Humåtak, Guam

{{Infobox settlement  |image_skyline=Umatac Bay, Guam - DSC00954.JPG |image_flag = |settlement_type = Village | subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = United States |subdivision_type1 = Territory |subdivision_name1 = Guam |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 = |timezone=ChST |utc_offset=+10 |unit_pref=Imperial |map_caption =Location of Umatac within the Territory of Guam. | official_name = Humåtak | image_map = Locator maps of Guam villages - Umatac.svg | population_total = 647 | 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 = Johnny A. Quinata (R) | Mayor_since = | blank_info = }} '''Humåtak''' (formerly '''Umatac''') is a village on the southwestern coast of the United States territory of Guam. The month of March in the Chamorro language is "Umatalaf," or "to catch guatafi," which is believed to be the root word of Umatac.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2005/April/04-27-ft.htm |first=Anthony P. |last=Sanchez |title=Guam's Umatac - Chamorro cradle of creation |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=April 27, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051122062714/http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2005/April/04-27-ft.htm |archive-date=November 22, 2005 }}</ref> The village's population has decreased since the island's 2010 census, and it is by far the least populated village on the island.<ref name=census2020/>

Mount Bolanos, at an elevation of {{convert|368|m|ft|abbr=on}}, is the third highest peak of Guam and lies {{convert|4.5|km|abbr=on}} away.

On August 18, 2021, the municipality place name was officially changed from Umatac to Humåtak.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.guamlegislature.com/36th_Guam_Legislature/Public_Laws_36th/Public%20Law%20No.%2036-48%20Bill%20No.%20118-36%20(COR)%20ttt.pdf |title=Public Law 36-48 |author= |date=August 18, 2021 |website=Guam Legislature |publisher=36th Guam Legislature |access-date=May 15, 2024 }}</ref>

== History == [[File:Theb3087 - Flickr - NOAA Photo Library.jpg|thumb|left|Ferdinand Magellan landing site]] thumb|Coast North of Umatac Bay including Funa Rock {{US Census population |1960=744 |1970=813 |1980=732 |1990=897 |2000=887 |2010=782 |footnote=Source:<ref name=census>{{cite web |url= http://bsp.guam.gov/GU%20Statistical%20Yearbook_2010.pdf |title= 2010 Guam Statistical Yearbook |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140723215811/http://bsp.guam.gov/GU%20Statistical%20Yearbook_2010.pdf |archive-date= 2014-07-23 }} {{small|(4.3 MB)}}, (rev. 2011)</ref> }} Prior to Spanish arrival on the island, an annual celebration was held north of the village at Fouha Rock where the first humans were created according to the legends of the Chamorro people, the native people of Guam.

In 1521, the Portuguese Explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived on Guam while circumnavigating the globe. Umatac Bay is traditionally cited as the location of the Spanish landing. Another explorer, Miguel López de Legazpi, arrived in Umatac in 1565 and claimed the island of Guam for Spain.

When Guam was colonized in the 17th century, the Spanish made Umatac a parish so the Chamorro people in the area could be converted to Christianity. Remains of two Spanish forts built on hills on either side of the village - Fort Nuestra Señora de la Soledad and Fort San Jose - are visible.

In 1898, Guam was taken by the United States during the Spanish–American War. Under the U.S. administration, the small village has grown gradually. The Discovery Day festival is held every year in the village. While the holiday was first established in memory of Magellan's discovery of the island, it is now a celebration of Chamorro culture.

In August 2021, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero signed a bill officially changing the name of the village.<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>

==Demographics== The U.S. Census Bureau designates one census-designated place, Umatac.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st66_gu/place/p6677450_umatac/DC10BLK_P6677450_001.pdf|title=2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Umatac CDP, GU|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2020-10-09}}</ref>

==Education== The Guam Department of Education serves the island. The F. Q. Sanchez Elementary School in Umatac has closed at the end of summer 2011 due to budget cuts. Students have shifted to a nearby Merizo Elementary School.<ref>{{cite news |first=Brett |last=Kelman |title=Umatac School to Close |date=July 1, 2011 |publisher=Pacific Daily News |url=http://www.guampdn.com/article/20110701/NEWS01/107010323/Umatac-school-close |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131003222715/http://www.guampdn.com/article/20110701/NEWS01/107010323/Umatac-school-close |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 3, 2013 }}</ref> The unused facility was then cleared for use by the Umatac Mayor's Office.<ref>{{cite web|title=NEWS: Facility Handed Over to the People of Umatac|url=http://governor.guam.gov/2011/12/07/news-facility-handed-people-umatac/|access-date=2014-06-08|archive-date=2013-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011101514/http://governor.guam.gov/2011/12/07/news-facility-handed-people-umatac/|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), Umatac 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 Umatac.<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>

==Mayor of Umatac==

===Commissioner=== *Jesus T. Quinata (1961–1969) *Jesus S. Quinata (1952–1961) *Albert T. Topasna (1969–1973)

===Mayor=== * Albert T. Topasna ''(1st Term)'' (1973–1985) * Cecilia Q. Morrison (1985–1989) * Albert T. Topasna ''(2nd Term)'' (1989–1991) * Dean D. Sanchez ''(1st Term)'' (1991–1993) * Jose T. Quinata (1993–1997) * Jesus A. Aquiningoc (1997–2001) * Tony A. Quinata (2001–2005) * Daniel Q. Sanchez (2005–2009) * Dean D. Sanchez ''(2nd Term)'' (2009–2013) * Johnny A. Quinata (2013–present)

== See also == * 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}} * Sanchez, Pedro C. Guahan, Guam: The History of our Island: Sanchez Publishing House.

== External links == {{Commons category}} * [http://guampedia.com/umatac-humatak/ "Umatac (Humåtak)"] - article on [http://guampedia.com Guampedia.com] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20051122062714/http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2005/April/04-27-ft.htm "Umatac - Guam's Cradle of Creation"] by Anthony P. Sanchez, ''Pacific Daily News'', 26 April 2007 * [http://www.guampdn.com/communities/maps/umatac.html Village Map]{{Dead link|date=January 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''Pacific Daily News'' * {{statoids|id=ugu|title=Municipalities of Guam}}

{{Coord|13|17|53|N|144|39|32|E|type:city_region:US-GU|display=title}}

Category:Umatac, Guam Category:Census-designated places in Guam {{DEFAULTSORT:Humåtak, Guam}}