Oregon City, Oregon

Oregon City is the county seat of Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, located on the Willamette River near the southern limits of the Portland metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 37,572. Established in 1829 by the Hudson's Bay Company, in 1844 it became the first U.S. city west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated.

"Oregon City" redirects here. For other uses, see Oregon City (disambiguation).

Oregon City, Oregon
City
The McLoughlin House, est. 1845
The McLoughlin House, est. 1845
Official seal of Oregon City, Oregon
Seal
Nickname(s): 
End of the Oregon Trail, OC
Motto(s): 
Urbs civitatis nostrae prima et mater (English: First and mothertown of our state)
Location in Oregon
Location in Oregon
Oregon City is located in Oregon
Oregon City
Oregon City
Oregon City is located in the United States
Oregon City
Oregon City
Coordinates: 45°21′26″N 122°36′26″W
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyClackamas
Founded1829
Incorporated1844
Government
 • MayorDenyse McGriff
Area
[1]
 • Total10.29 sq mi (26.64 km2)
 • Land10.05 sq mi (26.03 km2)
 • Water0.24 sq mi (0.61 km2)
Elevation
141 ft (42 m)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total36,975
 • Density3,738.88/sq mi (1,443.54/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP code
97045
Area code(s)503 and 971
FIPS code41-55200
GNIS feature ID1136601[3]
Websitewww.orcity.org

History
Detail from Oregon City on the Willamette River by John Mix Stanley, c. 1850s (Amon Carter Museum of American Art)

Known in recent decades as the site of several large paper mills on the Willamette River, the city played a significant role in the early history of the Oregon Country. It was established by Hudson's Bay Company's Dr. John McLoughlin in 1829 near the confluence of the Clackamas River with the Willamette to take advantage of the power of Willamette Falls to run a lumber mill. During the 1840s and 1850s it was the destination for those wanting to file land claims after traveling the Oregon Trail as the last stop on the trail.[4][5]

It was the capital of the Oregon Territory from its establishment in 1848 until 1851, and rivaled Portland for early supremacy in the area. In 1846, the city's newspaper, the Oregon Spectator, was the first American newspaper to be published west of the Rocky Mountains. Oregon City College was established in 1849 as a Baptist school, but was defunct by the 1870s.[6] Oregon City was the site of the Beaver Coins Mint, producing the short-lived independent Oregon Territory currency in 1849.[7]

The center of the city retains part of its historic character through the preservation of houses and other buildings from the era of the city's founding.

Former Latin archdiocese

The town became the see city of the first Roman Catholic archdiocese in the western United States, when the diocese of Oregon City, established in 1846, was raised to metropolitan rank, with Archbishop François Norbert Blanchet as its ordinary. Its territory included all of the western United States. The population in the area of Oregon City declined due to the California Gold Rush. The population of nearby Portland grew, and the headquarters of the archdiocese was moved there in 1926. In 1928 the name Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon replaced the former name. No longer a residential bishopric, Oregon City is now a titular see.[8][9]

Neighborhoods
Beaver Coins
Sketch of $5 & $10 Beaver Coins

Oregon City has several neighborhoods represented by official neighborhood associations:[10]

  • The Park Place neighborhood is in the northeastern corner of the city, located on a bluff overlooking Abernethy Green. The neighborhood includes a housing project, as well as numerous rural properties. Park Place, formerly an independent community, also includes unincorporated areas outside the city limits. First called Clackamas (a name that was later given to a community three miles (5 km) north), then Paper Mill, the community was finally named Park Place for a park in a nearby oak grove. Park Place was platted in 1889, and a post office was established the following year. For a while the name was changed to "Parkplace."[11]
  • The Two Rivers neighborhood is the primarily commercial lowest-elevation area of town including downtown Oregon City, the End of the Oregon Trail Visitor's Center at Abernethy Green, and Clackamette Park. It borders the Clackamas and Willamette rivers to the north and west and Park Place to the east and McLoughlin to the south. I-205 runs through the north part of the neighborhood.
Oregon City City Hall
  • The McLoughlin neighborhood is bordered by Washington Street and Singer Hill on the Northwest, a bluff overlooking Abernethy Creek on the northeast and east, and Division Street on the south. It also includes extends to the west to border the Canemah district. The John McLoughlin House and the upper entrance to the Municipal Elevator are located in this neighborhood.
  • The Barclay Hills neighborhood lies between Rivercrest Neighborhood on the west, the city limits on the east, the McLoughlin Neighborhood on the north, and Warner-Milne Road on the south. This neighborhood is bisected by Molalla Avenue, the former route of Oregon Route 213 before it was moved to the Oregon City Bypass to the east.
  • The Canemah neighborhood lies along Oregon Route 99E, and is a narrow strip of land sandwiched between the Willamette River and a bluff. Canemah was once an independent city before being annexed into Oregon City. Canemah was founded in 1845 and was the portage site around Willamette Falls for many years. It was supposedly named after an Indian chief.[11]
  • The Rivercrest neighborhood includes Rivercrest Park, and the residential communities overlooking the Willamette River to the west.
  • The South End neighborhood lies to the southwest of Rivercrest Neighborhood. It centers around the intersection of South End and Warner-Parrot roads, and was the location of Oregon City's (now defunct) drive-in movie theater.
  • The Hazel Grove/Westling Farm neighborhood lies in the southwestern corner of the city, lying between the bluffs over the Willamette River and the unincorporated areas to the south.
  • The Tower Vista neighborhood lies southeast of South End, and east of Hazel Grove/Whistling Farm. It is bordered on the east and southeast by Leland Road.
  • The Hillendale neighborhood lies south of Warner-Milne Road, east of Leland Road, north of Clairmont Way and Beavercreek Road, and west of OR 213 and the city limits. The former site of City Hall is located here, as is the Clackamas County jail.
  • The Gaffney Lane neighborhood, centered around the elementary school of the same name, lies south of Hillendale, west of OR 213, and north/east of the city limits.
  • The Caufield neighborhood contains those parts of the city located south of Park Place, and east of OR 213. Clackamas Community College is located here, as is Oregon City High School.
Oregon City, circa 1845
A sketch of Oregon City, 1847
A painting of Oregon City, c. 1850–52, by John Mix Stanley
Oregon City, circa 1867
Oregon City and Willamette Falls in 1888
The industrial district in 1895
Images of the evolving town of Oregon City though the 19th century

Geography

The town is divided into upper and lower areas. The lower area is on a bench next to the Willamette River. The upper area is atop a bluff composed of Canemah basalt, which flowed about 2.5 million years ago from a vent 7.5 miles (12 km) to the southeast in the Boring Lava Field.[12] For many years, Indian trails connected the two levels, but stairs were built in the 19th century. In 1915 the town built the water-powered Oregon City Municipal Elevator to connect the two parts, which was converted to electricity in the 1920s. In 1952, a new electric elevator was constructed with the specification that it was to be "as plain as possible and without ornament."[13]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.29 square miles (24.06 km2), of which 9.05 square miles (23.44 km2) is land and 0.24 square miles (0.62 km2) is water.[14] The major waterways of Oregon City include the Willamette River, which flows along the northwest side of the city, and the Clackamas River, which merges with the larger Willamette to the north of the city. The Willamette forms the boundary between Oregon City and West Linn; the Clackamas serves as the boundary between Oregon City and Gladstone.

Willamette Falls
Main article: Willamette Falls

The Willamette Falls Locks in West Linn were the first multi-lift navigational locks in the United States and are now a National Historical Site, no longer in use. The first long-distance electrical service in the United States originated in Oregon City in 1889, transmitting electricity 14 miles (23 km) to Portland.[15]

Climate
Climate data for Oregon City, Oregon
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 66
(19)		 75
(24)		 81
(27)		 92
(33)		 104
(40)		 115
(46)		 108
(42)		 107
(42)		 105
(41)		 96
(36)		 75
(24)		 68
(20)		 115
(46)
Average high °F (°C) 48.5
(9.2)		 53.0
(11.7)		 58.3
(14.6)		 63.6
(17.6)		 70.4
(21.3)		 76.0
(24.4)		 83.3
(28.5)		 83.7
(28.7)		 78.0
(25.6)		 65.1
(18.4)		 53.1
(11.7)		 46.5
(8.1)		 65.0
(18.3)
Average low °F (°C) 36.5
(2.5)		 37.1
(2.8)		 39.8
(4.3)		 42.9
(6.1)		 47.9
(8.8)		 52.6
(11.4)		 56.5
(13.6)		 56.4
(13.6)		 52.2
(11.2)		 45.9
(7.7)		 40.3
(4.6)		 35.5
(1.9)		 45.3
(7.4)
Record low °F (°C) −2
(−19)		 6
(−14)		 22
(−6)		 28
(−2)		 31
(−1)		 37
(3)		 41
(5)		 41
(5)		 33
(1)		 24
(−4)		 9
(−13)		 6
(−14)		 −2
(−19)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 6.78
(172)		 4.62
(117)		 4.67
(119)		 3.47
(88)		 2.46
(62)		 1.74
(44)		 .65
(17)		 .72
(18)		 1.61
(41)		 3.61
(92)		 6.56
(167)		 7.32
(186)		 44.21
(1,123)
Source: [16]

Oregon City has a Mediterranean climate. The Mediterranean climate regime resembles the climate of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, parts of western North America, parts of Western and South Australia, in southwestern South Africa and in parts of central Chile. The climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters.

Economy
Willamette Falls and a paper mill at Oregon City, on the Willamette River

For much of its existence, Oregon City's economy has been dominated by the forestry industry, until the decline of the Pacific Northwest lumber industry started in the 1980s. At its height, several mills operated in the city and surrounding communities. The last paper mill in the immediate vicinity closed in 2017.[17]

With the growth of the Portland Metro region, Oregon City has become largely a suburb of Portland. Tourism is a growing sector with the emphasis on the city's history and the major renovation of the Willamette Falls area into a public-access, mixed-use space through the Willamette Falls Legacy Project.[18]

Government

Oregon City is governed by a Mayor and a City Commission composed of the Mayor and four Commissioners elected from the City at large for terms of four years each.[19]

Oregon City was the capital of the Oregon Territory until 1851; the following governors served during that time:

Education

The city, and several surrounding communities, is served by the Oregon City School District,[20] a public school district consisting of 7 elementary schools, two middle schools, a traditional four-year high school (Oregon City High School), and an alternative secondary school. Several schools in the district offer bilingual English/Spanish programs. Oregon City High School is the third most populated high school in Oregon, and is a state and national power in girls' basketball, winning three consecutive USA Today girls' national championships in the 1990s.[21]

The city also is the home of Clackamas Community College, numerous private and parochial schools, and a public library that is part of the Library Information Network of Clackamas County.

Points of interest

Museums and historic buildings
Municipal Elevator in Oregon City

Museums include the Museum of the Oregon Territory and the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, with costumed "living history" guides. The Clackamas County Historical Society archives, housed in the Museum of the Oregon Territory, also include the incorporation plat for the city of San Francisco. Clackamas Heritage Partners owns and operates these museums, along with the Stevens Crawford Museum. In 2009, Clackamas Heritage Partners announced that it could no longer afford to keep the museums open. The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center was closed to the public indefinitely in September 2009; the Stevens Crawford Museum and Museum of the Oregon Territory, staffed largely by volunteers, continued to operate on a limited schedule.[22] The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center eventually reopened during the summer of 2013 with the support of grants and donations from numerous sources.[23]

The Stevens-Crawford Heritage House Museum is a 1908 structure with 11 furnished rooms; exhibiting furniture from the collection of the Clackamas County Historical Society to replicate an Edwardian era home and Progressive Era narrative. Other historical buildings in Oregon City include the McLoughlin House, the Ermatinger House (oldest in Clackamas County), the Ainsworth House, the Harvey Cross House, and the First Congregational Church.

The Oregon City Bridge over the Willamette River, built in 1922, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as is the Oregon City Municipal Elevator.

Parks

Oregon City has over 22 city parks. One of the city's larger parks is Clackamette Park, at the confluence of the Clackamas and Willamette Rivers. The park's features include RV camping, a boat launch and dock, a skateboard park, and other recreational facilities. Several community festivals are held there throughout the year. Other major parks include Chapin, Hillendale, Jon Storm Park, Rivercrest, and the new Wesley Lynn.

Transportation

Road
Main Street, circa 1920
Main Street c. 1920

Interstate 205 passes through the city's northern edge, and is the only freeway to serve the city. In addition, three state highways (Oregon Route 43, Oregon Route 99E, and Oregon Route 213) pass through or terminate in Oregon City. The former two serve the city's downtown core, the latter provides service to the southern parts of Oregon City.

Rail

The Union Pacific Railroad mainline passes through the city. The city also has an Amtrak station, which is served twice daily in each direction by Amtrak Cascades trains running between Portland and Eugene, Oregon. The Coast Starlight (Seattle–Los Angeles) passes through but does not stop.

Air

There are no public airports within the city. A small private airfield is along Beavercreek Road, south of Oregon City. Oregon City is served by Portland International Airport, 15 miles (24 km) to the north, and by Portland-Mulino Airport, a general-aviation facility in the town of Mulino, approximately 15 miles (24 km) to the south.

Water

The Willamette River in Oregon City is navigable to small craft, and Oregon City has a thriving fishing and recreational boating industry. The Willamette Falls Locks once allowed boats to navigate around the falls. The Clackamas River is not navigable, except for the lowermost portions.

Mass transit

As part of the greater Portland metropolitan area, Oregon City is served by TriMet, the regional transit authority, with several bus lines which converge at the Oregon City Transit Center. Until 1958, an interurban trolley line operated by the now-defunct Portland Traction Company connected Oregon City with Portland;[24] remnants of this line are still visible (such as an abandoned bridge across the Clackamas River, just east of the OR 99E bridge). In more recent years, the city operated a "historic trolley" service during the summer months, primarily to serve the needs of tourism, but the vehicles used were trolley-replica buses, rather than actual trolley cars, and in 2013 it was decided to discontinue that service and sell the vehicles.[25]

Two other public agencies provide transit service in Oregon City, supplementing that of TriMet. The South Clackamas Transportation District (SCTD) operates a route between Clackamas Community College on the south east end of Oregon City to Molalla, about 18 miles (29 km) south on Oregon Route 213. Canby Area Transit (CAT) operates regular service on Oregon Route 99E between the Oregon City Transit Center and Canby. SMART, South Metro Area Regional Transit, serving Wilsonville, connects to CAT in Canby. CAT also has service to Woodburn.

Dial-a-Ride service is operated by TriMet, but CAT also operates within the Oregon City city limits for trips originating or terminating in the CAT service area. If transfers between TriMet and CAT are necessary, they are accomplished at the Oregon City Transit Center (OCTC) at 11th & Main, which is at the northeast end of the downtown area.

Demographics

2010 census
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18601,229—
18701,38212.4%
18801,262−8.7%
18903,167151.0%
19003,49410.3%
19104,98742.7%
19205,68614.0%
19305,7611.3%
19406,1246.3%
19507,08215.6%
19607,99612.9%
19709,17614.8%
198014,67359.9%
199014,6980.2%
200025,75475.2%
201031,85923.7%
202037,57217.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[26]
2018 Estimate[27][2]

As of the census[28] of 2010, there were 31,859 people, 11,973 households, and 8,206 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,520.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,359.2/km2). There were 12,900 housing units at an average density of 1,425.4 per square mile (550.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.1% White, 0.6% African American, 0.9% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 2.3% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.3% of the population.

There were 11,973 households, of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.5% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.07.

The median age in the city was 36.3 years. 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.8% were from 25 to 44; 25.7% were from 45 to 64; and 11.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,754 people, 9,471 households, and 6,667 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,163.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,221.6/km2). There were 10,110 housing units at an average density of 1,242.0 per square mile (479.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.44% White, 1.12% Asian, 1.08% Native American, 0.58% African American, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 2.15% from other races, and 2.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.98% of the population.

There were 9,471 households, out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,531, and the median income for a family was $51,597. Males had a median income of $38,699 versus $29,547 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,870. About 6.5% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

In addition to John McLoughlin, the "Father of Oregon" and chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company, and Vietnam-era Medal of Honor recipient Larry G. Dahl, Oregon City has been home to the following:

Oregon pioneers
Political activists
  • William Simon U'Ren (1859-1949), lawyer, known as the Father of the Oregon System of government.

Sister cities

According to Sister Cities International, Oregon City has one sister city:

See also

References
  1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  2. "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  3. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. "The Oregon Trail: Oregon City". Archived from the original on July 23, 2011.
  5. "America's Byways: Historic Columbia River Highway" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on June 20, 2007. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  6. Lange, Erwin F. (December 1936). "Oregon City Private Schools, 1843-59". Oregon Historical Quarterly. Oregon Historical Society. 37 (4): 317–323. JSTOR 20611017.
  7. "Rare minted-in-Oregon 'beaver coin' sells for $125,000". KATU. January 24, 2006. Archived from the original on October 10, 2007. Retrieved July 5, 2007.
  8. Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013, ISBN 978-88-209-9070-1), p. 945
  9. Roberts, Anthony (July 14, 2009). "Oregon City gets its own bishop — sort of". The Oregon City News. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  10. "Neighborhood Associations". Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  11. McArthur, Lewis A.; Lewis L. McArthur (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. ISBN 0-87595-277-1.
  12. O'Connor, Jim E.; Dorsey, Rebecca J.; Madin, Ian P., eds. (2009). Volcanoes to Vineyards: Geologic Field Trips through the Dynamic Landscape of the Pacific Northwest. Boulder, Colorado: The Geological Society of America. p. 267. ISBN 978-0-8137-0015-1.
  13. "Oregon City Elevator history". Oregon City historical information website. Oregon City. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  14. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  15. "Willamette Falls Power Plants". Edison Tech Center. Archived from the original on March 24, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  16. "Oregon City, Oregon". Western Regional Climate Center. 2014. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  17. Malee, Patrick (October 16, 2017). "West Linn Paper Company will close after 128 years". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  18. "Willamette Falls Legacy Project". Willamette Falls Legacy Project.
  19. "Oregon City Government - Mayor and Commission". Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  20. Oregon City School District Archived 2006-02-02 at the Wayback Machine official website
  21. Oregonian/OregonLive, Jerry Ulmer (March 9, 2016). "The Top 20 all-time Oregon high school girls basketball teams". oregonlive.com. Oregonian Media Group. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  22. Graham, Matthew (August 18, 2009). "Iconic Oregon City museum closing again". The Oregon City News. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  23. Rendleman, Raymond (August 14, 2013). "Reporter". Clackamas Review. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  24. Thompson, Richard (2006). Portland's Streetcars. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 114–121. ISBN 0-7385-3115-4.
  25. Mayes, Steve (July 27, 2013). "Oregon City trolley makes its last run on Labor Day, 3-bus fleet will be sold". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on October 28, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
  26. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  27. "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  28. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  29. Rich Fellers,
  30. "www.sister-cities.org/interactive-map/Oregon City, Oregon". www.sister-cities.org. Archived from the original on June 22, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
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