Saole County is a

county A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...

in the Eastern District in

American Samoa American Samoa is an Territories of the United States, unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States located in the Polynesia region of the Pacific Ocean, South Pacific Ocean. Centered on , it is southeast of the island count ...

. The county consists of Aunu'u Island together with its foothold upon Tutuila Island, Ālōfau and Āmouli.

History

Saole County had traditionally been referred to in Samoan as "O lea Fagola" (The Long Bay). The historical high chief of the county is referred to as Faumuina. In 2000, there was a dispute between High Chief Faumuina and the Tautolo of Aunu`u regarding land ownership in Saole County. Tautolo leased water and waste disposal facilities on his land on Aunu`u Island to the

American Samoa Power Authority The American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) is a government-run public utility company providing electricity, water, wasterwater, and waste disposal services within American Samoa. History Governor Peter T. Coleman issued an emergency executive o ...

. Faumuina objected to this, claiming he had ''pule'' (control) over the land. The

High Court of American Samoa The High Court of American Samoa is a Samoan court and the highest court below the United States Supreme Court in American Samoa. The Court is located in the capital of Fagatogo. It consists of one chief justice and one associate justice, appo ...

adjudged that Faumina did not have ''pule'' over Tautolo's land. Whilst the High Chief was owed respect for his title, it was held that outside of the Faumuina family's communal lands he did not have the ability to assert ''pule'' over another family's land. High Chief Faumuina still represents Saole County in representations to the American Samoan local government as well as to the government of the United States, including addressing petitions to the

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...

and

President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...

Demographics

Saole County was first recorded beginning with the 1912 special census. Regular decennial censuses were taken beginning in 1920.

Villages

Saole County's main settlements include Āmouli, Utumea and Ālōfau (including 'Au'asi and a portion of Pagai). It also administers Aunu'u Island. Until 2020, the village of Sagai was considered as a part of Sa'ole County when it was moved to Sua County for census purposes.

References

{{Counties of American Samoa Populated places in American Samoa Counties of American Samoa