Malesso, Guam

{{Infobox settlement

|subdivision_type1 = Territory |subdivision_name1 = Guam |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 =

|timezone=ChST |utc_offset=+10

|unit_pref=Imperial |map_caption =Location of Malesso' within the Territory of Guam. |elevation_ft = | official_name = Malesso' | image_map = Locator maps of Guam villages - Merizo.svg | area_total_sq_mi = | population_total = 1604|population_footnotes=<ref name=census2020>[https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/island-areas/guam/population-and-housing-unit-counts/guam-phc-table01.pdf Population of Guam: 2010 and 2020], U.S. Census Bureau.</ref> | population_as_of = 2020 | population_blank1 = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Franklin J. Champaco (R) | Mayor_since = | leader_name1 = | blank_info = }} '''Malesso' ''' (formerly '''Merizo''') 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 2010 census.<ref name=census2020/>

Malesso' is the closest populated place in the United States to the equator. On August 18, 2021, the municipality place name was officially changed from Merizo to Malesso'.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guamlegislature.com/36th_Guam_Legislature/Public_Laws_36th/Public%20Law%20No.%2036-49%20Bill%20No.%20119-36%20(COR)%20ttt.pdf |title=Public Law 36-49 |author= |date=August 18, 2021 |website=Guam Legislature |publisher=36th Guam Legislature |access-date=May 15, 2024 }}</ref>

== History == {{US Census population |1960=1398 |1970=1529 |1980=1663 |1990=1742 |2000=2163 |2010=1850 |2020=1604 |footnote=Source:<ref name=census2020/> }} During the first Spanish missionary efforts on Guam, Malesso' was the site of resistance encouraged by Choco, a Chinese resident of the village. The parish of Malesso' 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.<ref>Geert Cole, "South Pacific and Micronesia", Lonely Planet Books, 2006, P.161-165, {{ISBN|978-1741043044}}.</ref>

The village covers an area of {{convert|6|sqmi|km2}} and is located on the shore below the volcanic hills of southern Guam. Places of interest for visitors include Merizo Bell Tower, [https://www.guampedia.com/merizo-malesso/#Historical Malesso' Kombento] and Merizo Pier where ferries can be taken to Cocos Island (Guam) Resort. Several popular dive sites are located off the Malesso' coast.

In August 2021, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero signed a bill officially changing the name of the village from Merizo to Malesso'.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Healy |first1=Shane |title=Gov. Leon Guerrero signs bills to change names of five southern villages |url=https://www.guampdn.com/news/gov-leon-guerrero-signs-bills-to-change-names-of-five-southern-villages/article_93c24700-009c-11ec-a3eb-c3c6dd5699b6.html |website=Guam PDN |access-date=5 September 2021 |language=en |date=19 August 2021}}</ref>

=== 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 == Malesso' has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen ''Af'') characterised by hot, wet and oppressively humid conditions year-round, although January to March is marginally less wet. {{Weather box |location = Malesso', Guam |single line = Y |collapsed = Y |temperature colour = pastel |Jan high F = 87.0 |Feb high F = 86.4 |Mar high F = 86.7 |Apr high F = 87.1 |May high F = 87.6 |Jun high F = 87.2 |Jul high F = 87.7 |Aug high F = 87.4 |Sep high F = 87.8 |Oct high F = 88.3 |Nov high F = 88.3 |Dec high F = 87.7 |year high F= 87.4 |Jan low F = 75.9 |Feb low F = 76.2 |Mar low F = 76.4 |Apr low F = 76.4 |May low F = 76.1 |Jun low F = 76.0 |Jul low F = 75.0 |Aug low F = 74.3 |Sep low F = 74.7 |Oct low F = 74.5 |Nov low F = 75.8 |Dec low F = 75.3 |year low F= 75.6 |rain colour = green |Jan rain inch = 8.6 |Feb rain inch = 8.8 |Mar rain inch = 8.2 |Apr rain inch = 10.9 |May rain inch = 11.3 |Jun rain inch = 12.8 |Jul rain inch = 12.4 |Aug rain inch = 15.1 |Sep rain inch = 13.1 |Oct rain inch = 10.7 |Nov rain inch = 11.1 |Dec rain inch = 11.0 |year rain inch= |source 1 = Weatherbase <ref name=Weatherbase> {{cite web |url =http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=21419&refer=wikipedia |title =Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Merizo, Guam |publisher=Weatherbase |year=2011 }} Retrieved on November 24, 2011. </ref> |date=November 2011 }}

==Demographics== The U.S. Census Bureau has the Malesso' census-designated place.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st66_gu/place/p6649500_merizo/DC10BLK_P6649500_001.pdf|title=2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Merizo CDP, GU|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=2020-10-09}} - See "Merizo muny"</ref>

==Education==

===Primary and secondary schools===

====Public schools==== Guam Public School System serves the island. Merizo Martyrs Elementary School in Malesso' and Inarajan Middle School in Inarajan serve Malesso'.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lk4kids.com/school%2Blinks.htm |title=筋トレ豆知識 | 筋トレ豆知識 |website=www.lk4kids.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060222192437/http://www.lk4kids.com/school%2Blinks.htm |archive-date=22 February 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Southern High School in Santa Rita serves the village.<ref name="GuamHSReport">"[http://www.gdoe.net/ci/high_sch_crse_desc/guam_PHS.pdf Guam's Public High Schools]." ''Guam Public School System''. Accessed September 8, 2008.</ref>

In regards to the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), Malesso is in the school attendance zone for McCool Elementary and McCool Middle School, while Guam High School is the island's sole DoDEA high school. No DoDEA school buses go to Malesso.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.militarymwrguam.com/modules/media/?do=inline&id=ec1335e8-67d4-4fde-824e-aabf8345f466|title=DoDEA Guam School Boundaries and Bus Transportation Zones|publisher=Military Morale, Welfare and Recreation Guam|accessdate=2023-07-07}}</ref>

===Public libraries=== Guam Public Library System operates the Malesso' Library at 376 Cruz Avenue.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gpls.guam.gov/Portals/50/GPLS_LOC/GPLS_Location_2007Apr12.xml |title=Archived copy |website=gpls.guam.gov |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115030215/http://gpls.guam.gov/Portals/50/GPLS_LOC/GPLS_Location_2007Apr12.xml |archive-date=15 January 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Recreation===

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

== List of mayors == {| class="wikitable" |- | colspan="4" align=center|'''Commissioner of Malesso' ''' |- ! Name ! Term begin ! Term end |- |Francisco C. Chargualaf |1957 |1977 |- |Joaquin Q. Acfalle |1977 |1979 |- |Ignacio "Buck" S. Cruz |1979 |1981 |- |Jose R. Tyquiengco |1981 |1985 |}

{| class="wikitable" |- | colspan="4" align=center|'''Mayor of Malesso' ''' |- ! Name ! Party ! Term begin ! Term end |- | Ignacio "Buck" S. Cruz | style="background-color: #B0CEFF"; |Democratic | January 7, 1986 | January 1, 2001 |- | Rita A. Tainatongo | style="background-color: #B0CEFF"; rowspan="2"|Democratic | January 1, 2001 | September 2006 |- | Sherry L. Chargualaf | September 2006 | January 5, 2009 |- | Ernest T. Chargualaf | style="background-color: #FFB6B6"; rowspan="2" |Republican | January 5, 2009 | January 4, 2025 |- | Franklin J. Champaco | January 4, 2025 | present |}

== See also == thumb|right|Rural Malesso', Guam *Villages of Guam

== References == {{Reflist}} * Rogers, Robert F (1995). Destiny's Landfall: A History of Guam: University of Hawai'i Press. {{ISBN|0-8248-1678-1}} * Carter, Lee D; Carter, Rosa Roberto; Wuerch, William L (1997). Guam History: Perspectives Volume One: MARC. {{ISBN|1-878453-28-9}} * Sanchez, Pedro C. Guahan, Guam: The History of our Island: Sanchez Publishing House.

== External links == * [https://archive.today/20130125101345/http://www.guamportal.com/villages/Merizo_Guam.html Merizo Guam] at Guam Portal *[https://archive.today/20130125083442/http://www.guampdn.com/communities/maps/merizo.html]

{{Coord|13|15|48|N|144|40|11|E|type:city_region:US-GU|display=title}}

Category:Villages in Guam Category:Census-designated places in Guam