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Samoan Americans

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This article is about Samoans in the United States. For American Samoans, seeDemographics of American Samoa.
Samoan Americans
Tagata Samoa i le Iunaite Sitete
Total population
121,585alone, 0.04% of U.S. population
243,682including partial ancestry, 0.06%
(2021 Census estimates)
Regions with significant populations
American Samoa
Alaska(Anchorage,Barrow),California(Los Angeles County,Orange County,Sacramento,San Diego County,San Francisco Bay Area,Monterey County,Modesto),Missouri(Independence),Nevada(Las Vegas),Hawaii,Utah(Salt Lake County,Utah County),Washington(Seattle,Tacoma)
Languages
American English,Samoan
Religion
Christianity (Congregationalist,Catholic,Methodist,Assembly of God,Seventh-day Adventist,Mormonism) and various non denomational Christian churches
Related ethnic groups
OtherPolynesians
Tongan Americans

Samoan AmericansareAmericansofSamoanorigin, including those who emigrated from the United States Territory ofAmerican Samoaand immigrants from theIndependent State of Samoato the United States. Samoan Americans arePacific Islandersin theUnited States Census,and are the second largestPacific Islandergroup in the U.S., afterNative Hawaiians.

American Samoahas been anunincorporated territoryof the United States since 1900, and Samoa, formally known as theIndependent State of Samoaand known asWestern Samoauntil 1997, is an independent nation that gained its independence fromNew Zealandin 1962.American Samoa(which is under the jurisdiction of the United States of America) and Samoa together make up theSamoan Islands,anarchipelagothat covers 1,170 sq mi (3,030 km2). LikeNative Hawaiians,theSamoansarrived on the mainland US in the 19th century serving in theUS armed forces,fishermen and later worked as agricultural laborers and factory workers.

As per 2021U.S. Censusestimates, there are over 240,000 people of Samoan descent living in the United States, including those of partial ancestry,[1][2]which is roughly over the population of the Independent State of Samoa, as of 2021.Honolulu, Hawaii,has the largest Samoan population of over 12,000 making up over 2% of the city's population. There are large Samoan communities inGreater Los Angeles,Orange County, California,San Francisco Bay Area,andGreater San Diegocounties in the state ofCalifornia.Other states with cities and towns with significant communities areAlaska,Arizona,Missouri,Oregon,Nevada,Texas,Utah,andWashington.

History[edit]

Entrance to thePolynesian Cultural Center,inLaie, Hawaii,home to one of the highest proportions of Samoan American residents.

Migration from Samoan Islands to the United States began in the 19th century. A small group of Samoans were part of the first MormonPolynesiancolony in the U.S., which was founded in Utah in 1889 and consisted of Samoans,Hawaiiannatives,Tahitians,andMaoripeople.[3]

American Samoaofficially became a U.S. territory in 1900 with theTreaty of Cession of Tutuilaand in 1904 with theTreaty of Cession of Manu'a.[4]

In the 1920s a small group of Mormons from American Samoa emigrated to the modern United States. They were brought by American Mormons to Laie,Hawaiito assist in building theMormon Temple of this place.[5][6]The community grew over the decade and in 1929 there were already 125 American Samoans living in Laie, but the Samoan migration to Hawaii fell in the following years. It was probably due to thecrash of 29,the loss of an important rice field for the community, and theSecond World War.In the second half of the 1940s about 300 mostly military families of American Samoans emigrated to the United States specifically to Hawaii.[7]

In 1951, nearly 1,000 American Samoans linked with the army (i.e. military personnel and their relatives[8]) migrated to the Honolulu's American bases by accepting an invitation from the US Navy (which had left its bases in thePago Pagocity, as American Samoa began to be administered by theU.S. Department of the Interior[5]) so that the Marines could continue working for the Navy. However, many of them later migrated to California (in 1952).[9][8]

In 1952 the natives of American Samoa become U.S. nationals, although not American citizens, through theImmigration and Nationality Act of 1952.[10]This encouraged Samoan emigration to the United States and during the rest of the decade nearly four thousand Samoans migrated to the U.S., mostly to California[11]and Hawaii. Many more Samoans migrated to the United States in the 1960s, surpassing those who emigrated in the previous decade. In fact, the largest Samoan migration to the U.S. occurred at this time (mainly at the beginning of the decade).[12][8]After 1965 increased migration fromSamoa republic.[6]At this time, many Samoans serving in the US military emigrated to be stationed in Hawaii.[7]In the 1970s over 7,540 Western Samoans emigrated to the United States, although the number of people from American Samoa who emigrated to the U.S. is unknown.[13]

In 1972, the number of American Samoans living in the United States exceeded the Samoan population in American Samoa, and California took the place ofTutuilaas the main Samoan-populated region.[14]In 1980 over 22,000 Samoa-born lived in the U.S., mostly of Western Samoa (more than 13,200), while 9,300 were from American Samoa.[13]

Demographics[edit]

According to 2021U.S. Census Bureauestimates, there were 243,682 Samoan people in the United States stateside population, including those who have partial Samoan ancestry.[15]The Samoan American community consists in Americans of both American Samoan and Western Samoan descent.

California[edit]

63,000 people of Samoan origin reside inCalifornia,meaning almost one-third of the Samoan population in the U.S. lives in California. 0.2% of California's population is of Samoan descent. The number of those who identify as Samoan alone is 36,443.[16]The percentages and numbers of Samoan people residing in cities listed below vary from 2015 to 2018, according to the "5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables" from theU.S. Census Bureau.[17]

Southern California[edit]

Carson(1.8-2.2%),Compton(0.3-0.5%), andLong Beach(0.7-0.8%), andParamount(0.7-1%) inLos Angeles County,Oceanside(0.5-0.6%) inSan Diego County,andTwentynine Palms(0.9-1.1%) inSan Bernardino Countyhave among the highest concentration of Samoans in Southern California, which include those of partial ancestry.[18]Also inSan Diego,one of the very first Samoan churches in the entire United States, was founded in 1955 byRev.Suitonu Galea'i. From there, multiple Samoan churches throughout California branched from the First Samoan Congregational Christian Church of San Diego.[19][20][21]There are Samoan communities enumerating several hundred inMoreno Valley(300 to 500) andSan Bernardino(400), at least 0.2% of the city’s populations.

Northern California[edit]

Much of San Francisco’s Samoan community is tight-knit live amongst the city’s African American community. Thepublic housingcommunities as well as residential communities in theBayview-Hunters Point,Potrero Hill,andVisitacion Valleyneighborhoods in southeasternSan Franciscoare home to much of the city’s Samoan community. As per the 2015-18 estimates, San Francisco is 0.2-0.3% Samoan (1,807-2,262 residents).[18]The 2018 estimate of the number of Samoans in San Francisco is a decrease from the 2000 reported number of Samoans, which was 2,311 (which did not account for people who reported to be part Samoan).[22]In theEast Bay Area,San Leandrois home to a sizable Samoan community (0.4%-0.6%), as well as inDaly City(0.4-0.9%),East Palo Alto(1.2-1.3%), andHayward(0.6%-0.9%).[23]Balboa High Schoolis about 3% Pacific Islander during the 2010s and 2020s and middle and elementary schools, such as Charles Drew Elementary in southeast San Francisco, are rife in Samoans and in general Pacific Islanders; that school of roughly 200 students is 15-25% Pacific Islander, and a similar volume of Islanders go to school at KIPP Bayview and Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School.

In Daly City, Samoan restaurants and businesses are located off Geneva Avenue. In 1972, the First Samoan Congregational Church ofSan Josewas founded by Rev. Felix T. and Molly T. Ava Molifua, affiliated with Northern California UCC.[19]San Jose has over 3,000 Samoans in residence (0.3%).

AnotherSan Mateo Countycity,San Bruno,is about one percent Samoan; there are also Samoan communities in nearbySouth San FranciscoandSan Mateoproper, although it is more Tongan-populated within its Polynesian community.

In theCentral Valleyand inland California, where compared to the Bay Area has a slightly smaller percentage of Samoans, higher populations are commonly found in the areas ofModesto(0.2%),Sacramento,andStockton.The city of Sacramento has over 1,800 to 2,200 Samoans, about 0.4% of its population.

InCentral California,Samoan Americans are concentrated inMonterey County,which was home to aU.S. Armybase,Fort Ord,which closed in 1994. The populations are concentrated inMarina(0.8-1%) andSeaside(0.4%-0.9%).[18]

Other Western U.S.[edit]

Oregon and Washington[edit]

TheSeattle−Tacoma,Washingtonarea is also home to a sizable Samoan community, especially in the cities ofKent(1.5%),Renton(1%),Federal Way(1.6%),SeaTac(2.9%), andWhite Center(3.2%).[24]Seattle has 1,500 Samoans, 0.2% of the city's population.[17]The First Samoan Christian Congregational Church in theWashington statewas established in 1964 in southeast Seattle, where Samoans settled in the Pacific Northwest.[25]The south Seattle neighborhoods ofColumbia CityandRainier Valleyhave had sizeable Samoan communities since the 1960s and 1970s. Nearly 6,000 people of their descendants reside inPierce County, Washington,making up 0.7% of the county's population.[26]Tacoma is home to 1,800 Samoans, making up nearly one percent of the city's population.[17]

The Dalles, Oregonhas a Samoan community of nearly 200 Samoan people, making up 1.3% of the city's population.[17]Portland, Oregonalso has some Samoans, about 500, andGreshamhas about the same with of a much smaller population of a city in general, therefore making half a percent of its population.

Utah and other western U.S.[edit]

Utahstatewide is 0.6% Samoan including those with some non-Samoan ancestry, and 0.3% are those who identify as Samoan alone.[16]Utah has a history of Samoan immigration dating back to the late 1800s, due to them taking upMormonismwhich was preached and influenced to them by missionaries who had come toPolynesianislands. Utah's Mormon community had housing and services for some Polynesian immigrants, which also includedTongansandMaori.Salt Lake City, Utahis home to 1,500 Samoan-origin people, 0.7% of the city's population.[27]Salt Lake Countycities such asKearns(2%),Taylorsville(1.5%), andWest Valley City(1.8%) having above average proportions of Samoan people for Utah. There is a sizable Samoan community inUtah County,specificallyProvo,which is at least 0.3% Samoan.[17]

There is a Samoan community inColorado Springs, Coloradoof 430 people (0.1%), andLawton, Oklahoma(0.3%), in whichComanche County, Oklahomais at least 0.6% Pacific Islander (2010), mainly Samoan.

Las Vegas, Nevadais home to over 1,500 Samoans, 0.2% of the city's population.[17]

Alaska and Hawaii[edit]

Outside the mainland U.S., many Samoan Americans have settled inHawaiiandAlaska.About 2.8% of Hawaiian residents are of Samoan descent, with 1.3% having full Samoan ancestry. Many live on the island ofOahu.Linapuni Street, especially the Kuhio Park Terrace apartments inHonolulu,has the highest concentration of Samoans of any residential area in Hawaii, at 37% of residents. CentralPalolohas the highest percentage of any Hawaiian tract, with 4% having a Samoan background.[28]The Oahu town ofLaiehas 1,380 Samoan Americans, about 21% of the town, one of the highest concentration of Samoan Americas of any town or city in the U.S.[17]

Two percent of people in the city ofAnchorage, Alaskaare of Samoan descent, with nearly 6,000 living in the city. Alaska has a relatively high proportion of them, comprising about 0.8% of the state's population.[26][17]

In recent years, the Samoan population has rapidly increased in Alaska.Barrow, AlaskaandWhittier, Alaskaboth are rife in Samoan residents and Samoan churches have become commonly attended in rural Alaska as well.

Midwest and South[edit]

In theMidwest,a significant Samoan community is inIndependence,Missouri,where around 1,000 Samoan people reside (0.9% of the city). In nearbyKansas City, Missourithere lives 340 Samoans, which is 0.1% of the city's population.[17]

In theEastern United StatesandSoutheastern United States,Samoan communities exist inFayetteville, North CarolinaandClarksville, Tennessee.[29]There are 365 Samoan-origin people inPrince William County, Virginia,and a Samoan church inAlexandria.[30]

There is a community of Samoans inLiberty County, Georgia.

InTexas,there is a Samoan community prominent in theDallas-Fort Worthsuburb ofEuless(0.5%), and a Samoan church in the city ofKilleen(0.3%).

Military[edit]

Significant numbers of Samoan Americans serve in theU.S. Military.American Samoahas the highest rate of military enlistment of any state or territory.[31]

Sports[edit]

American footballis the most popular sport in American Samoa. Per capita, theSamoan Islandshave produced the highest number ofNational Football Leagueplayers. In 2010, it was estimated that a boy born to Samoan parents is 56 times more likely to get into the NFL than any other boy in America.[32]

Notable people[edit]

Lists of Americans
By US state
By ethnicity
Tulsi Gabbard,U.S. RepresentativeforHawaii's 2nd congressional district.She is one-quarter Samoan.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson,actor and wrestler. He is half Samoan.

Entertainment[edit]

Music[edit]

Politics, law and government[edit]

Sports[edit]

American football

Other[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDER ALONE BY SELECTED GROUPS".
  2. ^"Honolulu Mayor honors National Samoan Language Week".Samoa News.2012-06-05.Retrieved2012-06-07.
  3. ^Brij V. Lal; Kate Fortune (2000).The Pacific Islands: An Encyclopedia, Volumen 1.University of Hawai'i Press.ISBN9780824822651.Page 116.
  4. ^Schaefer, Richard T. (2008).Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity, and Society, Volumen 1.SAGE Publications. p. 1189.ISBN9781412926942.
  5. ^abPettey, Janice Gow (2002).Cultivating Diversity in Fundraising.John Wiley and Sons, Inc.ISBN9780471226017..Page 22.
  6. ^abElliott Robert Barkan, ed. (2013).Immigrants in American History: Arrival, Adaptation, and Integration. Part 3.ABC-Clio.ISBN9781598842197.Chapter:Pacific Islander and Pacific Islander Americans, 1940-present,written by Matthew Kester. Page 1177.
  7. ^abStantom, Max (1973).SAMOAN SAINTS SETTLERS AND SOJOURNERS.University of Oregon. pp. 21, 23.From workSamoan Saints: the Samoans in the mormon village of Laie, Hawaii.
  8. ^abcPaul R. Spickard; Joanne L. Rondilla; Debbie Hippolite Wrigh, eds. (2002).Pacific Diaspora: Island Peoples in the United States and Across the Pacific.University of Hawai'i Press.ISBN9780824826192..Chapter 7.From Village to City: Samoan migration to California,written by Graig R. James. Pages 120-121.
  9. ^Garrison, Jessica (April 14, 2000)."Samoan Americans at a Crossroads".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedMay 26,2020.
  10. ^American Samoa and the Citizenship Clause: A Study in Insular Cases Revisionism.Chapter 3. Harvard Law Review. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  11. ^Embry, Jessie L. (2001).Mormon Wards as Community.Global Publications,Binghamton University,New York. p. 124.ISBN9781586841126.
  12. ^Gershon, Ilana (2001).No Family Is an Island: Cultural Expertise among Samoans in Diaspora.Cornell University Press, Ithaca and London. p. 10.ISBN0801464021.
  13. ^abJohn Connell, ed. (1990).Migration and Development in the South Pacific.National Centre for Development Studies, The Australian National University. pp. 172–173.ISBN9780731506682.
  14. ^Gordon R. Lewthwaite; Christiane Mainzer; Patrick J. Holland (1973). "From Polynesia to California: Samoan Migration and Its Sequel".The Journal of Pacific History.8.The Journal of Pacific History. Vol. 8: 133–157.doi:10.1080/00223347308572228.JSTOR25168141.Page 25.
  15. ^Division, US Census Bureau Administration and Customer Services."US Census Bureau Publications - Population".census.gov.Retrieved2018-09-04.
  16. ^ab"NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDER ALONE BY SELECTED GROUPS".U.S. Census Bureau.
  17. ^abcdefghi"NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDER ALONE OR IN ANY COMBINATION BY SELECTED GROUPS".U.S. Census Bureau.2019–2020.
  18. ^abc"NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDER ALONE OR IN ANY COMBINATION BY SELECTED GROUPS".U.S. Census Bureau.
  19. ^abSahagun, Louis (October 1, 2009)."Samoans in Carson hold church services for tsunami, earthquake victims".Los Angeles Times.Retrieved2012-04-04.
  20. ^Mydans, Seth (June 4, 1992)."Police Officer in California Cleared in Shooting Deaths".The New York Times.Retrieved2012-04-04.
  21. ^Fuestch, Michelle (March 13, 1991)."Samoans Protest Killing of 2 Brothers".Los Angeles Times.Retrieved2012-04-04.
  22. ^"San Francisco City, California Statistics and Demographics (US Census 2000)".AreaConnect /U.S. Census Bureau.
  23. ^Knight, Heather (March 1, 2006)."A YEAR AT MALCOLM X: Second Chance at Success Samoan families learn American culture".San Francisco Chronicle.Retrieved2012-04-04.
  24. ^Brown, Charles E. (September 30, 2009)."Puget Sound's Samoan community awaits news".Seattle Times.Retrieved2012-04-04.
  25. ^ab"Census AmericanFactfinder".United States Census.Retrieved2012-04-04.[dead link]
  26. ^"One of every four Tongans in U.S. calls Utah home".September 12, 2011. Archived fromthe originalon July 3, 2015.
  27. ^"Samoan Population by County, Island and Census Tract in the State of Hawaii: 2010"(PDF).
  28. ^"Amata's Journal: Many Samoans in Norfolk area".Samoa News. May 25, 2013.RetrievedJune 3,2013.
  29. ^"First Samoan Congregational Christian Church-DMV".Localprayers.
  30. ^"U.S. Army investigating uniformed soldiers who appeared in video at Democratic convention".Reuters.August 19, 2020.
  31. ^Pelley, Scott."American Samoa: Football Island".CBS News.Retrieved17 Sep2010.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Samoan_Americans&oldid=1235108369"