US Postage Stamps // Philatelic Project // Unincorporated Territories

        

American Samoa
[Sāmoa Amelika]
Pago Pago, AS // Polynesia // Samoa Time
Discovery of Samoan islands: June 13, 1722, by Dutch captain
Jacob Roggeveen (* 1659, † 1729)
US Territory established: April 17, 1900, formed out of the islands
Tutuila and Aunu'u and named
US Naval Station Tutuila
Territory extended: July 16, 1904, US annexation of
Manu'a island group and Rose Atoll
Territory renamed American Samoa: July 17, 1911
US annexation of Swains Island: March 4, 1925
Autonomy granted: April 22, 1960
New territorial flag adopted: April 24, 1960
(previously US flag "Stars and Stripes")
American Samoa was administrated from February 17, 1900 until June 28, 1951 by the US Navy, afterwards until autonomy granted by the US Department of Interior.
View map of American Samoa

#4276 // June 14, 2008
(self-adhesive coil definitive)
Flags of Our Nation Series

Flag of American Samoa,
and Island Peaks and Trees
View American Samoa quarter

#3389 // April 17, 2000 // Pago Pago, AS

The design of the stamp shows an àlia,
a traditional double canoe, sailing near
Sunuitao Peak on the island of Ofu.

American Samoa's islands are located in the heart of Polynesia, with Hawai'i, Rapanui (Easter Island), and New Zealand making up the three points of the Polynesian triangle. The Territory comprises five volcanic islands (Tutuila, Aunu'u, Ofu, Olosega and Ta'u) and two atolls (Rose and Swains). The Samoan Islands have been inhabited for over 3,000 years.

American Samoa is the only US territory south of the equator.
The official languages are English and Sāmoan.
Land/Water Area
rounded mi2 [km2]
76 [197]
117,424 [304.127]
Population
(census 2012)
55,519
Population Density
per mi2 [km2] of land area
731 [282]
The Territory of American Samoa is divided into three districts and two unorganized atolls.
The districts and atolls are subdivided into 16 counties and 74 villages.


        

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// Elmar R. Göller // All rights reserved // Contact // Publishing Information
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