Fossil, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Fossil is a city in and the county seat
of Wheeler County
, Oregon
, United States
. The name was chosen by the first postmaster, Thomas B. Hoover, who had found some fossil
remains on his ranch. The population was 473 at the 2010 census.
and George S. Carpenter founded Steiwer & Carpenter Bank, the first bank in both the city and the county.
Although named the temporary county seat by the Oregon legislature in 1899, Fossil had competitors for the permanent designation. A county-wide election held in 1900 produced 436 votes for Fossil, 267 for Twickenham
, and 82 for Spray
.
, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all land.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 469 people, 208 households, and 128 families residing in the city. The population density
was 614.5 people per square mile (238.3/km²). There were 245 housing units at an average density of 321.0 per square mile (124.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.24% White, 1.28% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 2.13% from other races
, and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.62% of the population.
There were 208 households out of which 16.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples
living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the city the population was spread out with 18.1% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 17.1% from 25 to 44, 32.8% from 45 to 64, and 27.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,250, and the median income for a family was $37,125. Males had a median income of $29,688 versus $20,893 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,236. About 12.0% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.
For more than 30 years, the American Bikers Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) of Oregon has held motorcycle rallies in the area in late May. Golf tournaments are held each year at a six-hole golf course at Kinzua
, near Fossil.
.After the initial discovery of the fossil field in 1949 or 1950, access was free and unrestricted until 2005, when a small interpretive center was constructed, and a collection limit of three fossils was established in exchange for a $3 entry fee. The basic entry fee per person in 2011 is $5.
The Oregon Paleolands Institute (OPLI) headquarters and exhibition hall are in Fossil, near the courthouse. OPLI is an educational, community-based non-profit that offers tours, hikes, and workshops related to the region's geology and paleontology
.
through grade 6.
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 Wheeler County
Wheeler County, Oregon
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,547 people, 653 households, and 444 families residing in the county. The population density was 1 people per square mile . There were 842 housing units at an average density of 0 per square mile...
, 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 name was chosen by the first postmaster, Thomas B. Hoover, who had found some fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
remains on his ranch. The population was 473 at the 2010 census.
History
The Fossil post office was established on February 28, 1876. The city was incorporated in 1891 and became the county seat upon the creation of Wheeler County in 1899. Winlock W. SteiwerWinlock W. Steiwer
Winlock W. Steiwer was an American banker, rancher, and politician in the state of Oregon. Born in the Willamette Valley, he made his name in Eastern Oregon as the founder of a bank and as county judge...
and George S. Carpenter founded Steiwer & Carpenter Bank, the first bank in both the city and the county.
Although named the temporary county seat by the Oregon legislature in 1899, Fossil had competitors for the permanent designation. A county-wide election held in 1900 produced 436 votes for Fossil, 267 for Twickenham
Twickenham, Oregon
Twickenham is an unincorporated community in Wheeler County, in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located along the John Day River between Service Creek and Clarno. A bridge at Twickenham carries North Twickenham Road over the river....
, and 82 for Spray
Spray, Oregon
Spray is a city in Wheeler County, Oregon, United States. The population was 160 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-History:...
.
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 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all land.
Demographics
Census
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 469 people, 208 households, and 128 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 614.5 people per square mile (238.3/km²). There were 245 housing units at an average density of 321.0 per square mile (124.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.24% White, 1.28% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 2.13% 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 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.62% of the population.
There were 208 households out of which 16.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% 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, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the city the population was spread out with 18.1% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 17.1% from 25 to 44, 32.8% from 45 to 64, and 27.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,250, and the median income for a family was $37,125. Males had a median income of $29,688 versus $20,893 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 $16,236. About 12.0% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.
Annual events
During the second weekend in August, Fossil hosts the Wheeler County Fair and Rodeo; on the first weekend of July the Wheeler County Bluegrass Festival is held on the courthouse lawn.For more than 30 years, the American Bikers Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) of Oregon has held motorcycle rallies in the area in late May. Golf tournaments are held each year at a six-hole golf course at Kinzua
Kinzua, Oregon
Kinzua is a former company town and ghost town in Wheeler County, Oregon, United States that existed from 1927 to 1978. Kinzua lies directly east of Fossil and uses a Fossil mailing address....
, near Fossil.
Museums and other points of interest
Fossil is the site of the only public fossil field in the U.S. The field is located behind Wheeler High SchoolWheeler High School (Fossil, Oregon)
Wheeler High School is a public high school in Fossil, Oregon, United States. It is in the Fossil School District, and competes jointly with Condon High School in the Big Sky Conference of the Oregon School Activities Association as the Condon/Wheeler Knights....
.After the initial discovery of the fossil field in 1949 or 1950, access was free and unrestricted until 2005, when a small interpretive center was constructed, and a collection limit of three fossils was established in exchange for a $3 entry fee. The basic entry fee per person in 2011 is $5.
The Oregon Paleolands Institute (OPLI) headquarters and exhibition hall are in Fossil, near the courthouse. OPLI is an educational, community-based non-profit that offers tours, hikes, and workshops related to the region's geology and paleontology
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
.
Education
Wheeler Junior/Senior High School and Fossil Elementary School are located in Fossil. In the 2011–12 school year, about 50 students were enrolled in grades 7 through 12 and about 35 in kindergartenKindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
through grade 6.
External links
- Listing for Fossil 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...