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 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. In addition to the western half of Tutuila Island, the Western District also includes several smaller islets, such as Taputapu Island, Toatai Rock, Niuolepava Rock, Utumatuu Rock, Liuvaatoga Rock, Luania Rocks, Manuelo Rock, and Nuutavana Rock. Dental and medical care to residents of the Western District are offered by Tafuna Community Health Center.

History

The island of Tutuila was historically divided into nine traditional "counties" known as faalupega. The western counties were collectively referred to as Fofō and Aitulagi (also called Falelima Sisifo). In the early 20th century, American Samoa's first Governor, Commander Benjamin Franklin Tilley, restructured these divisions for administrative purposes. He designated the western region as the "Western District" and appointed one of the area's chiefs to serve as District Governor. Each county encompassed multiple villages. To enhance local governance, Governor Tilley selected prominent chiefs from these villages, appointing them as Pulenuu (mayors). These appointments were based on recommendations provided by local leaders within the respective counties and villages. Similarly, the eastern part of the island, traditionally known as Falelima Sasa'e, was renamed the "Eastern District" under Tilley’s administration.

District divisions

Demographics

Western 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. The population of American Samoa is predominantly concentrated in the Western District. Between 1970 and 2010, the population of American Samoa grew by nearly 40,000, with the Western District accounting for a significant portion of this growth, adding over 22,000 residents. By 2015, the overall population increase reached just over 37,000, driven primarily by growth in the Western District. Between 2010 and 2020, the demographic trends in American Samoa shifted, with the territory experiencing a population decline of 10.5 percent. Despite this overall decrease, Tuālāuta County in the Western District emerged as an exception, recording a 9.4 percent population increase, making it the only county in the territory to experience growth during this period. Tuālāuta County is the largest county in American Samoa by both area and population. It is home to Tāfuna, the largest town in the territory.