Cottage Grove, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Cottage Grove is a city in Lane County
, Oregon
, United States
. It received its name from its first postmaster, G. C. Pierce, in September 1861. Pierce's home at the time was in an oak
grove. The population was 9,686 at the 2010 census.
and then the Applegate Trail
. Until that time, only the Kalapuya Native Americans occupied the southern territory of the Willamette Valley
. The first post office was established in the house of Greenbery C. Pearce, who lived near Creswell
, in 1855. As was common in Oregon pioneer days, post offices for locations would move with each new postmaster, and it wasn't until the later 1860s that the Cottage Grove post office arrived at its final location, in the extreme southwest of present-day Cottage Grove. When the Southern Pacific Railroad
built their line through the area, they built their station more than half a mile to the northeast of the post office, starting a bitter neighborhood disagreement. Since the inhabitants near the post office would not allow it to be moved next to the railroad station, a post office was established near the station, called Lemati, after the Chinook
word lemiti for mountain. In 1887, Cottage Grove was incorporated as a city, but the eastern community still used the name Lemati intermittently until both communities were merged on July 12, 1898.
In 1863, gold
was discovered in what became known as the Bohemia mining district on the Calapooya Divide southeast of the town, which was named after James "Bohemia" Johnson. Gold mining
activities died down in the 1920s. In 1926, Buster Keaton
's The General
was filmed in Cottage Grove and the surrounding countryside. The movie included a spectacular locomotive crash, and the wrecked train became a minor tourist attraction until it was dismantled for scrap during World War II
. The 1973 movie Emperor of the North Pole
was filmed in and around Cottage Grove, as were parts of the 1978 movie Animal House
. The 25th anniversary of Animal Houses release was celebrated by the citizens with a toga party
on August 30, 2003, on Main Street. Main Street is where the climactic parade sequence from the movie was filmed. Portions of the movie Stand By Me
were filmed along the railroad tracks east of Cottage Grove, which are now the Row River National Recreation Trail
, a bicycle and walking trail. Ricochet River (2001)
, starring Kate Hudson
, was filmed along the rivers surrounding Cottage Grove, the old high school, and the downtown area.
In May 1994, Cottage Grove was one of four Oregon cities to pass a law promoted by the Oregon Citizens Alliance
denying discrimination protection to gays and lesbians. This vote and the events leading up to it are profiled in the book, The Stranger Next Door: The Story of a Small Community's Battle Over Sex, Faith, and Civil Rights by Arlene Stein. Cottage Grove is referred to in the book using the pseudonym "Timbertown".
Cottage Grove is known as the "Covered Bridge Capital of Oregon". Seven covered bridge
s are located in or around Cottage Grove. The only existing covered railroad bridge west of the Mississippi River
, the National Register of Historic Places
-listed Chambers Railroad Bridge
, is located in Cottage Grove. The City of Cottage Grove has secured ownership of the Chambers Railroad Bridge and is seeking funding to restore it.
Cottage Grove has been awarded the All-America City Award
from the National Civic League
twice, in 1968 and 2004.
Cottage Grove is home to 21 murals located throughout downtown that reflect the history of the community.
, the city has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²), of which 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²), or 0.60%, is water. Cottage Grove lies at the confluence of the Row River
and the Coast Fork Willamette River
. This confluence effectively marks the southern end of the Willamette Valley
.
of 2000, there were 8,445 people, 3,264 households, and 2,183 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,561.6 people per square mile (988.1/km²). There were 3,430 housing units at an average density of 1,040.4 per square mile (401.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.84% White, 0.15% African American, 1.21% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.55% from other races
, and 3.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.94% of the population. There were 3,264 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population dispersal was 27.4% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males. The median income for a household in the city was $30,442, and the median income for a family was $37,457. Males had a median income of $30,775 versus $23,485 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,550. About 15.6% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.0% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.
is the city's weekly newspaper and has a circulation of 3,331.
is a public airport
serving small general aviation aircraft, located one mile (1.6 km) east of Cottage Grove.
Lane County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge *Siuslaw National Forest *Umpqua National Forest *Willamette National Forest -Government:...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It received its name from its first postmaster, G. C. Pierce, in September 1861. Pierce's home at the time was in an oak
Garry Oak
Quercus garryana, the Garry Oak, Oregon White Oak or Oregon Oak, has a range from southern California to extreme southwestern British Columbia, particularly southeastern Vancouver Island and the adjacent Gulf Islands. It grows from sea level to 210 m altitude in the northern part of its range, and...
grove. The population was 9,686 at the 2010 census.
History
The first white settlers came to Cottage Grove in 1848 via the Oregon TrailOregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
and then the Applegate Trail
Applegate Trail
The Applegate Trail was a wilderness trail through today's U.S. states of Idaho, Nevada, California, and Oregon, and was originally intended as a less dangerous route to the Oregon Territory.-Background:...
. Until that time, only the Kalapuya Native Americans occupied the southern territory of the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
. The first post office was established in the house of Greenbery C. Pearce, who lived near Creswell
Creswell, Oregon
Creswell is a city in the Willamette Valley of Lane County, Oregon, United States. The population at the 2010 census was 5,031.- Geography :According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which , or 2.42%, is water....
, in 1855. As was common in Oregon pioneer days, post offices for locations would move with each new postmaster, and it wasn't until the later 1860s that the Cottage Grove post office arrived at its final location, in the extreme southwest of present-day Cottage Grove. When the Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
built their line through the area, they built their station more than half a mile to the northeast of the post office, starting a bitter neighborhood disagreement. Since the inhabitants near the post office would not allow it to be moved next to the railroad station, a post office was established near the station, called Lemati, after the Chinook
Chinookan languages
Chinookan is a small family of languages spoken in Oregon and Washington along the Columbia River by Chinook peoples.-Family division:Chinookan languages consists of three languages with multiple varieties. There is some dispute over classification, and there are two ISO 639-3 codes assigned: and...
word lemiti for mountain. In 1887, Cottage Grove was incorporated as a city, but the eastern community still used the name Lemati intermittently until both communities were merged on July 12, 1898.
In 1863, gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
was discovered in what became known as the Bohemia mining district on the Calapooya Divide southeast of the town, which was named after James "Bohemia" Johnson. Gold mining
Gold mining
Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. There are several techniques and processes by which gold may be extracted from the earth.-History:...
activities died down in the 1920s. In 1926, Buster Keaton
Buster Keaton
Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was an American comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".Keaton was recognized as the...
's The General
The General (1927 film)
The General is a 1926 American silent comedy film released by United Artists inspired by the Great Locomotive Chase, which happened in 1862. Buster Keaton starred in the film and co-directed it with Clyde Bruckman...
was filmed in Cottage Grove and the surrounding countryside. The movie included a spectacular locomotive crash, and the wrecked train became a minor tourist attraction until it was dismantled for scrap during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The 1973 movie Emperor of the North Pole
Emperor of the North Pole
Emperor of the North Pole is a 1973 American film starring Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, and Keith Carradine. It was re-released under the shorter title Emperor of the North, and is better known under the latter name....
was filmed in and around Cottage Grove, as were parts of the 1978 movie Animal House
National Lampoon's Animal House
National Lampoon's Animal House is a 1978 American comedy film directed by John Landis. The film was a direct spin-off of National Lampoon magazine...
. The 25th anniversary of Animal Houses release was celebrated by the citizens with a toga party
Toga party
A toga party is a particular kind of costume party in which party-goers wear a toga, or a semblance thereof, normally made from a bed sheet, and sandals...
on August 30, 2003, on Main Street. Main Street is where the climactic parade sequence from the movie was filmed. Portions of the movie Stand By Me
Stand by Me (film)
Stand by Me is a 1986 American drama film directed by Rob Reiner. Based on the novella The Body by Stephen King, the film takes its title from the Ben E. King song of the same name, which plays over the end credits.-Plot:...
were filmed along the railroad tracks east of Cottage Grove, which are now the Row River National Recreation Trail
Row River National Recreation Trail
Row River National Recreation Trail is a rails to trails conversion in the U.S. state of Oregon. It follows the Row River for between Cottage Grove and Dorena Lake, and provides access to many forest trails of Umpqua National Forest....
, a bicycle and walking trail. Ricochet River (2001)
Robin Cody
Robin Cody is an American writer from Oregon. His works include fiction and non-fiction books about nature.-Biography:Robin Cody was born in St. Helens, Oregon. When he was five, his family moved to Estacada, Oregon when his father was hired as the grade school principal there. The Codys remained...
, starring Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson
Kate Garry Hudson is an American actress. She came to prominence in 2001 after winning a Golden Globe and receiving several nominations, including a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her role in Almost Famous. She then starred in the hit film How to Lose a Guy in 10...
, was filmed along the rivers surrounding Cottage Grove, the old high school, and the downtown area.
In May 1994, Cottage Grove was one of four Oregon cities to pass a law promoted by the Oregon Citizens Alliance
Oregon Citizens Alliance
The Oregon Citizens Alliance was a conservative Christian political activist organization, founded by Lon Mabon in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was founded in 1986 as a vehicle to challenge then–U.S...
denying discrimination protection to gays and lesbians. This vote and the events leading up to it are profiled in the book, The Stranger Next Door: The Story of a Small Community's Battle Over Sex, Faith, and Civil Rights by Arlene Stein. Cottage Grove is referred to in the book using the pseudonym "Timbertown".
Cottage Grove is known as the "Covered Bridge Capital of Oregon". Seven covered bridge
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
s are located in or around Cottage Grove. The only existing covered railroad bridge west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
-listed Chambers Railroad Bridge
Chambers Covered Bridge
The Chambers Covered Bridge is a covered bridge located in Cottage Grove, Oregon, United States. It is long and spans the Coast Fork Willamette River. It was built in 1925 to carry rail traffic to the J.H. Chambers Mill, a lumber mill which was located on an area which is now the Bohemia School...
, is located in Cottage Grove. The City of Cottage Grove has secured ownership of the Chambers Railroad Bridge and is seeking funding to restore it.
Cottage Grove has been awarded the All-America City Award
All-America City Award
The All-America City Award is given by the National Civic League annually to ten cities in the United States.The oldest community recognition program in the nation, the award recognizes communities whose citizens work together to identify and tackle community-wide challenges and achieve uncommon...
from the National Civic League
National Civic League
The National Civic League is an American non-profit organization that advocates for transparency, effectiveness, and openness in local government...
twice, in 1968 and 2004.
Cottage Grove is home to 21 murals located throughout downtown that reflect the history of the community.
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 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²), of which 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²), or 0.60%, is water. Cottage Grove lies at the confluence of the Row River
Row River
The Row River is a river, approximately long, in Lane County, Oregon, United States. It rises in the Cascade Range and flows into the Coast Fork Willamette River near Cottage Grove. The stream was originally known as the "East Fork Coast Fork", but was later renamed after a dispute between...
and the Coast Fork Willamette River
Coast Fork Willamette River
The Coast Fork Willamette River is one of several forks that unite to form the Willamette River in western Oregon in the United States. It is about long, draining an area of the mountains at the south end of the Willamette Valley south of Eugene.-Course:...
. This confluence effectively marks the southern end of the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
.
2000 Census data
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 8,445 people, 3,264 households, and 2,183 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...
was 2,561.6 people per square mile (988.1/km²). There were 3,430 housing units at an average density of 1,040.4 per square mile (401.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.84% White, 0.15% African American, 1.21% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.55% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.94% of the population. There were 3,264 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population dispersal was 27.4% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males. The median income for a household in the city was $30,442, and the median income for a family was $37,457. Males had a median income of $30,775 versus $23,485 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 was $14,550. About 15.6% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.0% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.
Media
The Cottage Grove SentinelCottage Grove Sentinel
The Cottage Grove Sentinel is a weekly newspaper serving the city of Cottage Grove, Oregon, United States. It was established in 1889 and is owned by News Media Corporation. News Media bought the Sentinel from Lee Enterprises in 2006. Lee had owned the paper since 1997...
is the city's weekly newspaper and has a circulation of 3,331.
Air
Jim Wright FieldCottage Grove State Airport
Cottage Grove State Airport or Jim Wright Field , is a public airport serving small general aviation aircraft, located one mile east of the city of Cottage Grove in Lane County, Oregon, USA....
is a public airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
serving small general aviation aircraft, located one mile (1.6 km) east of Cottage Grove.
External links
- City of Cottage Grove official website
- Cottage Grove 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...
- South Lane School District