Merizo, Guam

Merizo
Malesso'
Village

Location of Merizo within the Territory of Guam.
Country United States
Territory Guam
Government
 • Mayor Ernest T. Chargualaf (R)
Population (2010)[1]
 • Total 1,850
Time zone ChST (UTC+10)

Merizo (Chamorro: Malesso'), is the southernmost village in the United States territory of Guam. Cocos Island (Chamorro: Islan Dåno) is a part of the municipality. The village's population has decreased since the island's 2000 census.[2]

History

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19601,398—
19701,5299.4%
19801,6638.8%
19901,7424.8%
20002,16324.2%
20101,850−14.5%
Source:[1]

During the first Spanish missionary efforts on Guam, Merizo was the site of resistance encouraged by Choco, a Chinese resident of the village. The parish of Merizo was the second established by the Spanish on Guam. A large population of Chamorros from the Mariana Islands were relocated to the village during Spanish rule.[3]

The village covers an area of 6 square miles (16 km2) and is located on the shore below the volcanic hills of southern Guam. Places of interest for visitors include Southern Comfort Ranch and Merizo Pier where ferries can be taken to Cocos Island (Guam) Resort. Several popular dive sites are located off Merizo's coast.

Contamination of lagoon

Officials from the Guam Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Public Health and Social Services and the Coast Guard announced findings of major polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination in the Cocos Lagoon on February 20, 2006 and warned people not to eat fish caught there. The contamination is believed to have come from a United States Coast Guard station which operated on Cocos Island from 1944-1963.

Climate

Climate data for Merizo, Guam
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 87.0
(30.6)		 86.4
(30.2)		 86.7
(30.4)		 87.1
(30.6)		 87.6
(30.9)		 87.2
(30.7)		 87.7
(30.9)		 87.4
(30.8)		 87.8
(31)		 88.3
(31.3)		 88.3
(31.3)		 87.7
(30.9)		 87.4
(30.8)
Average low °F (°C) 75.9
(24.4)		 76.2
(24.6)		 76.4
(24.7)		 76.4
(24.7)		 76.1
(24.5)		 76.0
(24.4)		 75.0
(23.9)		 74.3
(23.5)		 74.7
(23.7)		 74.5
(23.6)		 75.8
(24.3)		 75.3
(24.1)		 75.6
(24.2)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 8.6
(218)		 8.8
(224)		 8.2
(208)		 10.9
(277)		 11.3
(287)		 12.8
(325)		 12.4
(315)		 15.1
(384)		 13.1
(333)		 10.7
(272)		 11.1
(282)		 11.0
(279)		 134
(3,404)
Source: Weatherbase [4]

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

Guam Public School System serves the island.

Merizo Martyrs Elementary School in Merizo and Inarajan Middle School in Inarajan serve Merizo.[5]

Southern High School in Santa Rita serves the village.[6]

Public libraries

Guam Public Library System operates the Merizo Library at 376 Cruz Avenue.[7]

Recreation

Water sport crafts can be rented near Merizo Pier. The pier is also a great fishing spot.

Mayor of Merizo

See also

Rural Merizo, Guam

References

  1. 1 2 "2010 Guam Statistical Yearbook" (PDF). (4.3 MB), (rev. 2011)
  2. ↑ Therese Hart, "Guam Population slightly up, latest census says," Marianas Variety, August 26, 2011, http://mvguam.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19623:guam-population-slightly-up-latest-census-says&catid=59:frontpagenews
  3. ↑ Geert Cole, "South Pacific and Micronesia", Lonely Planet Books, 2006, P.161-165, ISBN 978-1741043044.
  4. ↑ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Merizo, Guam". Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved on November 24, 2011.
  5. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20060222192437/http://www.lk4kids.com/school+links.htm
  6. ↑ "Guam's Public High Schools." Guam Public School System. Accessed September 8, 2008.
  7. ↑ http://gpls.guam.gov/Portals/50/GPLS_LOC/GPLS_Location_2007Apr12.xml

Coordinates: 13°15′48″N 144°40′11″E / 13.26333°N 144.66972°E / 13.26333; 144.66972

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