Guam has been a United State territory since the USA took control of it during the 1898 Spanish-American War. Guam was also the site of serious activity during World War II, but here are 7 Things You Don’t Know About: Guam.

1. Guam is the largest island in Micronesia.

2. Introduced accidentally to Guam following World War II, the Brown Tree Snake has become something of a problem. They nearly eliminated the population of a number of birds on the island and as there was no snake population in Guam before their arrival, they have no natural predators.

3. Because of Japan taking over the island during World War II, Guam is the only piece of American soil with a population in the thousands to be occupied by foreign troops except for the British in the War of 1812.

4. Though the people of Guam are American citizens, they cannot vote for President.

5. Approximately 29% of the island of Guam is controlled by American military bases.

6. Because of its location on the other side of the International Dateline, Guam’s official motto is: “Where America’s Day Begins”.

7. If you were from Guam, you would be a Guamanian

With its rich history and high concentration of military bases, though it is not a state, Guam will continue to play an important role in the United States of America.