# Eastern District, American Samoa

The Eastern District is one of the primary districts of American Samoa. It consists of the eastern portion of Tutuila, American Samoa's largest island, plus the island of Aunu'u. The district has a land area of 67.027 km$^2$ (25.879 sq mi) and a 2010 census population of 23,030. It contains 34 villages plus a portion of Nuʻuuli village. Among these are Pago Pago, Fagatogo, and Utulei.
In addition to the eastern half of Tutuila Island and the island of Aunu'u, the Eastern District encompasses several smaller islands, including Nuusetoga Island (Bartlett Island), Pola Island, Avagatatau Rock, Fatutoaga Rock, Tauga Rock, Manofa Rock, and Nuuosina Rock.

## District divisions

Eastern District is further divided into counties:
* Ituau County
* Ma'oputasi County
* Sa'Ole County
* Sua County
* Vaifanua County

## History

Historically, the cohesion of Sua ma Vaifanua, which later would become the Eastern District, was upheld by their unified high chief, Lei’ato, who lived in Fagaʻitua within Suʻa County. His residence, named Luafaga, was situated on the shared malae called Laloifileone.
Already at the time of joining the union in 1900, Tutuila Island had well defined, traditional political divisions. The eastern part of Tutuila had five traditional “counties” grouped under the name “Sua ma Vaifanua.” American Samoa's first Governor, Commander B. F. Tilley, named this region the “Eastern District” and one of the area's chiefs was appointed as District Governor. Under the District Governor were five traditional counties within the district. Each of the counties contained several villages, and Governor B. F. Tilley selected a leading chief from each village and appointed him to be “Pulenuu” (mayor). All these appointments were based on recommendations Tilley had received in the specific counties and villages. The western part of the island had been known as Fofō and Aitulagi, but was renamed the “Western District” by Tilley.
In 1900, Mauga Moi Moi signed the Treaty of Cession of Tutuila, subsequently being appointed as the High Chief of Pago Pago. This position also designated him as the District Governor of the Eastern District. As the foremost chief in Pago Pago, Governor Benjamin Franklin Tilley extensively relied on Mauga Moi Moi’s leadership to secure Samoan support for the newly established U.S. administration. Mauga Moi Moi served as the District Governor of the Eastern District throughout the first thirty-five years of U.S. governance, from 1900 to 1935.
In 1920, Mauga Moi Moi initiated the Mau movement. Consequently, Governor Warren Terhune dismissed him from his position as District Governor of the Eastern District. In defiance of this removal, he continued to organize anti-U.S. Navy council meetings (fono) in Nuʻuuli, which subsequently became the new headquarters for the Mau movement. Following Governor Terhune’s suicide, several of his controversial laws were repealed, including the reinstatement of Mauga as District Governor.
It was the Eastern District which in 1935 brought a resolution that requested the establishment of a legislative body (Fono). The district's delegates elected Tuiasosopo Mariota to argue their case. Governor Otto Carl Dowling declined the request, claiming only the U.S. Congress had the right to establish such a legislature. High Talking Chief Tuiasosopo would become one of American Samoa's most prominent leaders in the mid-1940s. The Governor's decision was reversed by Governor Vernon Huber in 1948.

## Demographics

Eastern District of Tutuila was first recorded beginning with the 1900 U.S. Census. No census was taken in 1910, but a special census was taken in 1912. Regular decennial censuses were taken beginning in 1920.
Between the 2000 U.S. Census and the 2010 U.S. Census, the Eastern District's population decreased by 1.8 percent. Some counties, however, experienced population growth. These include Sa'Ole County, which experienced the district's highest population growth at 23.7 percent. Vaifanua County experienced a 13.2 percent population increase, while also Ituau County experienced population growth (8.4 percent). The largest population decline took place in Maoputasi County (-11.9%), where nearly all communities experienced a population decline, including American Samoa's capital area of Pago Pago and Fagatogo. Sua County also experienced population loss, although much lower at -2.8 percent.