Tamuning, 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.
Tamuning Tamuneng | |
|---|---|
.JPG) | |
 Location of Tamuning within the Territory of Guam | |
| Coordinates: 13°29′02″N 144°46′36″E / 13.48389°N 144.77667°E | |
| Country | United States |
| Territory | Guam |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Louise C. Rivera (R) |
| • Vice Mayor | Albert M. Toves (R) |
| Population (2020)[1] | |
| • Total | 18,489 |
| Time zone | UTC+10 (ChST) |
| 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
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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
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
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
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
Government of Guam
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
The United States Postal Service operates the Tamuning Post Office at 143 Edward T. Calvo Memorial Parkway.[21]
Climate
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
Primary and secondary schools
Public schools
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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
- St. John's School
- Saint Anthony Catholic School
Diplomacy
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
| 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
- Reyn Johnson (born 1990), Guamanian international footballer
- Julius Naranjo (born 1991), Guamanian weightlifter, coach, and filmmaker
See also
References
External links
