Eola, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Eola is an unincorporated
community in Polk County
, Oregon
, United States
four miles west of Salem
on Oregon Route 22 at the confluence of Rickreall Creek
and the Willamette River
.
For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau
has defined Eola as a census-designated place
(CDP). The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with the same name. The population of the CDP was 49 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Salem
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The Eola Hills
rise north of the community and were named after it.
s Joshua "Sheep" Shaw and his son, A. C. R. Shaw, who thought the site resembled Cincinnati, Ohio
, where Joshua once lived. Joshua Shaw earned his nickname by being the first person to bring sheep overland to the Oregon Country
via the Oregon Trail
, also in 1844.
Cincinnati post office was established in 1851, the first stop on a 70-mile mail route that included Nathaniel Ford
's home in Rickreall
and Nesmith's Mills at Ellendale
.
The Oregon Territorial Legislature
incorporated the community with the name "Eola" in 1856. The name comes from Aeolus
, Greek god of the winds, though the reason for the name change is disputed.
Cincinnati post office was also renamed. Eola post office ran until 1901 and was later reestablished from 1955-1965.
The first school in Eola (then Cincinnati) was built in 1853. Miss Abigail J. Scott, best known by her married name as the suffragist Abigail Scott Duniway
, was the first teacher. The original school burned down and was replaced by a school at Second and Mill streets in 1858. This school served the community until 1937, and at the time was the oldest schoolhouse still in use in the state. In 1937, a new school was built using a Works Progress Administration
grant. This building served as a public school facility until 2003. Today the building is used as a church.
, the CDP has a total area of 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 49 people, 29 households, and 6 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 767.0 people per square mile (315.3/km²). There were 36 housing units at an average density of 563.5 per square mile (231.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.80% White, 8.16% from other races
, and 2.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.16% of the population.
There were 29 households out of which 3.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 20.7% were married couples
living together, and 75.9% were non-families. 69.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.69 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 10.2% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 49.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 122.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 131.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $12,361, and the median income for a family was $0. Males had a median income of $0 versus $0 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $9,489. There were no families and 29.8% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
community in 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...
four 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...
on Oregon Route 22 at the confluence of 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...
and 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...
.
For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau
United 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...
has defined Eola as a census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP). The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with the same name. The population of the CDP was 49 at the 2000 census. It is part of the 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...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The Eola Hills
Eola Hills
The Eola Hills are a range of hills northwest of Salem, Oregon, United States. They stretch from the community of Eola about north to Yamhill County.They are divided from the Salem Hills by the Willamette River at Eola....
rise north of the community and were named after it.
History
Eola was originally named Cincinnati in 1844 by settlerSettler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
s Joshua "Sheep" Shaw and his son, A. C. R. Shaw, who thought the site resembled Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, where Joshua once lived. Joshua Shaw earned his nickname by being the first person to bring sheep overland to the Oregon Country
Oregon Country
The Oregon Country was a predominantly American term referring to a disputed ownership region of the Pacific Northwest of North America. The region was occupied by British and French Canadian fur traders from before 1810, and American settlers from the mid-1830s, with its coastal areas north from...
via the Oregon Trail
Oregon 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...
, also in 1844.
Cincinnati post office was established in 1851, the first stop on a 70-mile mail route that included Nathaniel Ford
Nathaniel Ford
Nathaniel Ford was an American politician and Oregon pioneer during the time of the Oregon Territory. A native of Missouri, he worked as a sheriff in that state before moving to the Oregon Country where he was selected as judge in the Provisional Government of Oregon and served in the Oregon...
's home in Rickreall
Rickreall, Oregon
Rickreall is an unincorporated community in Polk County, Oregon, United States. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Rickreall as a census-designated place . The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with the...
and Nesmith's Mills at Ellendale
Ellendale, Oregon
Ellendale is a ghost town in Polk County, Oregon, United States, about two and a half miles west of Dallas. It was the first White settlement in present-day Polk County. The community's name changed over the years, with the first post office in Polk County being opened in this locality as "O'Neils...
.
The Oregon Territorial Legislature
Oregon Territorial Legislature
Oregon’s Territorial Legislature was a bicameral legislative body created by the United States Congress in 1848 as the legislative branch of the government of the Oregon Territory...
incorporated the community with the name "Eola" in 1856. The name comes from Aeolus
Aeolus
Aeolus was the ruler of the winds in Greek mythology. In fact this name was shared by three mythic characters. These three personages are often difficult to tell apart, and even the ancient mythographers appear to have been perplexed about which Aeolus was which...
, Greek god of the winds, though the reason for the name change is disputed.
Cincinnati post office was also renamed. Eola post office ran until 1901 and was later reestablished from 1955-1965.
The first school in Eola (then Cincinnati) was built in 1853. Miss Abigail J. Scott, best known by her married name as the suffragist Abigail Scott Duniway
Abigail Scott Duniway
Abigail Scott Duniway was an American women's rights advocate, newspaper editor and writer, whose efforts were instrumental in gaining voting rights for women.-Biography:...
, was the first teacher. The original school burned down and was replaced by a school at Second and Mill streets in 1858. This school served the community until 1937, and at the time was the oldest schoolhouse still in use in the state. In 1937, a new school was built using a Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
grant. This building served as a public school facility until 2003. Today the building is used as a church.
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 CDP has a total area of 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 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 2000, there were 49 people, 29 households, and 6 families residing in the CDP. 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 767.0 people per square mile (315.3/km²). There were 36 housing units at an average density of 563.5 per square mile (231.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.80% White, 8.16% 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 2.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.16% of the population.
There were 29 households out of which 3.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 20.7% 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, and 75.9% were non-families. 69.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.69 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 10.2% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 49.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 122.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 131.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $12,361, and the median income for a family was $0. Males had a median income of $0 versus $0 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 CDP was $9,489. There were no families and 29.8% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.
External links
- Historic images of Eola from Salem Public Library
- Reprint of Statesman Journal article on Eola
- Modern image of Eola School from Discover Neighborhood History
