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American Samoa

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{| border=1 align=right cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=300 style="margin: 0 0 1em 1em; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;" |+ '''Amerika Samoa
American Samoa''' |- | style="background:#efefef;" align="center" colspan="2" | {| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" | align="center" width="140px" | Image:Flag of American Samoa.svg 125px|Flag of American Samoa | align="center" width="140px" | Image:American samoa coa.png 80px|American Samoa COA |- | align="center" width="140px" | (Flag of American Samoa Flag) | align="center" width="140px" | (Coat of Arms of American Samoa Coat of Arms) |} |- | align=center style="vertical-align: top;" colspan=2 | ''National motto: Samoa, Muamua Le Atua (Samoa, Let God Be First)'' |- | align=center colspan=2 style="background: #ffffff;" | Image:LocationAmericanSamoa.png |- | '''Official languages''' | Samoan language Samoan, English language English |- | '''Capital''' || Fagatogo (constitutional and ''de facto'' seat of government); executive offices are located in Utulei |- | '''Governor of American Samoa Governor''' | Togiola Tulafono |- | '''Area'''
 - Total
 - % water | List of countries by area Ranked 226th
1 E8 m² 199 km² (76.8 square mile sq. mi)
0% |- | '''Population'''
 - Total (2003)
 - Density | List of countries by population Ranked 203rd
70,260
353/km² (914/sq. mi) |- | '''Currency''' .html">United States dollar USD |- | '''Time zone''' .html">Coordinated Universal Time UTC -11 (no DST) |- | '''National anthem''' || Amerika Samoa |- | '''Top-level domain Internet TLD''' || .as |- | '''List of country calling codes Calling Code''' | +1 684 |- | style="background:#efefef;" align="center" colspan="2" |Image:Fatu Rock.jpg right|300pxFatu Rock (right) and Futi Rock (left), islets on the reef of Tutuila at the entrance to Pago Pago Harbor (seen behind Fatu). |} '''American Samoa''' (Samoan language Samoan: '''Amerika Samoa''') is an unorganized territory unorganized, incorporated territory unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa. The main (largest and most populous) island is Tutuila, with the {{Unicode.html">Manua Manu'a}}_Islands, Rose Atoll, and Swains Island also included in the territory. American Samoa is part of the Samoan Islands chain, located west of the Cook Islands, north of Tonga, and some 300 miles (500 km) south of Tokelau. To the west are the islands of the Wallis and Futuna group.

History
''Main article: History of Samoa, History of American Samoa'' Originally inhabited as early as 1000 BC, Samoa was not reached by European explorers until the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 Treaty of Berlin, 1899 Treaty of Berlin in which Germany and the U.S. divided the Samoan archipelago. The U.S. formally occupied its portion—a smaller group of eastern islands with the noted harbor of Pago Pago, American Samoa Pago Pago—the following year. The western islands are now the independent state of Samoa. After the U.S. took possession of American Samoa, the United States Navy U.S. Navy built a coaling station on Pago Pago Bay for its Pacific Squadron and appointed a local Secretary. The navy secured a Deed of Cession of Tutuila in 1900 and a Deed of Cession of {{Unicode.html">Manua Manuʻa}}_in 1904. The last sovereign of {{Unicode.html">Tui Manua Elisala Tui Manuʻa Elisala}}, was forced to sign a Deed of Cession of {{Unicode|Manuʻa}} following a series of US Naval trials, known as the "Trial of the Ipu", in Pago Pago, {{Unicode|Taʻu}}, and aboard a Pacific Squadron gunboat. During World War II, U.S. Marines in American Samoa outnumbered the local population, having a huge cultural influence. After the war, Organic Act 4500, a U.S. United States Department of the Interior Department of Interior-sponsored attempt to incorporate American Samoa, was defeated in Congress, primarily through the efforts of American Samoan chiefs, led by Tuiasosopo Mariota. These chiefs' efforts led to the creation of a local legislature, the American Samoa ''Fono,'' which meets in the village of Fagatogo, the territory's ''de facto'' and ''de jure'' capital. (See the Trivia section below for more information on Fagatogo.) In time, the Navy-appointed governor was replaced by a locally elected one. Although technically considered "unorganized" in that the Congress of the United States U.S. Congress has not passed an Organic Act for the territory, American Samoa is self-governing under a constitution that became effective on July 1, 1967. The U.S. Territory of American Samoa is on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories, a listing which is disputed by territorial government officials. The Job employment of the island is historically low, with most people who work travel to nearby Hawaii for work; or join the U.S. Military, in fact all branches of the military hold as the islands premier source of employment.

Administrative Divisions
American Samoa is administratively divided into 3 districts and 2 "unorganized" islands. These districts are subdivided into 73 villages. Districts: * Eastern * Western * Manu'a Unorganized Islands: *Rose Atoll Rose Island *Swains Island Image:American Samoa Districts.png thumb|left|400px|Map of the districts of American Samoa
The villages for Eastern and Western districts are:

Aasu Afao Afono Agugulu Alao Alofau Aloga Amaluia Amanave Amaua Amouli Anua Aoa Aoloau Asili Atu'u Aua Auasi Aumi Aunu'u Auto, American Samoa Auto Avaio Faga'alu Faga'itau Fagaili'i Fagamalo Faganeanea Fagasa Fagatogo Failolo Falenin Fatumafuti

Futiga Ili'ili Leloaloa Leone, American Samoa Leone Leuli'i Malaeimi Malaeloa/Aitulagi Malaeloa/Ituau Maloata Mapusagafou Masausi Masefau Matu'u Mesepa Mesespa Nu'uuli Nua Onenoa Pago Pago Pava'ia'i Poloa Sa'ilele Se'etaga Tafuna Taputimu Tula, American Samoa Tula Utulei Utumea East Utumea West Vailoatai Vaitogi Vatia

Image:American Samoa Counties1.png thumb|400px|Map of the villages of American Samoa

Image:American Samoa Counties2.png thumb|right|300px|Map of the villages of the Manu{{okina}}a districts and Swain's Atoll The villages for the Manu'a district are: #Faleasao #Leusoali'i #Luma, American Samoa Luma #Maia, American SAmoa Maia #Ofu #Olosega #Si'ufaga #Sili There is one village on Swains Island. Rose Island is an uninhabited wildlife refuge.

Trivia
* American Samoa is the location of Rose Atoll, the southernmost point in the United States (if insular areas and territories are included); see Extreme Points of the United States extreme points for more information). * About 30 ethnic Samoans, many from American Samoa, currently play in the National Football League. A 2002 article from [http://espn.go.com/gen/s/2002/0527/1387626.html ESPN] estimated that a Samoan male (either an American Samoan, or a Samoan living in the 50 United States) is 40 times more likely to play in the NFL than a non-Samoan American. A number have also ventured into professional wrestling (see especially :Category:Anoai wrestling family Anoai wrestling family). * Persons born in American Samoa are United States nationality nationals, but not United States citizens. This is the only circumstance under which an individual would be one and not the other. * The American Samoa national soccer team holds an unwanted world record in international football (soccer) soccer—the record defeat in an international match, a 31-0 crushing by Australia national football team Australia on April 11, 2001. * Although many respected reference sources list the neighboring village of Pago Pago as the capital, Fagatogo is the ''de facto'' and ''de jure'' (i.e., constitutionally designated; cf. Article 5, Section 9) seat of government. Additionally, the governor's office is located in the village of Utulei, located on the opposite side of Fagatogo from Pago Pago. The reason why many sources list Pago Pago is because the name Pago Pago, the most popular port of call in American Samoa, has become associated with the harbor itself; thus Pago Pago is now generally applied to the harbor area and the capital. However, both the port itself and the legislature of American Samoa—known as the Fono—are located in Fagatogo, a village that is adjacent to (and for all practical purposes indistinguishable from) Pago Pago. (Cf. entry for Pago Pago.) *In March of 1889, a Germany German naval force shelled a village in Samoa, and by doing so destroyed some United States American property. Three American warships then entered the Samoan harbor and were prepared to fire on the three German warships found there. Before guns were fired, a hurricane blew up and sank all the ships, American and German. A compulsory armistice was called because of the lack of warships.

See also
Aloha Council#Scouting in American Samoa Scouting in American Samoa

Government
* List of American Samoa Governors * Elections in American Samoa

Sports
* American Samoa at the 1996 Summer Olympics * American Samoa at the 2000 Summer Olympics * American Samoa national rugby league team * American Samoa national soccer team

CIA Factbook Data
''From the CIA World Factbook 2000:'' * Geography of American Samoa * Demographics of American Samoa * Politics of American Samoa * Economy of American Samoa * Communications in American Samoa * Transportation in American Samoa * Military of the United States Military: Defense is the responsibility of the US

External links
{{wikinewscat|American Samoa|American Samoa}}
- CIA - The World Factbook -- American Samoa - CIA's Factbook on American Samoa
- "The Passive Resistance of Samoans to US and Other Colonialisms", article in "Sovereignty Matters", ed. Joanne Barker, University of Nebraska Press, 2005.
- History of American Samoa- Essay which looks at the history of the territory from ancient to more modern times.
- Jane's American Samoa Page
- Library of Congress Portals of the World - American Samoa - Library of Congress resource which provides links to resources on American Samoa.
- Map of American Samoa - Map showing the basic layout of American Samoa.
- Revised Constitution of American Samoa - Provides the text of the constition of American Samoa.
- The Official Webpage of the American Samoa Government - Lists information on the territorial government including officials and recent legislation.
- United Nations Decolonization Papers - Online United Nations Decolonization Documents including current and past Working Papers on American Samoa
- ChooHoo! - An online community for Samoans. Features include forums, chat, blogs, etc.
- Rulers.org — American_samoa List of rulers for American Samoa {{American Samoa}} {{Pacific Islands}} {{Polynesia}} {{United States}} Category:American Samoa * Category:Insular areas of the United States Category:Oceanic dependencies Category:Divided regions Samoa, American bg:Ð?мериканÑ?ка Самоа zh-min-nan:Bí-kok Samoa ca:Samoa Nord-americana da:Amerikansk Samoa de:Amerikanisch-Samoa et:Ameerika Samoa el:ΑμεÏ?ικανική Σαμόα es:Samoa Americana eo:Usona Samoo fr:Samoa américaines ko:아메리칸사모아 id:Samoa Amerika is:Bandaríska Samóa it:Samoa Americane he:סמו×?×” ×”×?מריקנית lv:Austrumsamoa lt:Amerikos Samoa hu:Amerikai Szamoa kw:Samoa Amerikan mk:Ð?мериканÑ?ка Самоа ms:Samoa Amerika nl:Amerikaans-Samoa ja:アメリカ領サモア no:Amerikansk Samoa nn:Amerikansk Samoa pl:Samoa AmerykaÅ„skie pt:Samoa Americana ru:Ð?мериканÑ?кое Самоа sm:Amerika Samoa sh:AmeriÄ?ka Samoa simple:American Samoa sk:Americká Samoa sl:AmeriÅ¡ka Samoa fi:Amerikan Samoa sv:Amerikanska Samoa tr:Amerikan Samoası uk:Ð?мериканÑ?ьке Самоа zh:美屬薩摩亞 {{sisterlinkswp|Category:American Samoa}} {{catmore}} Category:Polynesia Category:Insular areas of the United States Category:Oceanic dependencies ca:Categoria:Samoa Nord-americana de:Kategorie:Amerikanisch-Samoa ko:분류:아메리칸사모아 he:קטגוריה:סמו×?×” ×”×?מריק×?ית nl:Categorie:Amerikaans-Samoa {| class="toccolours" align="center" width=94% style="margin:0.5em 1em; clear:both" ! Image:Flag of American Samoa.svg 100px|Flag of American Samoa !style="background:#BBBBDD;"| The United States territory U.S. Territory of American Samoa'''  
Geography of American Samoa Geography | Economy of American Samoa Economy | Demographics of American Samoa Demographics | Communications in American Samoa Communications | Transportation in American Samoa Transportation |- !'''Government:''' || Politics of American Samoa Politics | List of American Samoa Governors Former Governors | Elections in American Samoa Elections |- !'''Capital:''' || Fagatogo |- !'''Governor:''' || Togiola Tulafono |- !'''Islands:''' || Tutuila | Manua Manua Group {Tau, Samoa Ta'u | Ofu-Olosega Ofu | Ofu-Olosega Olosega} | Rose Atoll |- |}

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