Tuālāuta County, American Samoa | |
|---|---|
| Tuālāuta County | |
 Map of Tutuila where Tuālāuta County is highlighted in red, while the Western District is marked in orange. | |
| Country |  United States |
| Territory |  American Samoa |
| Island | Tutuila |
| District | Western |
| County seat | ʻIliʻili |
| Largest city | Tāfuna |
| Area | |
• Total | 9.91 sq mi (25.7 km2) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 22,827 |
| • Density | 2,300/sq mi (889/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−11 (Pacific Time Zone) |
| ZIP code | 96799 |
| Area code | +1 684 |
Tuālāuta County is acounty in theWestern District inAmerican Samoa.[1][2][3] It is the largest and also the most populated county in American Samoa. The county is represented by two seats in theSenate and two seats inHouse of Representatives in the American Samoa Legislature.[4] 'Ili'ili is the principal place in Tualauta County, a county which consists of 'Ili'ili, Pava'ia'i, Mapusaga, Faleniu, Mesepa, Malae'imi, Tafuna, and Vaitogi.[5]
As of 2015, the county has a population of 19,519 residents.[6] Tualauta County has the highest number of registered voters in American Samoa: 2,033 female voters and 1,660 male voters (3,693 total voters). However, in terms of votes cast in the 2016 election, more votes were cast inMaoputasi County. Tualauta County also has the highest number of voters between the ages of 18 and 35 with 2,105.[7]
Tualauta County, which is the most populated county in American Samoa, had the highest number of housing units according to the2010 U.S. census with 4,080 units, followed by 1,999 housing units for Maoputasi County.[8] Tualauta County has experienced a large population increase and, as of the 2010 U.S. census, the county had over double the number of residents as Maoputasi County (home to the territorial capital ofPago Pago).[9]
At 9.91 square miles (25.7 km2), it is the largest county in American Samoa.[10]
Tuālāuta contains most of Tutuila Island's flatland, including theTafuna Plain.[11]
The name of the county,Tuālāuta, is derived from the Samoan language and translates into English as “Inland Tuālā".[12]
In 1902, resistance to the copra tax emerged among Samoan communities, particularly within theWestern District and notably in Tuālāuta County, an area that would later become a significant area for theMau movement. In an effort to suppress this opposition, GovernorUriel Sebree detained three local chiefs to deter their supporters. Additionally, he dismissed a Samoan judge who had submitted a petition protesting the U.S. Navy's policies. In response to these actions, Governor Sebree characterized the Samoan populace as “grown-up children who love form and ceremony.”[13]
In the early 1920s, Tuālāuta County, particularly the village ofFaleniu, became a stronghold for theMau movement. Faleniu served as the meeting place for the Faleniu conspirators, prompting GovernorWaldo A. Evans to dispatch a posse that arrested 17matais on charges of conspiracy and rebellion. Among the Mau’s prominent leaders wasMagalei Siāsulu from Faleniu. The U.S. Navy charged him and several other matais with tax evasion, but they were released by GovernorEdward Stanley Kellogg on November 14, 1925. The other arrested matais included Savea Motu, Mase, Siufanua, Noa, Liu, Tuiaana, Malufau, Ui, Sagapolutele, Fonoti, Tua, and Poloai — all from Tuālāuta County.[14]
During the late 1940s and early 1950s, residents ofPavaʻiaʻi andNuʻuuli initiated a period of rapid land acquisition in Tāfuna, transforming what had been largely undeveloped forest. Among the most prominent figures during this expansion wasOtto Vincent Haleck, a resident of Pavaʻiaʻi at the time, who cleared land and staked extensive claims. By the end of the 1950s, Haleck had become the largest private landowner on Tutuila. Religious institutions were among the first major purchasers of his properties. TheCongregational Christian Church in American Samoa (CCCAS) acquired 15 acres for the Kanana Fou theological complex, the Catholic Church purchased land that becameFatuoaiga, and the Assembly of God obtained four acres for its regional center. In 1998, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased five acres for the establishment of a new stake. By 2000, Haleck was the largest rental property owner in American Samoa, and his development ventures included theTradewinds Hotel, which opened that same year. He also maintained a private museum at his Aʻoloau-Tafeta estate, notable for displaying the nifo ‘oti used by High OratorOlo Letuli to ignite the torch at the1997 South Pacific Mini Games opening ceremony held atVeterans Memorial Stadium.[15]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1912 | 574 | — |
| 1920 | 651 | +13.4% |
| 1930 | 812 | +24.7% |
| 1940 | 944 | +16.3% |
| 1950 | 1,838 | +94.7% |
| 1960 | 2,141 | +16.5% |
| 1970 | 3,671 | +71.5% |
| 1980 | 6,855 | +86.7% |
| 1990 | 14,724 | +114.8% |
| 2000 | 22,025 | +49.6% |
| 2010 | 20,858 | −5.3% |
| 2020 | 22,827 | +9.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[16] | ||
Tuālāuta County was first recorded beginning with the 1912 special census. Regular decennial censuses were taken beginning in 1920.[17] Between 2010–2020, Tuālāuta was the only county in American Samoa to experience a population increase. The population here increased by 9.4 percent, while American Samoa as a whole experienced a 10.5 percent population decline. This large increase was largely due to a 57 percent population growth in the village ofMapusagafou. Population growth also occurred inFaleniu (2.9%) and inTāfuna (0.5%). Population declines were seen inPava'ia'i (−13.8%),Malaeimi (−11.5%),'Ili'ili (−3.8%), and inVaitogi (−1.9%).[18]
14°21′6″S170°44′49″W / 14.35167°S 170.74694°W /-14.35167; -170.74694
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