History of Guam in Timeline
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean within the Micronesia subregion. Its capital is Hagåtña, while Dededo is its most populous village. Guam is the westernmost point and territory of the United States. It is the largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands and the largest island in Micronesia. With a population of 168,801 in 2022, Chamorros form the largest ethnic group. The territory spans 210 square miles, resulting in a population density of 775 per square mile.
1901: Chamorro Leaders Petition for U.S. Citizenship
As early as 1901, Chamorro leaders, recognizing the limitations under naval administration, began petitioning for U.S. citizenship and greater political autonomy.
December 10, 1914: SMS Cormoran Seeks Port at Apra Harbor
On December 10, 1914, the SMS Cormoran, a German armed merchant raider, sought port at Apra Harbor due to a coal shortage after being pursued by the Japanese.
April 7, 1917: US Declares War on Germany Reaches Guam
On the morning of April 7, 1917, news reached Guam by telegraph cable that the U.S. Congress had declared war on Germany. The Naval Governor of Guam demanded the surrender of the SMS Cormoran.
1917: Internment of the SMS Cormoran Crew
In 1917, the ship SMS Cormoran and its crew were interned after the United States refused to provide sufficient provisions for the ship to reach a German port.
1925: Discovery of Rota Latte Stone Quarry
In 1925, the Rota Latte Stone Quarry, a possible source for latte stones, was discovered on Rota.
1936: Chamorro Delegates Petition in Washington, D.C.
In 1936, delegates Baltazar J. Bordallo and Francisco B. Leon Guerrero traveled to Washington, D.C., to personally petition for Chamorro citizenship.
December 8, 1941: Japanese Capture of Guam
On December 8, 1941, hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Guam was captured by the Japanese forces.
1941: Japanese Invasion and Occupation of Guam
During World War II, the Empire of Japan invaded and occupied Guam in the 1941 Battle of Guam on December 8, coinciding with the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Japanese occupation lasted about 31 months.
July 21, 1944: American Forces Recapture Guam
On July 21, 1944, American forces recaptured Guam after two and a half years of Japanese occupation. This day is commemorated as Liberation Day on Guam.
1944: United States Recaptures Guam
In 1944, from July 21 to August 10, the United States returned and recaptured the island in the Battle of Guam.
1950: Guam Organic Act
In 1950, the Guam Organic Act established Guam as an unincorporated organized territory of the United States, provided for the structure of the island's civilian government, and granted the people U.S. citizenship.
October 15, 1953: Most Rainfall in a Single Day
On October 15, 1953, the most rainfall in a single day occurred, with 15.48 inches (393.2 millimeters) falling.
1963: Removal of Security Clearance
In 1963, the removal of Guam's security clearance by President John F. Kennedy allowed for the development of a tourism industry.
1968: Guam Elective Governor Act
In 1968, the Guam Elective Governor Act provided for the popular election of the office of Governor.
June 1, 1969: First Guam Constitutional Convention Begins
The first Guam Constitutional Convention, funded by the 10th Guam Legislature, convened on June 1, 1969, with 43 elected delegates.
1969: Referendum on Unification with Northern Mariana Islands
In 1969, a referendum on unification with the Northern Mariana Islands was held and rejected.
June 29, 1970: First Guam Constitutional Convention Ends
The first Guam Constitutional Convention concluded on June 29, 1970, after convening since June 1, 1969.
1970: Hawksbill Sea Turtle on Endangered List
Since 1970, the hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) has been on the endangered list.
April 18, 1971: Record High Temperature
On April 18, 1971, the highest temperature ever recorded in Guam was 96 °F (35.6 °C).
February 8, 1973: Lowest Recorded Temperature
On February 8, 1973, the lowest recorded temperature was 65 °F (18.3 °C).
1975: Guam Hosted the Pacific Games
Guam hosted the Pacific Games in 1975.
1975: Founding of the Guam National Football Team
The Guam national football team was founded in 1975.
1976: Typhoon Pamela
In 1976, Typhoon Pamela caused major damage on Guam.
1976: Aftermath of Typhoon Pamela
Since Typhoon Pamela in 1976, wooden structures have been largely replaced by concrete structures.
1976: Wettest Calendar Year
The year 1976 was the wettest calendar year with 131.70 inches (3,345.2 mm) of rainfall.
July 1, 1977: Second Guam Constitutional Convention Convened
The second Guam Constitutional Convention was convened on July 1, 1977, to create a constitution that would redefine the island's relationship with the US.
October 31, 1977: Second Guam Constitutional Convention Met Periodically
The second Guam Constitutional Convention met periodically to October 31, 1977, to create a constitution that would redefine the island's relationship with the US.
August 1978: Green Sea Turtle Listed as Threatened
In August 1978, the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, impacting harvesting practices on Guam.
August 1979: Guam Rejects Constitution in Referendum
In August 1979, the people of Guam overwhelmingly rejected the proposed Constitution in a referendum, with 82% opposed.
1981: Average Annual Rainfall
Between 1981 and 2010, Guam's average annual rainfall was 98 inches.
1982: Voters Indicate Interest in Seeking Commonwealth Status
In a 1982 plebiscite, voters in Guam indicated interest in seeking commonwealth status.
1983: Guam Joins the Pacific Community
In 1983, Guam became a member of the Pacific Community.
April 1, 1990: Record High Temperature
On April 1, 1990, the highest temperature ever recorded in Guam was 96 °F (35.6 °C).
August 8, 1993: Severe Earthquake
On August 8, 1993, a severe earthquake with a magnitude of 8.2 occurred.
1996: Guam Joins FIFA
In 1996, the Guam national football team joined FIFA.
August 1997: Wettest Month
August 1997 was the wettest month on record at Guam Airport, with 38.49 inches (977.6 mm) of rainfall.
September 1997: Department of Defense Education Activity Opens Schools
In September 1997, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) opened its own schools for children of military personnel on Guam.
1997: Guam Added to North American Numbering Plan
In 1997, Guam was added to the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), with the country code 671 becoming NANP area code 671.
1997: Commission on Decolonization Established
In 1997, a Commission on Decolonization was established to educate the people of Guam about the political status options in its relationship with the U.S.: statehood, free association, and independence.
1997: Asian Financial Crisis and Super Typhoon Paka
In 1997, the Asian financial crisis severely affected Guam's tourism industry, compounded by the devastation from super typhoon Paka.
1998: Consideration of Non-Binding Plebiscite on Decolonization
Since 1998, the island of Guam has been considering another non-binding plebiscite on decolonization.
1998: Driest Year
The year 1998 was the driest year with 57.88 inches (1,470.2 mm) of rainfall.
1999: Guam Hosted the Pacific Games
Guam hosted the Pacific Games in 1999.
2000: Guam Public School Enrollment
In 2000, 32,000 students attended Guam's public schools, including 26 elementary schools, eight middle schools, and six high schools and alternative schools.
2000: DoDEA School Attendance in Guam
In 2000, DoDEA schools in Guam, serving children of military personnel and some federal civilian employees, had an attendance of 2,500.
2002: Typhoon Pongsona
In 2002, Typhoon Pongsona caused major damage on Guam.
2003: Guam Unemployment Rate and Budget Shortfall
In 2003, Guam had a 14% unemployment rate, and the government suffered a $314 million budget shortfall.
2003: Amended COFA Enacted, Providing Aid to Guam
In 2003, the amended Compacts of Free Association (COFA) was enacted, providing $30 million annually to Guam, Hawaii, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and forgiving $157 million of Guam's debt to the federal government.
2004: US Congressional Committee Testimony on Chamorro Deaths
In 2004, during later US Congressional committee testimony, it was stated that approximately 1,100 Chamorros were killed during the nearly three years of occupation in World War II.
2005: First Match of the Guam National Rugby Union Team
The Guam national rugby union team played its first match in 2005.
2007: Performance at the Pacific Games
At the 2007 Games, Guam finished 7th of 22 countries in the medal count.
2009: First Victory Over a FIFA-Registered Side
In 2009, the Guam national football team experienced their first victory over a FIFA-registered side.
February 2010: EPA Criticizes Military Buildup Plans
In a letter from February 2010, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sharply criticized plans for military buildup on Guam due to concerns about water, sewage, and coral reefs.
2010: Religious Demography
According to the Pew Research Center, the religious demography of Guam in 2010 shows that Christianity is the predominant religion.
2010: Average Annual Rainfall
Between 1981 and 2010, Guam's average annual rainfall was 98 inches.
2010: U.S. Military Proposes Building New Aircraft Carrier Berth
In 2010, the U.S. military proposed building a new aircraft carrier berth on Guam and moving 8,600 Marines, and 9,000 of their dependents, to Guam from Okinawa, Japan, which would significantly increase Guam's population.
2011: Performance at the Pacific Games
At the 2011 Games, Guam finished 14th at the Pacific Games.
2012: Slate States Guam Has Tremendous Bandwidth
In 2012, Slate stated that Guam has "tremendous bandwidth" and internet prices comparable to those of the U.S. Mainland due to its location at the junction of undersea cables.
2013: Commission on Decolonization Seeks Funding
In 2013, the Commission on Decolonization began seeking funding to start a public education campaign.
2013: Visitor Arrivals Significantly Higher Than 2023
In 2013, visitor arrivals to Guam were significantly higher than in 2023; the number in 2023 represented a 50% decrease compared to the figures from 2013.
February 2015: Driest Month
February 2015 was the driest month on record at Guam Airport with 0.15 inches (3.8 mm) of rainfall.
2015: Guam Hosts Qualifying Games
In 2015, Guam hosted qualifying games on the island for the first time.
May 2016: Department of Interior Approves Grant for Decolonization Education
In May 2016, Edward Alvarez stated at the United Nations Pacific Regional Seminar that the United States Department of the Interior approved a $300,000 grant for decolonization education.
May 2016: Commission Report on Educational Materials
The Commission on Decolonization's May 2016 report stated they were working with academics from the University of Guam to create and approve educational materials.
December 2016: Commission Schedules Education Sessions
In early December 2016, the Commission on Decolonization scheduled a series of education sessions in various villages about Guam's relationship with the U.S. and self-determination options.
2016: Guam Regional Medical City Opens
A private hospital, the Guam Regional Medical City, opened in early 2016.
2016: Few Subsequent Developments Until Late 2016
There were few subsequent developments regarding the Commission on Decolonization until late 2016.
2018: First FIFA World Cup-Qualifying Win
In 2018, the Guam national football team gained their first FIFA World Cup-qualifying win.
2019: Guam Men's Basketball Team
As of 2019, the Guam men's national basketball team is the reigning champion of the Pacific Games Basketball Tournament.
2019: Guam Unemployment Rate Drops to 6.1%
As of 2019, the unemployment rate in Guam had dropped to 6.1%.
2019: Approximately 685,000 Japanese Travelers Visit Guam
In 2019, approximately 685,000 Japanese travelers visited Guam, representing a significant portion of the island's visitors at that time.
2019: Tourism Industry Above 2024 Levels
In 2019, tourism levels in Guam were above 2024 fiscal year levels, indicating pre-pandemic travel volumes.
July 2020: Government of Guam Joins UNPO
In July 2020, the Government of Guam joined the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO).
September 2020: Guam Unemployment Rate Rises to 17.9%
By September 2020, the unemployment rate in Guam had risen again to 17.9%.
2020: Catholic Population
In 2020, the Vatican claimed that 87.72% of the population was Catholic, with 54 priests and 64 nuns across 27 parishes.
2020: Ethnic Groups on Guam
In the 2020 United States census, the largest ethnic group in Guam were the native Chamorros, accounting for 32.8% of the population, while Asians accounted for 35.5%.
February 1, 2021: Record Low Temperature
On February 1, 2021, a record low of 69 °F (21 °C) was set.
September 2022: Unemployment Rate at 4.4%
In September 2022, the unemployment rate in Guam was 4.4%, a reduction of 0.3 percentage points from the September 2023 figure.
2022: Guam's Population in 2022
In 2022, Guam's population was recorded at 168,801 residents. Chamorros were the largest ethnic group on the island, though they represented a minority within the multiethnic population.
2022: Marine Corps Plans to Station 5,000 Marines on Guam
In 2022, the Marine Corps decided to place 5,000 Marines on Guam within the first half of the 2020s, with 1,300 already stationed on the base.
June 2023: Unemployment Rate Falls to 4.0%
As of June 2023, the unemployment rate in Guam had fallen to 4.0%.
September 2023: Unemployment Rate at 4.1%
In September 2023, the unemployment rate in Guam was 4.1%, an increase of 0.1 percentage points from June 2023.
2023: Guam Records Approximately 656,000 Visitor Arrivals
In 2023, Guam recorded approximately 656,000 visitor arrivals, a 50% decrease compared to 2013 figures, indicating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism industry.
2023: 135,760 Japanese travelers visit Guam
In 2023, the number of Japanese travelers to Guam declined to around 135,760, reflecting shifts in travel patterns.
June 2024: South Korean Tourists Account for Over 51% of Arrivals
In June 2024, South Korean visitors accounted for over 51% of Guam's total arrivals, while Japanese tourists comprised over 21%.
2024: Guam International Airport Reports 775,000 Passenger Arrivals
During the 2024 fiscal year (October-July), Guam International Airport reported 775,000 passenger arrivals, signaling an upward trend in tourism recovery but still below pre-pandemic levels.
2024: COFA Amended Again to Renew Aid
In 2024, the Compacts of Free Association (COFA) was amended again to renew aid to the freely associated nations as well as Guam and other U.S. Pacific territories.
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