Ofu County is a county in the Manu'a District in American Samoa. [1] [2] [3] It was the result of the subdivision of the prior Luanuu County in two, with the other newly created county being Olosega, first reported on the 1930 U.S. Census. It is now contiguous with its only village, Ofu.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 466 | — |
| 1940 | 500 | +7.3% |
| 1950 | 576 | +15.2% |
| 1960 | 605 | +5.0% |
| 1970 | 412 | −31.9% |
| 1980 | 345 | −16.3% |
| 1990 | 353 | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 289 | −18.1% |
| 2010 | 176 | −39.1% |
| 2020 | 132 | −25.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census [4] | ||
Ofu County was first recorded beginning with the 1930 U.S. Census. [5] It had previously been within Luanuu County. Its population zenith was in 1960, with 605 residents. It has since experienced a dramatic population decline (as has the Manu'u District), losing over 2/3 of its population as of 2010.
Vaoto Marine Reserve, spanning 16 hectares (40 acres), is situated seaward of the Ofu Airport landing strip and Vaoto Lodge, adjacent to the Ofu unit of the National Park of American Samoa. Its establishment aimed to protect a coral reef and sandy beach that are easily accessible to visitors. The reserve is notable for hosting a remarkable population of Blue coral (Heliopora coerulea), a rare and threatened species. [6]
Ofu County and its namesake island encompass a single settlement known as Ofu Village, which is divided into two main sections: Ofu and Alaufau. These sectors occupy the western coastal terrace, situated adjacent to a sheltered reef flat and lagoon. The lagoon lies opposite Nuʻutele Island and Nuʻusilaelae Island, while the largest stretch of arable mountain slope lies inland. Historically, additional coastal villages on Ofu Island occupied parts of the southern and southeastern shoreline, including the area called Toʻaga. Limited archaeological evidence suggests that, in later prehistoric times, some habitation may also have spread inward, into the region used for intensive gardening. Although many houses in Ofu Village have been rebuilt using modern materials such as concrete and corrugated metal, the village retains a traditional layout. At its core is the malae — an open common space used for gatherings and ceremonies—bordered by the community church and the guest house of the high chief, which doubles as the meeting place for the American Samoa Fono. Individual household plots, conceptually stretching from the beachfront to the mountain slope, are arranged along the island’s central sandy roadway. [7]
The Samoan Islands are an archipelago covering 3,030 km2 (1,170 sq mi) in the central South Pacific, forming part of Polynesia and of the wider region of Oceania. Administratively, the archipelago comprises all of the Independent State of Samoa and most of American Samoa. The land masses of the two Samoan jurisdictions are separated by 64 km of ocean at their closest points.
The National Park of American Samoa is a national park of the United States located in the territory of American Samoa, distributed across four islands: Tutuila, Ofu, Olosega, and Ta‘ū. The park preserves and protects coral reefs, tropical rainforests, fruit bats, and the Samoan culture. Popular activities include hiking and snorkeling. Of the park's 8,257 acres (3,341 ha), 2,500 acres (1,000 ha) is coral reefs and ocean. The park is the only American National Park Service system unit south of the equator.
Taʻū is the largest inhabited island in the Manuʻa Islands and the easternmost volcanic island of the Samoan Islands. Taʻū is part of American Samoa. In the early 19th century, the island was sometimes called Opoun.
Ofu and Olosega are parts of a volcanic doublet in the Manuʻa Islands, which is a part of American Samoa in the Samoan Islands. These twin islands, formed from shield volcanoes, have a combined length of 6 km and a combined area of 12 square kilometers. Together, they have a population of about 500 people. Geographically, the islands are volcanic remnants separated by the narrow, 137-meter-wide (449-foot)) Āsaga Strait, composed of shallow-water coral reef. Before 1970, people crossed between the two islands by waiting until low tide and then wading across the shallow water of the strait. Since 1970, there has been a bridge over the strait, providing a single-lane road that connects the two islands.
Swains Island is a remote coral atoll in the Tokelau volcanic island group in the South Pacific Ocean. Administered as part of American Samoa since 1925, the island is subject to an ongoing territorial dispute between Tokelau and the United States.
The Manuʻa Islands, or the Manuʻa tele, in the Samoan Islands, consists of three main islands: Taʻū, Ofu and Olosega. The latter two are separated only by the shallow, 137-meter-wide Āsaga Strait, and are now connected by a bridge over the strait. The islands are located some 110 kilometers east of Tutuila and are a part of American Samoa, an unincorporated territory of the United States. Their combined area is 56 square kilometers, and they have a total population of 1,400. Taʻu is the largest of these islands, with an area of 44 km2 (17 sq mi), and it has the highest point of the Manuʻa, at 931 meters. Politically, the islands form the Manuʻa District, one of the three administrative divisions of American Samoa.
Aunuʻu is a small volcanic island off the southeastern shore of Tutuila in Saʻole County, American Samoa. It has a land area of 374.83 acres, and a 2010 census population of 436 persons. Politically, it is a part of the Eastern District, one of the two primary political divisions of American Samoa.
The Western District is one of the three primary divisions of American Samoa. It consists of the western portion of Tutuila Island. It has a land area of 74.781 km2 (28.873 sq mi) and contains 29 villages plus a part of Nuʻuuli village. Among these is the largest village of American Samoa, Tafuna, at its eastern end. The district's total population as of the 2010 census was 31,329.
Fitiuta, also known as Fiti'uta or Maia, is a village on the northeast coast of Taʻū island, one of the Manuʻa Islands in American Samoa. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a population of 153. The village of Fitiuta is made up of two hamlets: Maia and Leusoali'i, the latter of which is the most eastern area on the island. Historically, they were classified as villages. The town has two shops, a hotel and a church, which was recently built. Fitiuta Airport is located in the town.
Ofu Airport is a public airport located one mile (2 km) southeast of the village of Ofu on the island of Ofu in American Samoa, an unincorporated territory of the United States. This airport is publicly owned by Government of American Samoa.
Nuʻuuli is a village on the central east coast of Tutuila Island, American Samoa. It is located on a peninsula several miles up from Pago Pago International Airport. Nuʻuuli is located between Pago Pago International Airport and Coconut Point. It is a shopping district which is home to stores, groceries and many more shops.
Tafuna is a village in Tualauta County, Western District, American Samoa. It is the most populous village in American Samoa, with a population of 7,988 according to the 2020 U.S. Census.
ʻAmanave is a village on the coast of Tutuila Island, American Samoa. It is located close to the island's western tip, Cape Taputapu, and to the south of the village of Poloa. It is located in Lealataua County.
Fatu-ma-futi is a village in central Tutuila Island, American Samoa. It is located at the easternmost point of the entrance to Pago Pago Harbor, south of Pago Pago. Flowerpot Rock, also known as Fatu Rock, is found along the highway in Fatumafuti. Legend says Fatu and Futi were lovers living in the Manu’a Islands. They wanted to get married but were forbidden to do so. The couple sailed from Savai'i (Samoa), looking for Tutuila Island; their canoe sank, and the pair were transformed into these tree-topped islands.
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.
Olosega County is a county in the Manu'a District in American Samoa. It was the result of the subdivision of the prior Luanuu County in two, with the other newly created county being Ofu, first reported on the 1930 U.S. Census. It contains the two villages of Olosega and Sili.
Taʻū County is a county in the Manu'a District in American Samoa. Taʻū County is home to the villages of Lumā and Siʻufaga, which are commonly jointly called Taʻū Village.
Luanuu County is a former county in the Manu'a District in American Samoa. It reported on the 1912 special census and the 1920 U.S. Census. It was subdivided into the present Ofu and Olosega Counties in 1930. It contained the villages of Ofu, Olosega and Sili.
The coral reefs of Tuvalu consist of three reef islands and six atolls, containing approximately 710 km2 (270 sq mi) of reef platforms. The islands of the Tuvalu archipelago are spread out between the latitude of 5° to 10° south and longitude of 176° to 180°, west of the International Date Line. The islands of Tuvalu are volcanic in origin. On the atolls, an annular reef rim surrounds the lagoon, and may include natural reef channels. The reef islands have a different structure to the atolls, and are described as reef platforms as they are smaller tabular reef platforms that do not have a salt-water lagoon, although they may have a completely closed rim of dry land, with the remnants of a lagoon that has no direct connection to the open sea or that may be drying up.
Nu’utele Island is an uninhabited island located off the western shore of Ofu Island, in Ofu County, District of Manu’a, in American Sāmoa. The island is also known as Nu’utele Islet. It was formerly known as Lenu’u or “the village or place persons belong to” in 19th century accounts. It is an eroded tuff cone of the Ofu-Olosega volcano.
14°10′30″S169°37′05″W / 14.175°S 169.618°W
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