Dallas, Oregon
Encyclopedia
The city of Dallas is the county seat
of Polk County
, Oregon
, United States
. The population was 14,583 at the 2010 census.
Dallas is located on Rickreall Creek
, approximately 15 miles west of Salem
, at an altitude of 325 feet above sea level
. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Another source claims that the origin of the name may come from the name of Jesse Applegate
's wife, Cynthia Ann. However, she lived in the Salt Creek area of northern Polk County and, according to the 1850 Federal Census, had already left Polk County by 1850.
Dallas post office was established in 1852. In 1856 the town was moved more than a mile south because of an inadequate supply of water.
Dallas was in competition with Independence
to be the county seat and the citizens of Dallas raised $17,000 in order to have a branch of the narrow gauge railroad come to their town, thus securing the honor. The line was built from 1878–80. A more suitable name for a county seat was needed, and since George Mifflin Dallas was vice-president under James K. Polk
, for whom the county was named, "Dallas" was a natural choice.
Dallas was incorporated as a town in 1874, and as a city in 1901.
, incorporated the Salem, Falls City and Western Railway Company late in October 1901 and announced plans to build a railroad from the Willamette River
at Salem
to the mouth of the Siletz River
on the Oregon Coast
, a distance of 65 miles.
In 1902, Louis's son George T. Gerlinger
organized a group of investors to build railroad lines in the area.
On May 29, 1903, the first train ran from Dallas to Falls City
. At the end of June, passenger trains began regularly scheduled trips to and from Dallas and Falls City each day; the nine-mile, forty-minute, one-way trip cost 35 cents.
Willamette Industries was founded in Dallas in 1906. At that time the company name was Willamette Valley Lumber Company. Louis Gerlinger, Sr.
was president of the new company and H.L. Pittock
, vice president. George T. Gerlinger
served as secretary and manager while F.W. Leadbetter
was treasurer. George Cone served as director and mill superintendent. In 1967 Willamette Valley Lumber and several others merged to become Willamette Industries.
In March 2002, Willamette Industries was officially acquired by Weyerhaeuser
Company in a hostile takeover. In early 2009, Weyerhaeuser's Mill formally closed down its Dallas operation.
, the city has a total area of 4.81 square miles (12.5 km²), all of it land.
of 2010, there were 14,583 people. The population density
was 3,031.8 people per square mile (1,170.4/km²). There were 6,137 housing units at an average density of 1,275.9 per square mile (492.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.31% White, 0.23% African American, 2.03% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 1.61% from other races
, and 2.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.95% of the population.
In 2000, there were 4,672 households out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples
living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.02.
In 2000, the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.
The median income in 2000 for a household in the city was $35,967, and the median income for a family was $45,156. Males had a median income of $34,271 versus $22,941 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,734. About 7.8% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
is a weekly newspaper published in Dallas since 1875.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Polk County
Polk County, Oregon
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for James Knox Polk, the 11th president of the United States. In 2010, its population was 75,403. The seat of the county is Dallas....
, 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...
. The population was 14,583 at the 2010 census.
Dallas is located on Rickreall Creek
Rickreall Creek
Rickreall Creek is a stream in Polk County, Oregon, United States rising on Laurel Mountain in the Central Oregon Coast Range and draining into the Willamette River west of Salem at Eola. The creek passes through the city of Dallas and the unincorporated community of Rickreall...
, approximately 15 miles west of Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, at an altitude of 325 feet above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Dallas was settled in the 1840s on the north side of Rickreall Creek and was originally named "Cynthian" or "Cynthiana". A 1947 Itemizer-Observer article (quoted in 100 Years in Polk County: A Centennial Background) states: "[T]he town was called Cynthiana after Cynthiana, Ky., so named by Mrs. Thos. Lovelady." The History of Polk County Oregon, 1987, Page 12, states: "To Mrs. Thomas J. Lovelady was given the honor of naming the new settlement and she selected the name after her home town of Cynthiana, Kentucky."Another source claims that the origin of the name may come from the name of Jesse Applegate
Jesse Applegate
Jesse Applegate was an American pioneer who led a large group of settlers along the Oregon Trail to the Oregon Country. He took part in the early government of Oregon, and helped establish the Applegate Trail as an alternative route to the Oregon Trail.-Early life:Jesse Applegate was born in Henry...
's wife, Cynthia Ann. However, she lived in the Salt Creek area of northern Polk County and, according to the 1850 Federal Census, had already left Polk County by 1850.
Dallas post office was established in 1852. In 1856 the town was moved more than a mile south because of an inadequate supply of water.
Dallas was in competition with Independence
Independence, Oregon
Independence is a city in Polk County, Oregon, United States, on the west bank of the Willamette River along Oregon Route 51, and east of nearby Monmouth. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area...
to be the county seat and the citizens of Dallas raised $17,000 in order to have a branch of the narrow gauge railroad come to their town, thus securing the honor. The line was built from 1878–80. A more suitable name for a county seat was needed, and since George Mifflin Dallas was vice-president under James K. Polk
James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...
, for whom the county was named, "Dallas" was a natural choice.
Dallas was incorporated as a town in 1874, and as a city in 1901.
Gerlinger family
Louis Gerlinger, Sr.Louis Gerlinger, Sr.
Louis Gerlinger, Sr. was a businessperson in the railroad and timber industries in the U.S. state of Oregon in the early 20th century. Gerlinger became involved in the railroad business comparatively late in life. He was born in Alsace in 1853. At the age of 17, he came to the United States,...
, incorporated the Salem, Falls City and Western Railway Company late in October 1901 and announced plans to build a railroad from the Willamette River
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
at Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
to the mouth of the Siletz River
Siletz River
The Siletz River flows about to the Pacific Ocean through coastal mountains in the U.S. state of Oregon. Formed by the confluence of its north and south forks near Valsetz in Polk County, it winds through the Central Oregon Coast Range. The river, draining a watershed of , empties into Siletz Bay,...
on the Oregon Coast
Oregon Coast
The Oregon Coast is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon. It runs generally north-south along the Pacific Ocean, forming the western border of the state; the region is bounded to the east by the Oregon Coast Range. The Oregon Coast stretches approximately from the Columbia River in the north to...
, a distance of 65 miles.
In 1902, Louis's son George T. Gerlinger
George T. Gerlinger
George T. Gerlinger was influential in the railroad and lumber products business in the U.S. state of Oregon in the early 20th century. The oldest son of Louis Gerlinger, Sr., in 1902 he organized a group of investors in Dallas, Oregon to build railroad lines in the area.In 1906, they purchased a...
organized a group of investors to build railroad lines in the area.
On May 29, 1903, the first train ran from Dallas to Falls City
Falls City, Oregon
Falls City is a city in Polk County, Oregon, United States. The population was 966 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. At the end of June, passenger trains began regularly scheduled trips to and from Dallas and Falls City each day; the nine-mile, forty-minute, one-way trip cost 35 cents.
Willamette Industries was founded in Dallas in 1906. At that time the company name was Willamette Valley Lumber Company. Louis Gerlinger, Sr.
Louis Gerlinger, Sr.
Louis Gerlinger, Sr. was a businessperson in the railroad and timber industries in the U.S. state of Oregon in the early 20th century. Gerlinger became involved in the railroad business comparatively late in life. He was born in Alsace in 1853. At the age of 17, he came to the United States,...
was president of the new company and H.L. Pittock
Henry Pittock
Henry Lewis Pittock was an Oregon pioneer, newspaper editor, publisher, and wood and paper magnate. He was active in Republican politics and Portland, Oregon civic affairs, a Freemason and an avid outdoorsman and adventurer...
, vice president. George T. Gerlinger
George T. Gerlinger
George T. Gerlinger was influential in the railroad and lumber products business in the U.S. state of Oregon in the early 20th century. The oldest son of Louis Gerlinger, Sr., in 1902 he organized a group of investors in Dallas, Oregon to build railroad lines in the area.In 1906, they purchased a...
served as secretary and manager while F.W. Leadbetter
Frederick Leadbetter
Frederick W. Leadbetter was an Iowa-born financier who made his fortune primarily in lumber and paper milling in the Pacific Northwest and California...
was treasurer. George Cone served as director and mill superintendent. In 1967 Willamette Valley Lumber and several others merged to become Willamette Industries.
In March 2002, Willamette Industries was officially acquired by Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser is one of the largest pulp and paper companies in the world. It is the world's largest private sector owner of softwood timberland; and the second largest owner of United States timberland, behind Plum Creek Timber...
Company in a hostile takeover. In early 2009, Weyerhaeuser's Mill formally closed down its Dallas operation.
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 4.81 square miles (12.5 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
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 2010, there were 14,583 people. 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 3,031.8 people per square mile (1,170.4/km²). There were 6,137 housing units at an average density of 1,275.9 per square mile (492.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.31% White, 0.23% African American, 2.03% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 1.61% 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 2.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.95% of the population.
In 2000, there were 4,672 households out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were 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, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.02.
In 2000, the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.
The median income in 2000 for a household in the city was $35,967, and the median income for a family was $45,156. Males had a median income of $34,271 versus $22,941 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 $16,734. About 7.8% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
Media
The Polk County Itemizer-ObserverPolk County Itemizer-Observer
The Polk County Itemizer-Observer is a weekly newspaper published in Dallas, Oregon, United States, and covering Dallas, Monmouth, Independence, Falls City and the surrounding area. It was established in 1875 and is owned by Eagle Newspapers. The Itemizer-Observer is published on Wednesdays and its...
is a weekly newspaper published in Dallas since 1875.
Notable people
- Jeri EllsworthJeri EllsworthJeri Ellsworth is an American entrepreneur and self-taught computer chip designer. She is best known for creating a Commodore 64 emulator within a joystick, in 2004, called Commodore 30-in-1 Direct to TV...
- self-taught computer chip designer - Carl GerlingerCarl GerlingerCarl Gerlinger, Sr. was an American businessperson in the U.S. state of Oregon in the early 20th century.The nephew of notable lumberman George T. Gerlinger, Carl was born in on March 28, 1878 to George and Matline Gerlinger in Neuwiller, Alsace-Lorraine Germany. He was raised in France. In 1901,...
- founder of Gerlinger Carrier Company - George T. GerlingerGeorge T. GerlingerGeorge T. Gerlinger was influential in the railroad and lumber products business in the U.S. state of Oregon in the early 20th century. The oldest son of Louis Gerlinger, Sr., in 1902 he organized a group of investors in Dallas, Oregon to build railroad lines in the area.In 1906, they purchased a...
- founder of Willamette Industries, a Fortune 500 company before being bought out in 2002 - Louis Gerlinger, Sr.Louis Gerlinger, Sr.Louis Gerlinger, Sr. was a businessperson in the railroad and timber industries in the U.S. state of Oregon in the early 20th century. Gerlinger became involved in the railroad business comparatively late in life. He was born in Alsace in 1853. At the age of 17, he came to the United States,...
- founder of the Salem, Falls City and Western Railway - Mark HatfieldMark HatfieldMark Odom Hatfield was an American politician and educator from the state of Oregon. A Republican, he served for 30 years as a United States Senator from Oregon, and also as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee...
- former Governor of Oregon and a United States senator from 1967–1997 - Johnny KitzmillerJohnny KitzmillerJohn Wesley "Dutch" Kitzmiller was an American football player. He played college football at the University of Oregon and was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame....
- professional football and College Football Hall of Fame - Johnnie RayJohnnie RayJohnnie Ray was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Popular for most of the 1950s, Ray has been cited by critics as a major precursor of what would become rock and roll, for his jazz and blues-influenced music and his animated stage personality.-Early life:John Alvin Ray was born in...
- popular 1950s singer and recording artist - Jake StrikerJake StrikerWilbur Scott "Jake" Striker is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played in and with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox....
- 1950s and 1960s baseball pitcher