Faleasao, American Samoa

Faleāsao is a village and county in American Samoa. It is located in Manu'a District, on the northern shore of Ta'ū Island. It is divided into two subvillages the eastern side being called Si'ua'i while the western half being called Tufulele (Tufu). The high chief is the Aso'au title currently in array for there is no known heir to the title.

Faleāsao
County and Village
Faleāsao
Coordinates: 14°13′36″S 169°30′44″W
Country	United States
Territory	American Samoa
County	Faleasao
Area
• Total	4.45 sq mi (11.53 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	104
• Density	23/sq mi (9.0/km2)

Faleasao lies on Faleasao Bay on the extreme northwest coast of Ta'ū Island. The narrow bay is closed off towards the north by a 300-foot (91 m)-500-foot (150 m) high bluff and protected towards the south by a low cliffy promontory known as Malinu'u; a wide border reef all but fills the narrow bay.^[1]

It is home to a white sandy beach. Just offshore there is much coral just below the surface which is exposed at low tide. It is bordered by the Tunoa Ridge and lies just south of Si'ulagi Point. There is a nearby hiking trail on Agricultural Road leading to Tunoa Ridge. Barn owls and fruit bats are common by Tunoa Ridge during mornings.^[2]

The power plant and school were severely damaged by Cyclone Olaf in 2005.^[3]

It has been called the capital of the Manu'a Islands.^[4]

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1912	238	—
1920	269	+13.0%
1930	279	+3.7%
1940	340	+21.9%
1950	368	+8.2%
1960	345	−6.2%
1970	288	−16.5%
1980	263	−8.7%
1990	246	−6.5%
2000	135	−45.1%
2010	162	+20.0%
2020	104	−35.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]

Faleasao County was first recorded beginning with the 1912 special census. Regular decennial censuses were taken beginning in 1920.^[6]

References

1. Krämer, Augustin (1994). The Samoa Islands: Constitution, Pedigrees and Traditions. University of Hawaiʼi Press. Page 509. ISBN 9780824816339.
2. Swaney, Deanna (1994). Samoa: Western & American Samoa. Lonely Planet. Pages 191-192. ISBN 9780864422255.
3. "Aid arrives in American Samoa for cyclone victims". 21 February 2005.
4. Hills, J.W. (2022). O Upu Muamua I Le Tala I Le Lalolagi Mo E Ua Faatoa A'oa'oina U Lea Mataupu. Legare Street Press. Page 63. ISBN 9781019136812.
5. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 7, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
6. "1920 Census: Outlying Possessions" (PDF). US Census Bureau. p. 1231. Retrieved 5 July 2022.