Since 1951, it has been administered by the US department of the Interior. In the 1960s, large sums of money from the USA flowed into the island state to finance the building of schools, streets, houses, two tuna fish processing plants and a hospital. Illiteracy declined and an excellent system of health care developed. At the same time, the rise in the standard of living to closer approximate that of the American mainland also caused the deterioration of native culture and customs. American Samoa has developed into a shopping paradise for the relatively poorer Western Samoans who cross over to the US islands to shop.
Clothing is especially cheap.
The people of American Samoa are so dependent on their higher standard of living that when given a chance for reunification with Western Samoa in 1966, they voted to remain a territory of the United States. Today, some 45,000 inhabitants live in American Samoa. Agriculture and the fishing industry have progressed to the point that they now supply local needs and produce a surplus for export. Nonetheless, many native inhabitants are dependent upon money from expatriate relatives, or from US government financial help. The hopes of building a solid tourist industry have not proved successful.