Guam

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Largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands in the West Pacific, an unincorporated territory of the USA; it lies between the Philippine Sea and the southwest Pacific Ocean, some 1,540 km/960 mi north of the Equator; length 50 km/30 mi, width 6–19 km/4–12 mi; area 549 sq km/212 sq mi; population (2001 est) 158,000. The main towns are Hagåtna (capital), Apra (port), and Tamuning. Tourism is important to the island's economy, as are oil refining, textile manufacture, fishing, and the cultivation of coconuts, sugar cane, and tropical fruits and vegetables, especially sweet potatoes. Guam is the site of major US army, air, and naval bases, and expenditure by the US government on these facilities is also a mainstay of the economy. The land is largely limestone plateau in the north and volcanic in the south, with much jungle.

History
Guam was claimed by Ferdinand Magellan for Spain in 1521 and used primarily as a commercial port. The indigenous population of Chamorros dwindled from 80,000 in 1668 to 1,500 in 1783, as a result of infectious disease and brutality by the Spanish colonizers. It was captured by the USA in 1898 in the Spanish–American War. It achieved full US citizenship and autonomy from 1950. A referendum in 1987 favoured the status of a commonwealth, in association with the USA. In 1998, the commonwealth proposals were still awaiting debate in the US Congress.

The arms show a Bible open at the Gospel of St John, a Trinitarian symbol. The white cross symbolizes faith. The arms appear on national and state flags. Effective date: 14 September 1863. >>