Coos Bay, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Coos Bay is a city located in Coos County, Oregon
, United States
, where the Coos River
enters Coos Bay
on the Pacific Ocean
. The city borders the city of North Bend
, and together they are often referred to as one entity called either Coos Bay-North Bend or the Bay Area. Coos Bay's population as of the 2010 census was 15,967 residents, which is the largest city on the Oregon Coast.
tribes claimed the Coos Bay region as their homeland for thousands of years. Members of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, Siuslaw and Coquille tribes lived, fished, hunted and gathered along Coos Bay and its estuaries, along rivers, and in meadows and forests. Approximately 400 years ago, British and Spanish explorers first approached the South Coast. In 1579 Sir Francis Drake is purported to have sought shelter for his ship, the Golden Hinde, around Cape Arago. Trader and explorer Jedediah Smith
was in the region seeking furs and the Hudson's Bay Company
sent Alexander McLeod
to search for an inland passage.
of its founder, J. C. Tolman. The first Methodist church in the area was established in 1857. By 1866 the inhabitants, who were reliant on the sea for their income, had built the Cape Arago Light
. The setting up of a post office
in 1871 and the arrival of the Coos Bay Wagon Road in the town a year later connected Coos County with the Umpqua River
valley in neighbouring Douglas County, on the other side of the Coast Range
of mountains. This wagon road, although long gone in its original form, is still partially in existence since the route of Oregon Route 42 roughly follows the original right of way.
1869 saw Coos Bay set up its first, and the state's 48th, chartered Masonic Lodge. Named Blanco Lodge, this brotherhood was set up by several of the town's founding fathers. With this development, the incorporation
of Marshfield came in 1874. One of the nation's oldest still-operating machine shops, the Nelson Machine Works-Coos Bay Iron Works, was set up in 1888.
Prior to around 1915, The Coos region was largely isolated from the rest of Oregon due to difficulties in crossing the Coast Range and fording rivers, and the Pacific Ocean was used to link people to other areas, including San Francisco, which was an easier two-day trip compared to traveling inland over rugged terrain. In 1916 a rail line was completed that linked the region to other interior settlements and towns, which increased commercial trade and tourism Significant urban growth occurred in the 1920s, and during the 1930s to 1950s large-scale growth occurred. Per the Oregon Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, during the 1930s to 1950s:
In 1902 the only lynching
ever to be documented in Oregon occurred in Coos Bay, of Alonzo Tucker, a black man. He was accused of raping a woman. There is no record of his escape from jail. The only account is that he was caught by a mob of 200-300 people, shot twice and hung from the 7th Street bridge, which spanned present day Golden Field. No charges were ever brought to the mob. The newspaper at that time reported the mob was "quiet and orderly." Alonzo Tucker's cause of death was asphyxiation.
By 1944 there was widespread discontent among the populace with the name of their town. Rather than keeping the name of a town in far-away Massachusetts, the residents voted to change the name of the town to Coos Bay. Marshfield's name change to Coos Bay resulted from a 1943 consolidation vote among the residents of Marshfield and North Bend, and an unincorporated area between them. Marshfield voted for the consolidation and North Bend rejected it. In 1944, Marshfield citizens held a general election, adopting a new city charter and name, Coos Bay.
On February 4, 1999, a Japanese ship named the New Carissa ran aground on a beach 2.7 miles (4.3 km) north of the entrance to Coos Bay, drawing international attention to the town. The New Carissa was empty at the time, heading for the Port of Coos Bay to pick up a cargo of wood chips. When the captain was told that the weather was too poor for the ship to enter port, he anchored his ship close by. The crew put out only one anchor, and it appears that this was probably on too short a chain to be effective. The subsequent US Coast Guard investigation found several other aspects of the ship's company's handling of the situation to have been poor, leading to the conclusion that human error caused the grounding. 70000 gallons (265 m³) of fuel oil were spilt by the vessel, with a further 165,000 to 255,000 gallons (625 to 965 m3) being deliberately set alight and burnt off by salvors later. The stern of the ship remains on the beach; the bow was towed out to sea and sunk after structural damage caused by the fire split the ship in two. As of June 2008, the wreck of the New Carissa is being cut into pieces and removed off the beach. The public support about this removal is not unanimous; some Coos Bay-North Bend citizens think it would be better to leave it as a tourist attraction.
, the city has a total area of 15.9 square miles (41.2 km²), of which 10.6 square miles (27.5 km²) is land and 5.3 square miles (13.7 km²) is water.
The Empire district was founded as Empire City in 1853 by members of the Coos Bay Company from Jacksonville, Oregon
, and at the time it was assumed that the area would be center of the region. The company was formed after the discovery of gold in northern California
and southwestern Oregon. For a time Empire City was the county seat of Coos County. The first post office in the location was called Elkhorn, which ran from 1853 until 1854. It was the first post office in what is now Coos County, though at the time it was part of Umpqua County
. Empire City post office was established in 1858 and ran until 1894, when it was renamed Empire. In 1965, the city of Empire voted to consolidate with Coos Bay.
The Bunker Hill district is located in the south portion of Coos Bay, starting with the bridge and extending to Bunker Hill school.
Englewood is the district in southwest Coos Bay, located west of Coal Bank slough.
of 2000, there were 15,374 people, 6,497 households, and 4,028 families residing in the city. The population density
is 1,451.9 people per square mile (560.5/km²). There are 7,094 housing units at an average density of 669.9 per square mile (258.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 90.75% White, 0.37% African American, 2.27% Native American, 1.44% Asian, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 1.35% from other races, and 3.51% from two or more races. 4.49% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 6,497 households out of which 27.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% are married couples
living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% are non-families. The percentage of male householders with no wife present is unknown. 30.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.29 and the average family size is 2.83.
In the city the population dispersal was 22.6% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.8 males. The median income for a household in the city is $31,212, and the median income for a family is $38,721. Males have a median income of $32,324 versus $22,192 for females. The per capita income
for the city is $18,158. 16.5% of the population and 12.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 21.0% of those under the age of 18 and 9.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
course is located in the woods of the north side of the park, and a skatepark
is in the southeast portion. In addition, there are swingsets for children in the southwest, and a softball field in the east.
The greater Coos Bay area has a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities, including the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
, which brings approximately 1.5 million visitors each year. Many visitors explore the 6000 acres (24.3 km²) sand dunes
on ATV
s. The dunes' popularity has increased tourism in the overall region.
form of government. The Coos Bay City Council is composed of a mayor and six councilors who are elected citywide to serve four-year terms. The council is responsible for setting policy decisions and they in turn hire a city manager
to oversee the day-to-day administrative functions of the city. Coos Bay operates its own library, fire department, public works and police department. The fire department has two fire stations that are staffed 24 hours a day. There is a third station that is used to house additional apparatus.
offers two-year Associate's degrees and other academic programs.
s, many of which are religious
and faith based.
is a public airport located in North Bend and the only commercial
airport on the Oregon Coast.
service from Coos Bay with several stops, including Eugene
, which has connections with Amtrak
rail services and the Greyhound bus network. Porter Stage Lines ends at Ontario, Oregon
in eastern Oregon, and then reverses the trip.
service for Coos Bay and greater Coos County.
Coos County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge*Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge *Siskiyou National Forest *Siuslaw National Forest - Incorporated cities:- Unincorporated communities and CDPs:-See also:...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where the Coos River
Coos River
The Coos River flows for about into Coos Bay along the Pacific coast of southwest Oregon in the United States. Formed by the confluence of its major tributaries, the South Fork Coos River and the Millicoma River, it drains an important timber-producing region of the Southern Oregon Coast Range...
enters Coos Bay
Coos Bay
Coos Bay is an S-shaped inlet where the Coos River enters the Pacific Ocean, approximately 10 miles long and two miles wide, on the Pacific Ocean coast of southwestern Oregon in the United States. The estuary is situated south of the Salmon River. The city of Coos Bay, once named Marshfield, was...
on the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. The city borders the city of North Bend
North Bend, Oregon
North Bend is a city in Coos County, Oregon, in the United States with a population of 9,695 as of the 2010 census. North Bend is surrounded on three sides by Coos Bay, an S-shaped water inlet and estuary where the Coos River enters Coos Bay on the Pacific Ocean, and borders the city of Coos Bay,...
, and together they are often referred to as one entity called either Coos Bay-North Bend or the Bay Area. Coos Bay's population as of the 2010 census was 15,967 residents, which is the largest city on the Oregon Coast.
History
Prior to Europeans first visiting the Oregon coast, Native AmericanNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribes claimed the Coos Bay region as their homeland for thousands of years. Members of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, Siuslaw and Coquille tribes lived, fished, hunted and gathered along Coos Bay and its estuaries, along rivers, and in meadows and forests. Approximately 400 years ago, British and Spanish explorers first approached the South Coast. In 1579 Sir Francis Drake is purported to have sought shelter for his ship, the Golden Hinde, around Cape Arago. Trader and explorer Jedediah Smith
Jedediah Smith
Jedediah Strong Smith was a hunter, trapper, fur trader, trailblazer, author, cartographer, cattleman, and explorer of the Rocky Mountains, the American West Coast and the Southwest during the 19th century...
was in the region seeking furs and the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
sent Alexander McLeod
Alexander McLeod
Alexander McLeod was a Scottish-Canadian who served as sheriff in Niagara, Ontario. After the Upper Canada Rebellion, he boasted that he had partaken in the 1837 Caroline Affair, the sinking of an American steamboat that had been supplying William Lyon Mackenzie's rebels with arms...
to search for an inland passage.
Nineteenth century
There has been a settlement on Coos Bay since 1853, when the town of Marshfield was founded there and named after the Massachusetts hometownMarshfield, Massachusetts
Marshfield is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States, on Massachusetts's South Shore. The population was 25,132 at the 2010 census.See also: Green Harbor, Marshfield , Rexhame, Marshfield Hills, and Ocean Bluff and Brant Rock....
of its founder, J. C. Tolman. The first Methodist church in the area was established in 1857. By 1866 the inhabitants, who were reliant on the sea for their income, had built the Cape Arago Light
Cape Arago Light
The Cape Arago Light is a lighthouse located in Charleston, Oregon. It is located north of Cape Arago.-History:...
. The setting up of a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
in 1871 and the arrival of the Coos Bay Wagon Road in the town a year later connected Coos County with the Umpqua River
Umpqua River
The Umpqua River on the Pacific coast of Oregon in the United States is approximately long. One of the principal rivers of the Oregon Coast and known for bass and shad, the river drains an expansive network of valleys in the mountains west of the Cascade Range and south of the Willamette Valley,...
valley in neighbouring Douglas County, on the other side of the Coast Range
Southern Oregon Coast Range
The Southern Oregon Coast Range is the southernmost section of the Oregon Coast Range, in the Pacific Coast Ranges, located in the southwest portion of the state of Oregon, United States roughly between the Umpqua River and the middle fork of the Coquille River, beyond which are the Klamath...
of mountains. This wagon road, although long gone in its original form, is still partially in existence since the route of Oregon Route 42 roughly follows the original right of way.
1869 saw Coos Bay set up its first, and the state's 48th, chartered Masonic Lodge. Named Blanco Lodge, this brotherhood was set up by several of the town's founding fathers. With this development, the incorporation
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
of Marshfield came in 1874. One of the nation's oldest still-operating machine shops, the Nelson Machine Works-Coos Bay Iron Works, was set up in 1888.
Twentieth century
Shipyards contracted with the U.S. Government to build minesweeperMinesweeper (ship)A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
s and rescue tugsTugboatA tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
for World War II defense purposes. Large national lumber companies set up operations and expanded significantly for the next two decades. Jetty improvements, commercial fishing and crabbing shaped the development of CharlestonCharleston, OregonCharleston is an unincorporated community in Coos County, Oregon, United States. It is located at the ocean entrance to Coos Bay. According to the local chamber of commerce, it is the area's "commercial and sport fishing center", and the community also provides services for the seafood processing...
. The completion of the Coos Bay Bridge (now McCullough Memorial Bridge) in 1936 and the Roosevelt HighwayU.S. Route 101 in OregonIn the U.S. state of Oregon, U.S. Route 101, a major north–south U.S. Highway, runs through the state along the coastline near the Pacific Ocean. In Oregon, it runs from the Oregon–California border, south of Brookings, to the Oregon–Washington border on the Columbia River, between Astoria,...
significantly improved modern transportation connections and provided the final link in opening the Coos region to the outside world. The formerly remote district known as the Coos Bay country had come of age.
In 1902 the only lynching
Lynching
Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
ever to be documented in Oregon occurred in Coos Bay, of Alonzo Tucker, a black man. He was accused of raping a woman. There is no record of his escape from jail. The only account is that he was caught by a mob of 200-300 people, shot twice and hung from the 7th Street bridge, which spanned present day Golden Field. No charges were ever brought to the mob. The newspaper at that time reported the mob was "quiet and orderly." Alonzo Tucker's cause of death was asphyxiation.
By 1944 there was widespread discontent among the populace with the name of their town. Rather than keeping the name of a town in far-away Massachusetts, the residents voted to change the name of the town to Coos Bay. Marshfield's name change to Coos Bay resulted from a 1943 consolidation vote among the residents of Marshfield and North Bend, and an unincorporated area between them. Marshfield voted for the consolidation and North Bend rejected it. In 1944, Marshfield citizens held a general election, adopting a new city charter and name, Coos Bay.
Twenty-first century
The worst loss of life for a fire department in modern Oregon history occurred in Coos Bay on November 25, 2002, when three firefighters were killed by a structural failure of the roof in an auto body shop. The accidental blaze paralyzed the city for several hours, with fire departments from several neighboring towns helping to try and stop the blaze. Captain Randy Carpenter, Firefighter/Engineer Robert "Chuck" Hanners and Firefighter/Engineer Jeff Common, all from Coos Bay, died when an explosion caused the roof of the building to cave in - they were on the 2nd Floor at the time.New Carissa
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 15.9 square miles (41.2 km²), of which 10.6 square miles (27.5 km²) is land and 5.3 square miles (13.7 km²) is water.
Districts
The Eastside district of Coos Bay was originally called East Marshfield for its situation on the east side of the bay. East Marshfield post office was established in 1891, and it operated intermittently until 1908, when the name was changed to Eastside. The community of Eastside merged with the city of Coos Bay in 1983.The Empire district was founded as Empire City in 1853 by members of the Coos Bay Company from Jacksonville, Oregon
Jacksonville, Oregon
Jacksonville is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States, a few miles west of Medford. It was named for Jackson Creek, which runs through the community and was the site of one of the first placer gold claims in the area. It includes Jacksonville Historic District which was designated a U.S....
, and at the time it was assumed that the area would be center of the region. The company was formed after the discovery of gold in northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and southwestern Oregon. For a time Empire City was the county seat of Coos County. The first post office in the location was called Elkhorn, which ran from 1853 until 1854. It was the first post office in what is now Coos County, though at the time it was part of Umpqua County
Umpqua County, Oregon
Umpqua County was a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was created on January 24, 1851, by the Oregon Territorial Legislature embracing the lands along the Umpqua River in southwestern Oregon. Gold had been discovered in the Umpqua region, which brought a rapid increase of settlers to...
. Empire City post office was established in 1858 and ran until 1894, when it was renamed Empire. In 1965, the city of Empire voted to consolidate with Coos Bay.
The Bunker Hill district is located in the south portion of Coos Bay, starting with the bridge and extending to Bunker Hill school.
Englewood is the district in southwest Coos Bay, located west of Coal Bank slough.
Demographics
2000 Census data
As of the censusUnited States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
of 2000, there were 15,374 people, 6,497 households, and 4,028 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
is 1,451.9 people per square mile (560.5/km²). There are 7,094 housing units at an average density of 669.9 per square mile (258.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 90.75% White, 0.37% African American, 2.27% Native American, 1.44% Asian, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 1.35% from other races, and 3.51% from two or more races. 4.49% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 6,497 households out of which 27.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% are married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% are non-families. The percentage of male householders with no wife present is unknown. 30.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.29 and the average family size is 2.83.
In the city the population dispersal was 22.6% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.8 males. The median income for a household in the city is $31,212, and the median income for a family is $38,721. Males have a median income of $32,324 versus $22,192 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city is $18,158. 16.5% of the population and 12.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 21.0% of those under the age of 18 and 9.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Museums and other attractions
- Coos Bay Iron Works, a producer of logging equipment, opened in 1882 and is still in business on Front Street, using a variety of antique tools dating to the Industrial RevolutionIndustrial RevolutionThe Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
. - The Egyptian Revival styleEgyptian Revival architectureEgyptian Revival is an architectural style that uses the motifs and imagery of ancient Egypt. It is attributed generally to the public awareness of ancient Egyptian monuments generated by Napoleon's conquest of Egypt and Admiral Nelson's defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of the Nile during 1798....
Egyptian TheatreEgyptian Theatre (Coos Bay, Oregon)The Egyptian Theatre is an historic movie theatre in Coos Bay, Oregon, United States. It was originally built as a garage, and was converted to a theatre in 1925...
was part of a popular architectural movementEgyptian TheatreEgyptian-style theaters are based on the traditional and historic design elements of Ancient Egypt.The first Egyptian Theatre to be constructed in the US - which inspired many of the identically-named theaters that followed it - was Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California. For several...
and is the only Oregon movie house that still has its original theatre organTheatre organA theatre organ is a pipe organ originally designed specifically for imitation of an orchestra. New designs have tended to be around some of the sounds and blends unique to the instrument itself....
installation. Built in 1925, the theatre was closed in 2005, but it was reopened shortly after by a nonprofit agency.
Parks and recreation
Mingus Park, northwest of downtown Coos Bay, features a one-mile walking path that circles a pond full of ducks and geese and a Japanese garden. An outdoor swimming pool is available in the summer months. An 18-hole disc golfDisc golf
Disc golf is a disc game in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, "The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc." Of the more than 3000...
course is located in the woods of the north side of the park, and a skatepark
Skatepark
A skatepark is a purpose-built recreational environment made for skateboarding, BMX, aggressive inline skating and scooters. A skatepark may contain half-pipes, quarter pipes, spine transfers, handrails, funboxes, vert ramps, pyramids, banked ramps, full pipes, pools, bowls, snake runs stairsets,...
is in the southeast portion. In addition, there are swingsets for children in the southwest, and a softball field in the east.
The greater Coos Bay area has a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities, including the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is located on the Oregon Coast, stretching approximately 40 miles north from the Coos River in North Bend, to the Siuslaw River, in Florence. The NRA is part of Siuslaw National Forest and is administered by the United States Forest Service...
, which brings approximately 1.5 million visitors each year. Many visitors explore the 6000 acres (24.3 km²) sand dunes
Dune
In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by wind. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind...
on ATV
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
s. The dunes' popularity has increased tourism in the overall region.
Government
The City of Coos Bay operates under a council-managerCouncil-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
form of government. The Coos Bay City Council is composed of a mayor and six councilors who are elected citywide to serve four-year terms. The council is responsible for setting policy decisions and they in turn hire a city manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
to oversee the day-to-day administrative functions of the city. Coos Bay operates its own library, fire department, public works and police department. The fire department has two fire stations that are staffed 24 hours a day. There is a third station that is used to house additional apparatus.
Education
Higher education
Southwestern Oregon Community CollegeSouthwestern Oregon Community College
Southwestern Oregon Community College is a college in Coos Bay, Oregon, United States. It is Oregon's oldest community college, founded in 1961...
offers two-year Associate's degrees and other academic programs.
Private education
Coos bay also has many private schoolPrivate school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
s, many of which are religious
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
and faith based.
Air
The Southwest Oregon Regional AirportSouthwest Oregon Regional Airport
Southwest Oregon International Airport , formerly known as North Bend International Airport, is a public airport located in the city of North Bend, in Coos County, Oregon, USA. It is operated by the Coos County Airport District and serves the entire county.The airport changed its name in April 2006...
is a public airport located in North Bend and the only commercial
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
airport on the Oregon Coast.
Bus
Porter Stage Lines provides busBus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
service from Coos Bay with several stops, including Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, which has connections with Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
rail services and the Greyhound bus network. Porter Stage Lines ends at Ontario, Oregon
Ontario, Oregon
Ontario is the largest city in Malheur County, Oregon, United States. It lies along the Snake River at the Idaho border. The population was 10,985 at the 2000 census, with an estimated population of 11,245 in 2006...
in eastern Oregon, and then reverses the trip.
Taxi
Yellow Cab Taxi, Blue Moon Taxi, and Jerri's Taxi provide taxiTaxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
service for Coos Bay and greater Coos County.
Radio
- KSBAKSBA (FM)KSBA is a radio station licensed to Coos Bay, Oregon. The station is owned by Southern Oregon University, and is an affiliate of Jefferson Public Radio, airing JPR's "Rhythm & News" service, consisting of news and adult album alternative music....
88.5 FM (public) - KSORKSORKSOR is a radio station licensed to Medford, Oregon. The station is owned by the Southern Oregon University, and is an affiliate of Jefferson Public Radio, airing JPR's "Classics & News" service, consisting of news and classical music programming....
89.1 FM (public, translator) - KJCH 90.9 FM (Christian)
- KMHS-FMKMHS-FMKMHS-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Pop Contemporary Hit Radio music format. Licensed to Coos Bay, Oregon, USA, the station is currently owned by Coos Bay School District No. 9....
91.3 (high school) - K219CK 91.7 (translator for KEAR-FM)
- KDCQKDCQKDCQ is a radio station licensed to serve Coos Bay, Oregon, USA. The station, established in 1995, is owned by Bay Cities Building Company, Inc...
92.9 FM (commercial) - KTEEKTEEKTEE is a radio station broadcasting a Modern Adult Contemporary music format. Licensed to North Bend, Oregon, USA, the station is currently owned by Bicoastal Media Licenses III, LLC....
94.9 FM (commercial) - KTEEKTEEKTEE is a radio station broadcasting a Modern Adult Contemporary music format. Licensed to North Bend, Oregon, USA, the station is currently owned by Bicoastal Media Licenses III, LLC....
95.7 FM (translator)
- KSHR-FMKSHR-FMKSHR-FM is a radio station licensed to serve Coquille, Oregon, USA. The station is owned by Bicoastal Media and the broadcast license is held by Bicoastal Media Licenses III, LLC....
97.3 FM (commercial) - KYTT 98.7 FM (Christian)
- KJMXKJMXKJMX is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock music format. Licensed to Reedsport, Oregon, USA, the station is currently owned by Bicoastal Media Licenses III, LLC and features programing from Citadel Media.-Translators:...
99.5 FM (commercial) - KJMXKJMXKJMX is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock music format. Licensed to Reedsport, Oregon, USA, the station is currently owned by Bicoastal Media Licenses III, LLC and features programing from Citadel Media.-Translators:...
100.3 FM (translator) - KVIPKVIPKVIP Radio is a Christian radio station based in Redding, California. It is heard on both the FM band at 98.1 MHz and on the AM band at 540 kHz and on a network of translators in Northern California and Southern Oregon.-External links:*...
102.1 FM (Christian, translator) - KYSJKYSJKYSJ is a radio station broadcasting a New AC /Smooth Jazz music format. Licensed to Coos Bay, Oregon, USA, the station is currently owned by Lighthouse Radio Group....
105.9 FM (commercial) - KOOSKOOSKOOS is a radio station in North Bend, Oregon, USA. The station is owned by Bicoastal Media. KOOS airs a hot adult contemporary music format....
107.3 FM (commercial)
- KOOSKOOSKOOS is a radio station in North Bend, Oregon, USA. The station is owned by Bicoastal Media. KOOS airs a hot adult contemporary music format....
107.7 FM (translator) - KWROKWROKWRO is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Coquille, Oregon, USA, the station is currently owned by Bicoastal Media Licenses Iii, LLC and features programming from Fox News Radio, Premiere Radio Networks and Westwood One.KWRO airs University of Oregon Ducks...
630 AM (commercial) - KGRV 700 AM (Christian)
- KDUNKDUNKDUN is a radio station licensed to serve Reedsport, Oregon, USA. The station, which began broadcasting in June 1961, is currently owned by Sand & Sea Broadcasting, LLC.KDUN broadcasts an oldies music format.-Launch as KRAF:...
1030 AM (commercial) - KHSNKHSNKHSN is a radio station licensed to serve Coos Bay, Oregon, USA. The station, which began broadcasting in March 1928, is currently owned by W7 Broadcasting, LLC.-Programming:...
1230 AM (commercial) - KBBRKBBRKBBR is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to North Bend, Oregon, USA. The station is currently owned by Bicoastal Media, the broadcast license is held by Bicoastal Media Licenses III, LLC, and features programming from ABC Radio, Air America Media, Jones Radio...
1340 AM (commercial) - KMHSKMHS (AM)KMHS is a high school radio station broadcasting a classic country music format. Licensed to Coos Bay, Oregon, USA, the station is currently owned by Coos Bay Public Schools. The station broadcasts from studios at Marshfield High School.-History:...
1420 AM (high school)
Television
- KCBYKVAL-TVKVAL-TV, channel 13, is a television station in Eugene, Oregon, USA. It is an affiliate of the CBS network. The station began broadcasting on April 15, 1954...
11 (CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, This TVThis TVThis TV is a United States general entertainment television network, with a large emphasis in its programming on movies....
) (satellite of KVAL-TVKVAL-TVKVAL-TV, channel 13, is a television station in Eugene, Oregon, USA. It is an affiliate of the CBS network. The station began broadcasting on April 15, 1954...
, EugeneEugene, OregonEugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
) - K17AAOregon Public BroadcastingOregon Public Broadcasting is the primary television and radio public broadcasting network for most of Oregon as well as southern Washington. With its headquarters and television studios in Portland, OPB consists of five full-power television stations, dozens of VHF or UHF translators, and over...
17 (PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
/OPBOregon Public BroadcastingOregon Public Broadcasting is the primary television and radio public broadcasting network for most of Oregon as well as southern Washington. With its headquarters and television studios in Portland, OPB consists of five full-power television stations, dozens of VHF or UHF translators, and over...
) (rebroadcaster of KEPB, Eugene) - KMCBKMTRKMTR is the NBC and The CW affiliate television station serving the Eugene/Springfield, Oregon designated market area. Owned by Newport Television, the station reaches additional viewers in central and western Oregon via co-owned full-powered satellite stations KMCB digital channel 22 and KTCW...
23 (NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
) (satellite of KMTRKMTRKMTR is the NBC and The CW affiliate television station serving the Eugene/Springfield, Oregon designated market area. Owned by Newport Television, the station reaches additional viewers in central and western Oregon via co-owned full-powered satellite stations KMCB digital channel 22 and KTCW...
, Eugene) - K27CLKEZIKEZI is a digital broadcast television station operating in Eugene, Oregon, United States. It is the ABC affiliate for Eugene and produces more than 24 hours of newscasts a week...
27 (ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
) (rebroadcaster of KEZIKEZIKEZI is a digital broadcast television station operating in Eugene, Oregon, United States. It is the ABC affiliate for Eugene and produces more than 24 hours of newscasts a week...
, Eugene)
- K36BXKOBIKOBI is a local NBC affiliate based in Medford, Oregon. It is owned by Patricia Smullin. The company, California Oregon Broadcasting, Inc., is the longest continuously independent broadcast group in the West and one of the three oldest in the country....
36 (NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
) (rebroadcaster of KOBIKOBIKOBI is a local NBC affiliate based in Medford, Oregon. It is owned by Patricia Smullin. The company, California Oregon Broadcasting, Inc., is the longest continuously independent broadcast group in the West and one of the three oldest in the country....
, MedfordMedford, OregonMedford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 US Census, the city had a total population of 74,907 and a metropolitan area population of 207,010, making the Medford MSA the 4th largest metro area in Oregon...
) - K44FHKBLNKBLN digital channel 30 is an affiliate of the Three Angels Broadcasting Network based in Grants Pass, Oregon, serving the Medford, Oregon television market...
44 (3ABN3ABNThree Angels Broadcasting Network, or 3ABN for short, is a nonprofit, 24-hour television and radio network that primarily focuses on Christian and health-oriented programming...
) (rebroadcaster of KBLNKBLNKBLN digital channel 30 is an affiliate of the Three Angels Broadcasting Network based in Grants Pass, Oregon, serving the Medford, Oregon television market...
, Grants PassGrants Pass, Oregon-Rogue River:The Rogue River runs through Grants Pass.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,003 people, 9,376 households, and 5,925 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 9,885 housing units at an average density of 1,303.3 per square mile . By 2008,...
) - K63DOKLSR-TVKLSR-TV, a U.S. television station serving Eugene, Oregon, is an affiliate of the Fox network. Its transmitter is located in Eugene. It was Eugene's second UHF station to sign on the air. It is owned by California Oregon Broadcasting of Medford, Oregon....
63 (FoxFox Broadcasting CompanyFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
) (rebroadcaster of KLSR-TVKLSR-TVKLSR-TV, a U.S. television station serving Eugene, Oregon, is an affiliate of the Fox network. Its transmitter is located in Eugene. It was Eugene's second UHF station to sign on the air. It is owned by California Oregon Broadcasting of Medford, Oregon....
, Eugene)
Notable people
- Mel CountsMel CountsMel Grant Counts is a retired American basketball player who was in the NBA from 1964 to 1976. He was on the United States Olympic basketball team that won the gold at the 1964 Summer Olympics. He played in college for Oregon State University and was selected by the Boston Celtics in the 1964...
, professional basketball player, Olympic gold medalist (1964) - Steve PrefontaineSteve PrefontaineSteve Roland "Pre" Prefontaine was an American middle and long-distance runner. Prefontaine once held the American record in the seven distance track events from the 2,000 meters to the 10,000 meters...
, Olympic distance runner, was born in Coos Bay and attended Marshfield High School - Princess Irina of RomaniaPrincess Irina of RomaniaPrincess Irina of Romania is the third daughter of the former King of Romania, Michael I of Romania and his wife Queen Anne of Romania.-Marriage:...
, daughter of King Michael of Romania - Jeff WhittyJeff WhittyJeff Whitty is an American playwright. His works for the stage include the musical Avenue Q, for which he won the Tony Award for Best Book of a musical.-Career:...
, Tony Award winning playwright - George WhittyGeorge WhittyGeorge Whitty is a musician/composer/producer/engineer currently living in Los Angeles. He's produced three Grammy Award winning CDs and was nominated for Emmy Awards for his composing on the long-running TV shows "One Life to Live" and "As the World Turns"...
, 3 time Grammy Award winning musician, brother of playwright, Jeff Whitty - Buddy HayesBuddy HayesTimothy Hayes, alias Buddy Hayes was a featherweight professional boxer from Massachusetts, USA.-Personal life:Buddy Hayes was a native of Boston, Massachusetts. He married Marie Murphy in August 1948. The couple had two daughters, Bonnie and Franci.-Professional career:Hayes made his professional...
, musician from Lawrence Welk - Armin D. LehmannArmin D. LehmannArmin Dieter Lehmann , was a Hitler Youth courier in the Führerbunker towards the end of Adolf Hitler's life, leaving shortly after Hitler committed suicide. He spent his life post-war in travel, tourism, and writing and as a peace activist.-Early life:Lehmann was born in 1928 in Waldtrudering, a...
, Survivor of last days of Nazi Germany in Hitler's Bunker
See also
- Steamboats of Coos BaySteamboats of Coos BayThe Steamboats of Coos Bay operated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries on Coos Bay, a large and mostly shallow harbor on the southwest coast of the U.S. state of Oregon, to the north of the Coquille River valley...
(historical) - Steamboats of the Oregon CoastSteamboats of the Oregon CoastThe history of steamboats on the Oregon Coast begins in the late 19th century. Before the development of modern road and rail networks, transportation on the coast of Oregon was largely water-borne...
(historical)
External links
- Entry for Coos Bay in the Oregon Blue BookOregon Blue BookThe Oregon Blue Book is the official directory and fact book for the U.S. state of Oregon copyrighted by the Oregon Secretary of State and published by the Office of the Secretary's Archives Division. As Governor Ted Kulongoski notes in his introduction for the 2005–2006 edition, it "provides...
- The Coos Bay-North Bend Visitor & Convention Bureau