positioning facilitates natural harbor conditions at Tumon Bay, enhancing its suitability for marine activities.[4] The topography features low-elevation coastal plains adjacent to Tumon Bay's white-sand beaches, rising to modest limestone plateaus inland. Key elevations include the low plateau of Oka (Saupon) Point, which demarcates Tumon Bay from Hagåtña Bay southward, and steeper cliffs at Two Lovers Point defining the bay's northern boundary.[3] The interior terrain in Upper Tumon and Harmon remains relatively flat, with elevations generally below 100 meters.[20] Geologically, the region overlays Guam's northern limestone plateau, formed from Miocene-Pliocene coral reef limestones atop Eocene volcanic foundations.[21] These formations underpin the stable coastal plains while contributing to karst features like solution pits; the surrounding reefs mitigate wave erosion but expose the area to localized subsidence risks.[22]
Climate Patterns
Tamuning features a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af), with high humidity, consistent warmth, and no distinct dry season, as precipitation exceeds 60 mm in every month.[23] Average annual temperatures range from lows of 76°F to highs of 88°F, rarely dipping below 74°F or exceeding 90°F, based on long-term records from nearby Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport.[24] Daily highs typically hover around 86°F year-round, supporting outdoor activities while fostering lush vegetation.[25] Precipitation totals average 98 inches annually, concentrated in a wet season from July to November, when monthly rainfall often surpasses 8 inches due to trade winds and convective activity.[25] The drier period from January to June sees reduced totals, averaging under 4 inches per month, though brief showers remain common.[25] These patterns, derived from National Weather Service observations, align with broader Micronesian maritime influences, enabling reliable tourism but requiring awareness of sudden downpours.[26] Typhoons pose a recurrent risk, with approximately six systems annually entering Guam's area of influence, drawing from historical tracks since the mid-20th century.[27] Notable events, such as Super Typhoon Paka in December 1997, brought sustained winds of 115–144 mph and widespread disruption, underscoring the island's exposure in the western Pacific basin.[28] Peak activity aligns with the wet season, amplifying rainfall and storm surges, per Joint Typhoon Warning Center archives.[29] Proximity to Tumon Bay introduces mild maritime moderation, with sea breezes tempering inland heat and humidity spikes compared to elevated interior areas, as indicated by localized airport data variations.[30] This coastal positioning contributes to slightly lower diurnal temperature ranges, averaging 10–12°F, enhancing habitability amid the equatorial regime.[31]Demographics
Population Trends
As of the 2020 United States Census, Tamuning municipality had a population of 18,489 residents, reflecting a decline of 1,196 persons or 6.1% from the 19,685 recorded in the 2010 Census.[2][32] This made it the third-most populous municipality in Guam, behind Dededo and Yigo, while maintaining one of the territory's highest population densities due to its compact urban core encompassing the Tumon tourism district contrasted with lower-density suburban peripheries.[33] Historical census data indicate steady growth in Tamuning prior to 2010, with the population rising from 18,012 in 2000 to 19,685 in 2010, an increase of 1,673 persons or 9.3% over the decade, equating to an average annual growth rate of approximately 0.9%.[32] This pre-2010 expansion followed a postwar pattern of accelerated urbanization, where Tamuning's population more than doubled from 5,944 in 1960 amid broader Guam-wide influxes driven by net migration for employment in military reconstruction and nascent tourism infrastructure. The subsequent 2010-2020 deceleration aligned with territory-level factors including economic slowdowns and out-migration, yet Tamuning exhibited relative stability compared to rural villages, buoyed by its role as an economic hub attracting intra-island movers.[2]| Census Year | Population | Change from Prior Census | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 18,012 | - | - |
| 2010 | 19,685 | +1,673 | +9.3% |
| 2020 | 18,489 | -1,196 | -6.1% |