Updated September 13, 2024

Thousands of people asked Google last month: “Is Guam a U.S. territory?

The quick answer? Yes.

However, the longer answer is actually more interesting—and it reveals Guam’s unique global status as well as its rich history.
Through 15 fascinating facts, we’ll take you through a quick tour of the series of events that led Guam to its position today as a U.S. territory, populated by citizens of diverse origins with a vibrant culture to share.

A Red Pin on Guam of the World Map

#1: Guam is part of the Mariana Islands. Sort of.

Guam is a member of the Mariana Island archipelago, aa crescent-shaped line of islands in the Pacific Ocean all part of the same underwater mountain range. While the northern islands are volcanic, the southern islands such as Guam, are capped by limestone from coral reefs.

Over time, historical agreements and administrative decisions led the islands to separate politically into the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam

#2: Guam’s original inhabitants came from Southeast Asia.

Chamorros, the indigenous people of Guam, are believed to have migrated from Southeast Asia in 2,000 BCE Guam’s indigenous people, it is likely they migrated from Southeast Asia around 2,000 BCE. Their possible origins include Taiwan, Indonesia, or the Philippines.

Is it “Chamorro” or “CHamoru?”

“CHamoru” is the term that reflects the language’s pronunciation most accurately. But there are other older spellings used like “Chamorro” or “Tsamoru”.

How did the Chamorro people get to Guam? It’s believed the Chamorros used wayfinding—a method of navigating by stars, wind, and current—to find the Mariana Islands. Other experts have noted that it’s possible to navigate from the Philippines to the Marianas just by following the sun.

#3: The Chamorros established a matrilineal society.

The Chamorro society was a matrilineal society, tracing lineage through their mothers side. They also grew rice, fished, and traded with neighboring islands.  

Before Europeans arrived in Guam, the Chamorro people only used spoken language. During Spanish rule, their culture was further suppressed while many of their people died from war and disease. Because of this, much of what we know about early Chamorro life comes from European writings and archaeology.  

One notable artifact is the latte houses, whose foundations were made from stones scattered across the island.  

  
All of this began to change with the first European arrivals. 

#4: Magellan was the first European to arrive in Guam.

The Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan was leading a Spanish expedition for King Charles I of Spain when he arrived in Guam on March 6, 1521. However, Guam was not officially claimed by Spain until 1565, and the island wasn’t colonized by Europeans until the 17th century.

#5: Strict Spanish rule changed the Chamorro culture and language.

The 1672 death of a Jesuit missionary who secretly baptized the infant daughter of a local chief touched off a new era of harsh rule by the Spanish. The Chamorros were herded into villages, each of which was supervised closely by a Spanish priest.

As with many other colonized peoples, the Chamorros began to find their culture suppressed by the Spanish. Additionally, parts of Spanish culture began to permeate Chamorro culture. This is easy to see in the Chamorro language today, which still retains its grammar but borrows some of its vocabulary from Spanish.

Chamorro Phrases with Origins in Spanish:

“Buen Prubechu”
Spanish origin phrase: buen provecho

Chamorro meaning: You’re welcome!

“Kuanto”
Spanish origin phrase: cuánto
Chamorro meaning: How much/many?

“Adios”
Spanish origin phrase: adiós
Chamorro meaning: goodbye

“Eskuela”

Spanish origin phrase: escuela

Chamorro meaning: school

#6: The U.S. ideal of manifest destiny changed the course of Guam’s history.

The philosophy of “manifest destiny,” was expanding the U.S.’s efforts to gain territory and influence. The U.S. joined European powers in their conquest of land and sought to spread democracy and capitalism.

1898 – Tension with Spain Rises

The U.S. supported Cuban independence over Spain’s claims on the island. This escalated after the explosion of the U.S.S. Maine battleship in Havana Harbor 

April 25, 1898 – The Spanish-American War Begin

Spain and the U.S. declare mutual war, marking the start of the Spanish-American War.

June 21, 1898 – The Capture of Guam

The U.S. captures Guam during the war, in a bloodless landing.

December 10, 1898 – Treaty of Paris

The Treaty of Paris officially ends the Spanish-American War, with Spain ceding Guam, along with Puerto Rico and the Philippines, to the United States.

December 23, 1898 – U.S. Naval Administration

The U.S. Navy formally takes control of Guam, establishing it as a strategic naval base.

Flags of Northern Mariana Islands waving in the wind with the US flag on a clear day. The Northern Mariana Islands are an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States

#7: A simple omission separated Guam from the rest of the Marianas.

Guam is geographically a part of the Mariana Islands. However, the rest of the islands are administered as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

When the Treaty of Paris was negotiated, U.S. officials overlooked the rest of the Mariana and other Micronesian islands claimed by Spain. As a result, Spain retained these islands and sold them to Germany. Later, they became under Japanese control as a result of World War I while the Northern Marianas were given over to U.S. administration at the conclusion of World War II.

#8: Guam soon became a critical part of the first direct telegraph route to the Philippines.

In 1903, Guam played a crucial role in the direct telegraph route linking Asia to North America. The route began with cables from San Francisco to Honolulu, then to Midway Atoll, Guam, and finally to Manila in the Philippines.

Theodore Roosevelt sent the first global message using this route, which traveled around the world in just 9.5 minutes.

#9: Guam was captured by the Japanese in 1941.

Japan attacked Guam, hours after the bombing of Pear Harbor on December 8, 1941. The island was renamed “Omiya Jima” while under Japanese control for three years.

The U.S. liberated Guam after defeating Japanese forces during the Second Battle of Guam on August 10, 1944. To commemorate this battle—and the efforts by all Allied Powers in World War II—the National Park Service built the War in the Pacific National Historical Park in Asan. Today, it makes a great stop for learning more about the recent history of Guam.

#10: The occupation led to great suffering for the Chamorro people.

More than 1,100 Chamorros died during the Japanese occupation, and others were subject to injury, forced labor, forced marches, and internment.

Despite their suffering, the Chamorro people retained loyalty to the United States, hiding several American servicemen who were trapped on the island.

The War in the Pacific National Historical Park in Asan now honors the sacrifices made during this period.

#11: It wasn’t until 1952 that those born in Guam were recognized as U.S. citizens.

Following World War II, Guam’s Chamorro leaders pushed the U.S. for greater autonomy. The Guam Organic Act of 1950 established Guam as an unincorporated territory of the United States. It also put in place a civilian government with three branches—executive (in the form of a territorial governor and lieutenant governor), legislative, and judicial.

Today, each village on the island has an elected mayor who collaborates with local, military, and federal entities to shape policy.

In 1952, the Immigration and Nationality Act granted U.S. citizenship to all people born on the island of Guam on or after April 11, 1899.

Citizens of Guam:


  • Can elect the members of their local government, including their governor, representatives to the Guam legislature, and village mayors.
  • Can elect a non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.
  • Are U.S. citizens.
  • Cannot vote for president.
  • Pay a single annual income tax, filed with the Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation.

#12: Guam remains a strategic stronghold in the Pacific.

The U.S. built its first airbase on Guam in 1944. It found a valuable port in Apra Harbor, which offered protected anchorage for military ships.

Today, Guam plays host to Joint Region Marianas, a command that oversees U.S. Naval Base Guam, Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz, and Andersen Air Force Base. Nearly 7,000 military personnel are stationed on Guam, and its installations occupy nearly a third of the island’s total area. The island has also been called “a permanent aircraft carrier” since it offers the U.S. a strong base to defend potential attacks from the Pacific.

#13: Guam is where America’s day begins.

  • Due to its location east of the International Date Line, Guam is ahead of Hawaii and the mainland U.S. in time:

Chamorro Standard Time (ChST) is:

  • 20 hours ahead of Hawaii Standard Time (HST)
  • 15 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST)

As a result, those on Guam get to start each day before any other U.S. residents.

#14: Guam is quite different from the continental U.S., but you will find a few things that feel familiar.

The culture on Guam is a unique blend of its inhabitants, which include those of Chamorro, Philippine, Pacific Island, and Asian descent. The result is a distinctive melting pot you won’t find anywhere else.

However, those familiar with the U.S. will find a few recognizable touchpoints, including:

English is spoken almost everywhere. It’s one of the island’s official languages, along with Chamorro. You’ll also find plenty of other languages spoken on Guam, which reflect the diverse ethnicities of Guam’s residents.

The U.S. dollar is the official currency of Guam. No need to exchange currency, worry about exchange rates, or learn a new currency system.

Permanent U.S. residents don’t need any kind of special visa to live on Guam indefinitely. If you’re coming from a foreign country, the visa requirements on Guam are the same as the continental U.S.

For these—and several other reasons—Guam can be a great place for U.S. citizens to retire, especially retired military personnel.

#15: Now you won’t need Google to understand Guam’s status.

With this brief history of Guam under your belt, you have a better understanding of how Guam came to be a U.S. territory, the origins of its unique culture—and the role it continues to play in America’s future.

 

If you’re interested in making Guam your home, we’d be happy to help with any additional questions you might have about the island. We’ve been helping people move to, from, in and around Guam since 1983, and our on-the-ground team in Guam can help you make a safe and easy move. Just get in touch with us to learn more.

Tell us about your move!