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Tula, American Samoa

Coordinates: 14°15′10″S 170°33′56″W / 14.25278°S 170.56556°W / -14.25278; -170.56556
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Tula
Village
Tula is located in American Samoa
Tula
Tula
Location in American Samoa
Coordinates: 14°15′10″S 170°33′56″W / 14.25278°S 170.56556°W / -14.25278; -170.56556
Country United States
Territory American Samoa
CountyVaifanua
Area
 • Land0.51 sq mi (1.3 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total308
 • Density794.5/sq mi (306.8/km2)

Tula is a village in the Eastern District of Tutuila Island in American Samoa. Tula is located in Vaifanua County and had a population of 405 as of the 2010 U.S. Census.[1]

Tula is located on Cape Matātula. It is the site of the former upland ridge settlement of Lefutu (AS-21-002).[2]

Geography

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Tula is the easternmost village on Tutuila Island,[3][4] and is situated on the rugged northeast cape of Matātula.[5] It is home to wide, white sand beaches and a prehistoric quarry. The Samoa Observatory, established in 1974 by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), sits on Cape Matātula just outside the village of Tula.[6] NASA's Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE) measures more than 40 trace gases involved in stratospheric ozone depletion, climate change, and air quality at the observatory.[7]

Cape Matā'ula and the nearby village of Onenoa feature small plantations, high cliffs, and forested slopes.[8]

Demographics

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Year Population[9]
2020 308
2010 405
2000 413
1990 423
1980 347
1970 329
1960 340
1950 261
1940 104
1930 128

History

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Tula was one of the first settlements on Tutuila, having been settled by 600 BCE.[10][11] Numerous ancient artifacts have been discovered at the prehistoric quarry near the town.[12]

Notable people

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Composer and radio host Iosefa Salanoa Solatoa (1925-1985) was born and raised in Tula. He composed one of the most popular songs in the Samoan Islands, “Le Eleele ua le Malie i Vai”, and later became President of the Samoan Civic Association of Hawai’i.[13]

References

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  1. ^ Census of population and housing (2000): American Samoa Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics (2000). DIANE Publishing. Pages 13 and 147. ISBN 9781428985490.
  2. ^ Krämer, Augustin (2000). The Samoa Islands. University of Hawaii Press. Pages 497-498 and 432. ISBN 9780824822194.
  3. ^ Lonely Planet (1990). Samoa: Western & American Samoa. Lonely Planet Publications. Page 148. ISBN 9780864420787.
  4. ^ Swaney, Deanna (1994). Samoa: Western & American Samoa: a Lonely Planet Travel Survival Kit. Lonely Planet Publications. Page 178. ISBN 9780864422255.
  5. ^ Krämer, Augustin (2000). The Samoa Islands: An Outline of a Monograph With Particular Consideration of German Samoa. University of Hawaii Press. Page 432. ISBN 9780824822194.
  6. ^ Stanley, David (2004). Moon Handbooks South Pacific. Page 479. ISBN 9781566914116.
  7. ^ "Cape Matatula". Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment. NASA. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  8. ^ Swaney, Deanna (1994). Samoa: Western & American Samoa: a Lonely Planet Travel Survival Kit. Lonely Planet Publications. Page 178. ISBN 9780864422255.
  9. ^ "American Samoa Statistical Yearbook 2016" (PDF). American Samoa Department of Commerce.
  10. ^ Lonely Planet (1990). Samoa: Western & American Samoa. Lonely Planet Publications. Page 135. ISBN 9780864420787.
  11. ^ Stanley, David (1999). Moon Handbooks Tonga-Samoa. Moon Travel Handbooks. Page 163. ISBN 9781566911740.
  12. ^ Murrow, Tony and Malama Meleisea (2000). Samoa: Pacific Pride. Pasifika Press. Page 42. ISBN 9780908597192.
  13. ^ Sunia, Fofō Iosefa Fiti (2001). Puputoa: Host of Heroes - A record of the history makers in the First Century of American Samoa, 1900-2000. Suva, Fiji: Oceania Printers. Pages 133-134. ISBN 9829036022.