Dededo Dedidu | |
|---|---|
 Micronesia Mall, Guam's largest shopping mall. | |
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| Coordinates:13°30′34.17″N144°50′11.50″E / 13.5094917°N 144.8365278°E /13.5094917; 144.8365278 | |
| Country | United States |
| Territory | Guam |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Peter J. Benavente (D) |
| • Vice Mayor | Ann S.A. Leon Guerrero (D) |
| Area | |
• Village | 30.56 sq mi (79.16 km2) |
| • Urban | 60.41 sq mi (156.5 km2) |
| Population (2020[1]) | |
• Village | 44,908[1] |
| • Density | 1,498.1/sq mi (578.4/km2) |
| • Urban | 139,825[2] |
| • Urban density | 2,314.8/sq mi (893.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC+10:00 (ChST) |
Dededo (Chamorro:Dedidu;Spanish:Spanish pronunciation:[deˈðeðo]ⓘ) is the most populatedvillage in theUnited States territory ofGuam.[3][4] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Dededo's population was just under 45,000 in 2020.[1] The village is located on the coral plateau of Northern Guam. The greater Dededo-Machanao-ApotganUrban Cluster had a population of 139,825 as of the 2010 census,[2] making up 87.7% of Guam's population and 29.8% of its area.
The origin of the village name Dededo (Chamorro:Dedidu), may have come from measuring the original village using fingers, as the Spanish word for finger isdedo.
Another possibility is the worddededo comes from the worddedeggo, "heel of the foot," ordeggo, "to walk on tiptoes."[5]
BeforeWorld War II, the main portion of Dededo was at the bottom of Macheche Hill. Dededo grew into a major village after the war when theU.S. Navy constructed housing for displaced Guamanians, and for laborers from off-island helping Guam's development.[citation needed]
FollowingTyphoon Karen in 1962, Kaiser Subdivision in Dededo was constructed for islanders displaced by the storm. Further housing subdivisions were constructed increasing the village's population.
The firstMcDonald's in Guam was opened in the village on June 10, 1971.
In 1984, theNorthern Community Health Center opened. In addition to traditional health services provided by village clinics, the center offered communicable disease control, dental health, chronic disease care, and crippled children services.[6]
In October 1988, the island's first large-scale and fully enclosed shopping mall,Micronesia Mall, opened in Dededo.[7]
U.S. military installations in the village includeMarine Corps Base Camp Blaz,Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Guam, and portions ofAndersen Air Force Base, includingNorthwest Field.
TheU.S. Census Bureau has the municipality in multiplecensus-designated places:Dededo,[8]Astumbo,[9]Finegayan Station,[10]Liguan,[11]Machanao,[12]Machananao East,[13]Machananao West,[14]Macheche,[15]Mogfog,[16]Ukudu,[17]Wusstig,[18]Y Papao,[19]and Y Sengsong.[20]
Micronesia Mall is the largest shopping mall in Guam and serves as a cultural and recreational venue as well, with movie theaters and an amusement park.[21]
There is also a popular weekend flea market in town which attracts large crowds of vendors.[22]
There are many small commercial businesses near the village center.
Dededo is situated on a relatively flat limestone plateau in the northern part of the island.[22] It is located at the north central part of the island roughly at the center of population. It encompasses an area of about 30 square miles (78 km2) of Guam's 209 square miles (540 km2). The headquarters for theGuam National Wildlife Refuge are in Dededo.[23]
Tourist sites in Dededo include theRitidian Unit of theGuam National Wildlife Refuge,[citation needed] theMicronesia Mall,Two Lovers Point, as well as parks, trails, and beaches. Beaches include Tanguisson Beach, Shark Cove Beach,Haputo Beach, andUrono Beach. Haputo and Urono Beaches are listed on theU.S. National Register of Historic Places.[22] TheSouth Finegayan Latte Stone Park is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
TheFederal government of the United States owns portions of the land in Dededo; 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".[24]
| Climate data for Dededo, Guam | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 82 (28) | 82 (28) | 84 (29) | 86 (30) | 86 (30) | 86 (30) | 86 (30) | 86 (30) | 86 (30) | 86 (30) | 84 (29) | 84 (29) | 85 (29) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 69 (21) | 69 (21) | 71 (22) | 71 (22) | 73 (23) | 71 (22) | 71 (22) | 71 (22) | 71 (22) | 71 (22) | 73 (23) | 71 (22) | 71 (22) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 5.7 (140) | 4.8 (120) | 3.8 (97) | 4.0 (100) | 5.2 (130) | 6.4 (160) | 11.1 (280) | 15.3 (390) | 14.3 (360) | 13.0 (330) | 9.4 (240) | 6.5 (170) | 99.6 (2,530) |
| Source: Weatherbase[25] | |||||||||||||
Dededo has several public and private schools to accommodate the growing number of residents of the island's most populous village includingGuam Department of Education institutions. The village is served by six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school.
In regards to theDepartment of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), Dededo is in the school transportation zone for Andersen Elementary and Andersen Middle School, whileGuam High School is the island's sole DoDEA high school.[26]
Private schools:
| Commissioner of Dededo | ||
| Name | Term begin | Term end |
|---|---|---|
| Jose F. Lujan | 1932 | 1934 |
| Ignacio A. Santos | 1934 | 1940 |
| Juan Pangelinan | 1940 | 1941 |
| Hector Sgambelluri | 1941 | 1944 |
| Ramon S. San Agustin | 1944 | 1952 |
| Vicente S.A. Benavente | 1952 | 1976 |
| Prospero C. Zamora | 1976 | January 3, 1977 |
| Mayor of Dededo | |||
| Name | Party | Term begin | Term end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jose M. Garrido | Republican | January 3, 1977 | January 5, 1981 |
| Martin C. Benavente | Democratic | January 5, 1981 | January 7, 1985 |
| Patricia S. Quinata | January 7, 1985 | January 2, 1989 | |
| Jose A. Rivera | Republican | January 2, 1989 | January 1, 2001 |
| Scott D. Duenas | January 1, 2001 | January 3, 2005 | |
| Melissa B. Savares | Democratic | January 3, 2005 | January 4, 2025 |
| Peter J.S. Benavente | January 4, 2025 | present | |
| Assistant Commissioner of Dededo | ||
| Name | Term begin | Term end |
|---|---|---|
| Ignacio A. Santos | 1918 | 1934 |
| Manuel M. Lujan | 1934 | 1941 |
| Teresita B. Umagat | 1971 | 1973 |
| Prospero C. Zamora | 1973 | January 3, 1977 |
| Vice Mayor of Dededo | |||
| Name | Party | Term begin | Term end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erwin F. Flauta | Democratic | January 3, 1977 | 1978 |
| Martin C. Benavente | 1978 | January 5, 1981 | |
| Patricia S. Quinata | January 5, 1981 | January 7, 1985 | |
| Jose A. Rivera | Republican | January 7, 1985 | January 2, 1989 |
| Doris S. Palacios | January 2, 1989 | January 1, 2001 | |
| Melissa B. Savares | Democratic | January 1, 2001 | January 3, 2005 |
| Andrew A. Benavente | January 3, 2005 | January 2, 2017 | |
| Frank A. Benavente | Republican | January 2, 2017 | January 4, 2021 |
| Peter J.S. Benavente | Democratic | January 4, 2021 | January 4, 2025 |
| Ann S.A. Leon Guerrero | January 4, 2025 | present | |
Wettengel Rugby Field andGFA National Training Center are located in Dededo.Guam Track and Field Association is also located in the village.
