Klamath Falls, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Klamath Falls is a city in Klamath County
, Oregon
, United States
. Originally called Linkville when George Nurse founded the town in 1867, after the Link River
on whose falls this city sat, although no falls currently exist; the name was changed to Klamath Falls in 1892. The population was 20,840 at the 2010 census.
The Modoc Tribe's homeland is about 20 miles (32.2 km) south of Klamath Falls, but when they were pushed onto a reservation with their adversaries the Klamath, a rebellion ensued and they hid out in nearby lava beds
. This led to the Modoc War
of 1872–1873, which was a hugely expensive campaign for the US Cavalry, costing an estimated $500,000 – the equivalent of over 8 million in year-2000 dollars. Seventeen Indians and 83 whites were killed.
The Applegate Trail
, which passes through the lower Klamath area, was blazed in 1846 from west to east in an attempt to provide a safer route for emigrants on the Oregon Trail.
The Klamath Reclamation Project began in 1906 to drain marshland and move water to allow for agriculture. With the building of the main "A" Canal, water was first made available May 22, 1907. Veterans of World War I and World War II were given homesteading opportunities on the reclaimed land.
During World War II
, a Japanese-American internment camp, the Tule Lake War Relocation Center
, was located in nearby Newell, California
, and a satellite of the Camp White, Oregon
, POW
camp was located just on the Oregon-California border near the town of Tulelake, California
. In May 1945, about 30 miles (48.3 km) east of Klamath Falls, (near Bly, Oregon
) a Japanese balloon bomb killed a woman and five children on a church outing. This is said to be the only Japanese-inflicted casualty on the US mainland during the war.
Timber harvesting through the use of railroad was extensive in Klamath County for the first few decades of the 20th century. With the arrival of the Southern Pacific Transportation Company in 1909, Klamath Falls grew quickly from a few hundred to several thousand. Dozens of lumber mills cut fir and pine lumber, and the industry flourished until the late 1980s when the Northern Spotted Owl
and other endangered species were driving forces in changing western forest policy.
On September 20, 1993, an earthquake struck near Klamath Falls.
Many downtown buildings, including the county courthouse and the former Sacred Heart Academy and Convent, were damaged or destroyed. There were two deaths attributed to the earthquake.
The city made national headlines in 2001 when a court decision was made to shut off Klamath Project irrigation water on April 6 because of Endangered Species Act
requirements. The Lost River sucker and shortnose sucker
were listed on the Federal Endangered Species
List in 1988, and when drought struck in 2001, a panel of scientists stated that further diversion of water for agriculture would be detrimental to these species, which reside in the Upper Klamath Lake
, as well as to the protected Coho salmon
which spawn in the Klamath River
. Many protests by farmers and citizens culminated in a "Bucket Brigade" on Main Street May 7, 2001 in Klamath Falls. The event was attended by 18,000 farmers, ranchers, citizens, and politicians. Two giant bucket monuments have since been constructed and erected in town to commemorate the event. Such universal criticism resulted in a new plan implemented in early 2002 to resume irrigation to farmers.
Low river flows in the Klamath and Trinity
rivers and high temperatures led to a mass die-off of at least 33,000 salmon in 2002. Dwindling salmon numbers have practically shut down the fishing industry in the region and caused over $60 million in disaster aid being given to fishermen to offset losses. Ninety percent of Trinity River water is diverted for California Agriculture.
According to a National Academy of Sciences
report of October 22, 2003, limiting irrigation water did little if anything to help endangered fish and may have hurt the populations. A contrary report has criticized the National Academy of Sciences
report. The Chiloquin Dam has been removed to help improve sucker spawning habitat.
, the city has a total area of 18.7 square miles (48.4 km²), of which 17.9 square miles (46.4 km²) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) (4.54%) is water. The elevation is 4099 feet (1,249.4 m).
Klamath Falls has a high desert
landscape. The older part of the city is located above natural geothermal springs. These have been used for the heating of homes and streets, primarily in the downtown area.
of 2000, there were 19,462 people, 7,916 households, and 4,670 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1089.5 /sqmi. There were 8,722 housing units at an average density of 488.3 /sqmi.
The racial makeup of the city was:
9.32% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 7,916 households out of which:
The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.99.
The age distribution was:
The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 101.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,498, and the median income for a family was $37,021. Males had a median income of $31,567 versus $22,313 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,710. About 21.9% of the population and 16.2% of families were below the poverty line, including 26.8% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those 65 or over.
municipality under the Oregon Constitution
, and has been governed by a council–manager form of government since its citizens voted to adopt the current charter in 1972. The city council
, which is nonpartisan
, has five member
s, each elected from one of the five ward
s. They serve four-year terms, which are staggered so that either two or three seats are up for election every two years. The mayor
, who is nonpartisan and serves a term of four years, presides over all city council meetings. S/he appoints committees, can veto any ordinance not passed with the affirmative vote of at least four council members, and can cast tie-breaking votes. The city manager
, however, is the administrative head of the city. S/he is appointed by the council and serves an indefinite term at the council's pleasure. The municipal judge and the city attorney are appointed on the same basis. Todd Kellstrom has been mayor since 1992, and is currently serving a fifth consecutive term. Rick Whitlock is the current city manager.
For the purpose of representation in the state legislature
, Klamath Falls is located in the 28th Senate
district, represented by Republican
Doug Whitsett
, and in the 56th House
district, represented by Republican Bill Garrard
. Federally, Klamath Falls is located in Oregon's 2nd congressional district
, which has a Cook Partisan Voting Index
of R+10
and is represented by Republican
Greg Walden
.
is the largest employer in the area, followed by the Klamath Falls City School District
Other major employers are JELD-WEN
, Collins Products, Columbia Forest Products
, NEW Corp, Aqua Glass, Klamath County School District
, and Oregon Institute of Technology
.
Klamath Falls is home to the 173rd Fighter Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard
, stationed at Kingsley Field airbase. The 270 Air Traffic Control Squadron resides at Kingsley Field Oregon Air National Guard Base. Company B, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry of the Oregon Army National Guard
also makes its home at Kingsley Field.
has been used directly for geothermal heating
in the area since the early the 1900s. A downtown district heating system was constructed in 1981 and extended in 1982. There was public opposition to the scheme. Many homes were heated by private geothermal wells and owners were concerned that the city system could lower the water level and/or reduce water temperatures. System operation was delayed until 1984 following an aquifer
study. Full operational testing showed no negative impact on the private wells. The system was shutdown again in 1986 after multiple distribution piping failures were discovered. By 1991, the distribution piping had been reconstructed and the system was back in operation. The system has been expanded since then and according to the Oregon Institute of Technology the operation is "at or near operational break-even". The system is used to provide direct heat for homes, city schools, greenhouses, government and commercial buildings, geothermally heated snowmelt system
s for sidewalks and roads and process heat for the wastewater treatment plant.
, an ice skating arena, trailriding, and overlooks Upper Klamath Lake
, the largest natural lake in the Pacific Northwest There is also a canoe trail through the wildlife refuge at Rocky Point
.
The OC&E Woods Line State Trail
is a rail trail
in the city and is the longest state park in Oregon. Wiard Park, along the OC&E State Trail and operated by the Wiard Memorial Park and Recreation District, opens dawn to dusk from May 1st to October 1st. Klamath Falls has a Veterans Memorial Park
located downtown along the shore of Lake Ewauna
.
Klamath Falls is located on the Pacific Flyway
, and large numbers of waterfowl
and raptors are seen throughout the year. A large number of Bald Eagles winter in Bear Valley, located 10 miles (16.1 km) west of Klamath Falls, near Keno
, and the American White Pelican
shows in great numbers in summer.
Crater Lake National Park
is 50 miles (80.5 km) north of Klamath Falls, and 33 miles (53.1 km) Rim Drive, which circles the lake, is a favorite of cyclists. Winter cross country skiing and snow shoeing in the park is also very popular. The more than mile high Crater Lake Marathon is an annual event.
Lava Beds National Monument
is about 30 miles (48.3 km) to the south east of Klamath Falls near the town of Tulelake, California
. The Lava Beds provide an excellent opportunity to explore an area that has perhaps the highest concentration of lava tubes. The monument also interprets the Modoc War
, including the First Battle of the Stronghold
.
Mountain Lakes Wilderness Area
, one of the first designated wilderness areas in the United States, lies just to the west of Klamath Falls, providing some excellent opportunities for backpacking and fishing in pristine mountain lakes.
, the national passenger rail system, serves Klamath Falls
, operating its Coast Starlight
daily in both directions between Seattle, Washington
and Los Angeles, California
.
Fixed route public transit service is operated by Basin Transit Service, a special service district with an elected board.
Klamath Falls is also served by the Klamath Falls Airport
, which is located about 6 miles South of the town center.
, as designated by Sister Cities International
:
Rotorua, New Zealand
42.223441°N 121.777578°W
Klamath County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge* Crater Lake National Park * Deschutes National Forest * Fremont National Forest * Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge* Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge...
, 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...
. Originally called Linkville when George Nurse founded the town in 1867, after the Link River
Link River
The Link River is a short river connecting Upper Klamath Lake to Lake Ewauna in the city of Klamath Falls in the U.S. state of Oregon. Draining a basin of , the river begins at the southern end of Klamath Lake and flows a short distance to the Link River Dam and continues to the head of Lake Ewauna...
on whose falls this city sat, although no falls currently exist; the name was changed to Klamath Falls in 1892. The population was 20,840 at the 2010 census.
History
The Klamath and Modoc Indians were the first inhabitants of the area. The Klamath name for this place was Yulalona or Iwauna, which referred to the phenomenon of the Link River flowing upstream when the south wind blew hard. Their name for the falls was Tiwishkeni, or "where the falling waters rush".The Modoc Tribe's homeland is about 20 miles (32.2 km) south of Klamath Falls, but when they were pushed onto a reservation with their adversaries the Klamath, a rebellion ensued and they hid out in nearby lava beds
Lava Beds National Monument
Lava Beds National Monument is located in northeastern California, in Siskiyou and Modoc Counties. The Monument lies on the northeastern flank of the Medicine Lake Volcano, with the largest total area covered by a volcano in the Cascade Range....
. This led to the Modoc War
Modoc War
The Modoc War, or Modoc Campaign , was an armed conflict between the Native American Modoc tribe and the United States Army in southern Oregon and northern California from 1872–1873. The Modoc War was the last of the Indian Wars to occur in California or Oregon...
of 1872–1873, which was a hugely expensive campaign for the US Cavalry, costing an estimated $500,000 – the equivalent of over 8 million in year-2000 dollars. Seventeen Indians and 83 whites were killed.
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:...
, which passes through the lower Klamath area, was blazed in 1846 from west to east in an attempt to provide a safer route for emigrants on the Oregon Trail.
The Klamath Reclamation Project began in 1906 to drain marshland and move water to allow for agriculture. With the building of the main "A" Canal, water was first made available May 22, 1907. Veterans of World War I and World War II were given homesteading opportunities on the reclaimed land.
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...
, a Japanese-American internment camp, the Tule Lake War Relocation Center
Tule Lake War Relocation Center
Tule Lake Segregation Center National Monument was an internment camp in the northern California town of Newell near Tule Lake. It was used in the Japanese American internment during World War II. It was the largest and most controversial of the camps, and did not close until after the war, in...
, was located in nearby Newell, California
Newell, California
Newell is a census-designated place in Modoc County, California in the United States. It is located west-northwest of Alturas, at an elevation of 4,042 feet . The population was 449 at the 2010 census....
, and a satellite of the Camp White, Oregon
Camp White, Oregon
Camp White was an Army training base in Jackson County, Oregon, United States, during World War II. It was also the site of a prisoner-of-war camp. The camp was named in honor of George A. White, who served as adjutant general for Oregon starting in 1915. The camp was dedicated September 15, 1942...
, POW
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
camp was located just on the Oregon-California border near the town of Tulelake, California
Tulelake, California
Tulelake is a city in Siskiyou County, California, United States. It is named after the nearby Tule Lake. The population was 1,010 at the 2010 census, down from 1,020 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Tulelake is located at ....
. In May 1945, about 30 miles (48.3 km) east of Klamath Falls, (near Bly, Oregon
Bly, Oregon
Bly is an unincorporated community in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. It is about east of Klamath Falls. , the population was 486.- History :...
) a Japanese balloon bomb killed a woman and five children on a church outing. This is said to be the only Japanese-inflicted casualty on the US mainland during the war.
Timber harvesting through the use of railroad was extensive in Klamath County for the first few decades of the 20th century. With the arrival of the Southern Pacific Transportation Company in 1909, Klamath Falls grew quickly from a few hundred to several thousand. Dozens of lumber mills cut fir and pine lumber, and the industry flourished until the late 1980s when the Northern Spotted Owl
Northern Spotted Owl
The Northern Spotted Owl, Strix occidentalis caurina, is one of three Spotted Owl subspecies. A Western North American bird in the family Strigidae, genus Strix, it is a medium-sized dark brown owl sixteen to nineteen inches in length and one to one and one sixth pounds. Females are larger than males...
and other endangered species were driving forces in changing western forest policy.
On September 20, 1993, an earthquake struck near Klamath Falls.
Many downtown buildings, including the county courthouse and the former Sacred Heart Academy and Convent, were damaged or destroyed. There were two deaths attributed to the earthquake.
Water rights controversy
Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is one of the dozens of United States environmental laws passed in the 1970s. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973, it was designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a "consequence of economic growth and...
requirements. The Lost River sucker and shortnose sucker
Shortnose Sucker
The shortnose sucker, Chasmistes brevirostris, is a rare species of fish in the family Catostomidae, the suckers. This fish is native to southern Oregon and northern California in the United States. This is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.This fish can grow up to half a...
were listed on the Federal Endangered Species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
List in 1988, and when drought struck in 2001, a panel of scientists stated that further diversion of water for agriculture would be detrimental to these species, which reside in the Upper Klamath Lake
Upper Klamath Lake
Upper Klamath Lake is a large, shallow freshwater lake east of the Cascade Range in south central Oregon in the United States. The largest freshwater body in Oregon, it is approximately 20 mi long and 8 mi wide and extends northwest from the city of Klamath Falls...
, as well as to the protected Coho salmon
Coho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
which spawn in the Klamath River
Klamath River
The Klamath River is an American river that flows southwest through Oregon and northern California, cutting through the Cascade Range to empty into the Pacific Ocean. The river drains an extensive watershed of almost that stretches from the high desert country of the Great Basin to the temperate...
. Many protests by farmers and citizens culminated in a "Bucket Brigade" on Main Street May 7, 2001 in Klamath Falls. The event was attended by 18,000 farmers, ranchers, citizens, and politicians. Two giant bucket monuments have since been constructed and erected in town to commemorate the event. Such universal criticism resulted in a new plan implemented in early 2002 to resume irrigation to farmers.
Low river flows in the Klamath and Trinity
Trinity River (California)
The Trinity River is the longest tributary of the Klamath River, approximately long, in northwestern California in the United States. It drains an area of the Coast Ranges, including the southern Klamath Mountains, northwest of the Sacramento Valley...
rivers and high temperatures led to a mass die-off of at least 33,000 salmon in 2002. Dwindling salmon numbers have practically shut down the fishing industry in the region and caused over $60 million in disaster aid being given to fishermen to offset losses. Ninety percent of Trinity River water is diverted for California Agriculture.
According to a National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
report of October 22, 2003, limiting irrigation water did little if anything to help endangered fish and may have hurt the populations. A contrary report has criticized the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
report. The Chiloquin Dam has been removed to help improve sucker spawning habitat.
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 18.7 square miles (48.4 km²), of which 17.9 square miles (46.4 km²) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) (4.54%) is water. The elevation is 4099 feet (1,249.4 m).
Klamath Falls has a high desert
High Desert (Oregon)
The Oregon High Desert is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon, located east of the Cascade Range and south of the Blue Mountains, in the central and eastern parts of the state. Divided into a southern region and a northern region, the desert covers most of five Oregon counties and averages above...
landscape. The older part of the city is located above natural geothermal springs. These have been used for the heating of homes and streets, primarily in the downtown area.
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 19,462 people, 7,916 households, and 4,670 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 1089.5 /sqmi. There were 8,722 housing units at an average density of 488.3 /sqmi.
The racial makeup of the city was:
- 85.12% White
- 1.02% African American
- 4.44% Native American
- 1.32% Asian
- 0.13% Pacific Islander
- 4.15% from other races
- 3.83% from two or more races
9.32% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 7,916 households out of which:
- 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them
- 42.2% were married couplesMarriageMarriage 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 - 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present
- 41.0% were non-families
- 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals
- 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older
The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.99.
The age distribution was:
- 25.5% under the age of 18
- 13.1% from 18 to 24
- 27.2% from 25 to 44
- 21.5% from 45 to 64
- 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older
The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 101.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,498, and the median income for a family was $37,021. Males had a median income of $31,567 versus $22,313 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 $16,710. About 21.9% of the population and 16.2% of families were below the poverty line, including 26.8% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those 65 or over.
Government and politics
Klamath Falls is a home ruleHome rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
municipality under the Oregon Constitution
Oregon Constitution
The Oregon Constitution is the governing document of the U.S. state of Oregon, originally enacted in 1857. As amended the current state constitution contains eighteen sections, beginning with a bill of rights. This contains most of the rights and privileges granted in the United States Bill of...
, and has been governed by a council–manager form of government since its citizens voted to adopt the current charter in 1972. The city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
, which is nonpartisan
Nonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
, has five member
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
s, each elected from one of the five ward
Wards of the United States
In the United States, a ward is an optional division of a city or town, especially an electoral district, for administrative and representative purposes...
s. They serve four-year terms, which are staggered so that either two or three seats are up for election every two years. The mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, who is nonpartisan and serves a term of four years, presides over all city council meetings. S/he appoints committees, can veto any ordinance not passed with the affirmative vote of at least four council members, and can cast tie-breaking votes. The 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...
, however, is the administrative head of the city. S/he is appointed by the council and serves an indefinite term at the council's pleasure. The municipal judge and the city attorney are appointed on the same basis. Todd Kellstrom has been mayor since 1992, and is currently serving a fifth consecutive term. Rick Whitlock is the current city manager.
For the purpose of representation in the state legislature
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
, Klamath Falls is located in the 28th Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
district, represented by Republican
Oregon Republican Party
The Oregon Republican Party is the state affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Oregon, headquartered in Lake Oswego. The first state party convention was held in Salem on April 21, 1859, and its first nominee for Congress, Portland attorney David Logan...
Doug Whitsett
Doug Whitsett
Doug Whitsett is an American politician who serves in the Oregon State Senate, representing District 28. He is a Republican and currently serves on the Ways and Means Committee, the Ways and Means Public Safety subcommittee, the Emergency Board, the Judiciary Committee, and the Office of...
, and in the 56th House
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
district, represented by Republican Bill Garrard
Bill Garrard
Bill Garrard is the Republican state representative for District 56 of the Oregon House of Representatives. His district represents the voters in southern Klamath County, including Klamath Falls.- Electoral history :- External links :* *...
. Federally, Klamath Falls is located in Oregon's 2nd congressional district
Oregon's 2nd congressional district
Oregon's 2nd congressional district is the largest of Oregon's five districts, and is the seventh largest district in the nation. The district covers roughly two-thirds of the state, east of the Willamette Valley...
, which has a Cook Partisan Voting Index
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of R+10
and is represented by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Greg Walden
Greg Walden
Gregory Paul Walden is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1999. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district covers more than two-thirds of the state . He is the son of Paul E...
.
Economy
Sky Lakes Medical CenterSky Lakes Medical Center
Sky Lakes Medical Center is a 176-bed general medical and surgical hospital located in Klamath Falls, Oregon, United States. Sky Lakes is also a teaching hospital affiliated with Oregon Health & Science University Medical School through the Cascades East Rural Family Medicine Residency Program...
is the largest employer in the area, followed by the Klamath Falls City School District
Klamath Falls City School District
Klamath Falls City School District is a public school district serving Klamath Falls, Oregon, United States.-Demographics:In the 2009 school year, the district had 249 students classified as homeless by the Department of Education, or 6.3% of students in the district.-Elementary schools:*Conger...
Other major employers are JELD-WEN
JELD-WEN
Jeld-Wen is a corporation with over 150 divisions and 20,000 employees worldwide. The business manufactures building products, including windows, interior and exterior doors, and garage doors. Jeld-Wen owns several distribution facilities and operates several resort properties...
, Collins Products, Columbia Forest Products
Columbia Forest Products
Columbia Forest Products is the largest manufacturer of hardwood veneer and hardwood plywood in the United States. Founded in 1957, it is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina. It specializes in decorative, interior veneers and plywood panels that are used in high-end cabinetry, fine...
, NEW Corp, Aqua Glass, Klamath County School District
Klamath County School District
The Klamath County School District is a public school district serving Klamath County, Oregon, United States. Communities in the district include Bly, Bonanza, Chiloquin, Gilchrist, Keno, Klamath Falls, Malin, and Merrill. As of June 2008, the school district had 6,657 students enrolled...
, and Oregon Institute of Technology
Oregon Institute of Technology
Oregon Institute of Technology, also known as Oregon Tech or OIT, is an accredited university in the Oregon University System, and the only public institute of technology in the northwest United States. Located in Klamath Falls, Oregon, it provides undergraduate and graduate degrees in many...
.
Klamath Falls is home to the 173rd Fighter Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard
Oregon Air National Guard
The Oregon Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is, along with the Oregon Army National Guard, an element of the Oregon National Guard...
, stationed at Kingsley Field airbase. The 270 Air Traffic Control Squadron resides at Kingsley Field Oregon Air National Guard Base. Company B, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry of the Oregon Army National Guard
Oregon Army National Guard
The Oregon Army National Guard is a Federally mandated and equipped military organization under the civilian direction of the Oregon Military Department, with the Governor of Oregon as its Commander in Chief. It responds to state and national emergencies, military conflicts and natural disasters,...
also makes its home at Kingsley Field.
Geothermal heating
Klamath Falls is located in a known geothermal resource area. Geothermal powerGeothermal power
Geothermal energy is thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth. Thermal energy is the energy that determines the temperature of matter. Earth's geothermal energy originates from the original formation of the planet and from radioactive decay of minerals...
has been used directly for geothermal heating
Geothermal heating
Geothermal heating is the direct use of geothermal energy for heating applications. Humans have taken advantage of geothermal heat this way since the Paleolithic era. Approximately seventy countries made direct use of a total of 270 PJ of geothermal heating in 2004...
in the area since the early the 1900s. A downtown district heating system was constructed in 1981 and extended in 1982. There was public opposition to the scheme. Many homes were heated by private geothermal wells and owners were concerned that the city system could lower the water level and/or reduce water temperatures. System operation was delayed until 1984 following an aquifer
Aquifer
An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
study. Full operational testing showed no negative impact on the private wells. The system was shutdown again in 1986 after multiple distribution piping failures were discovered. By 1991, the distribution piping had been reconstructed and the system was back in operation. The system has been expanded since then and according to the Oregon Institute of Technology the operation is "at or near operational break-even". The system is used to provide direct heat for homes, city schools, greenhouses, government and commercial buildings, geothermally heated snowmelt system
Snowmelt system
A snowmelt system is used to remove snow and ice via embedded electric cables or hydronic tubing. Common areas for snowmelt systems are: driveways, walkways, parking areas, stairways, loading docks, and around car washes. A snowmelt system is usually installed during the original construction in...
s for sidewalks and roads and process heat for the wastewater treatment plant.
Public schools
- Klamath Falls and the surrounding area are served by Klamath County School DistrictKlamath County School DistrictThe Klamath County School District is a public school district serving Klamath County, Oregon, United States. Communities in the district include Bly, Bonanza, Chiloquin, Gilchrist, Keno, Klamath Falls, Malin, and Merrill. As of June 2008, the school district had 6,657 students enrolled...
and the Klamath Falls City School DistrictKlamath Falls City School DistrictKlamath Falls City School District is a public school district serving Klamath Falls, Oregon, United States.-Demographics:In the 2009 school year, the district had 249 students classified as homeless by the Department of Education, or 6.3% of students in the district.-Elementary schools:*Conger...
.
Recreation
Klamath Falls is home to many outdoor winter and summer activities. The nearby Running Y Ranch Resort features a golf course designed by Arnold PalmerArnold Palmer
Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...
, an ice skating arena, trailriding, and overlooks Upper Klamath Lake
Upper Klamath Lake
Upper Klamath Lake is a large, shallow freshwater lake east of the Cascade Range in south central Oregon in the United States. The largest freshwater body in Oregon, it is approximately 20 mi long and 8 mi wide and extends northwest from the city of Klamath Falls...
, the largest natural lake in the Pacific Northwest There is also a canoe trail through the wildlife refuge at Rocky Point
Rocky Point, Oregon
Rocky Point is an unincorporated community in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. It is located on Pelican Bay on the west shore of Upper Klamath Lake, about 29 miles northwest of Klamath Falls and about three miles north of Oregon Route 140 on Forest Highway 34...
.
The OC&E Woods Line State Trail
OC&E Woods Line State Trail
The OC&E Woods Line State Trail is a rail trail in Klamath and Lake counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is Oregon's longest state park. The trail follows the old OC&E and Weyerhaeuser railroads from Klamath Falls to Thompson Reservoir...
is a rail trail
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
in the city and is the longest state park in Oregon. Wiard Park, along the OC&E State Trail and operated by the Wiard Memorial Park and Recreation District, opens dawn to dusk from May 1st to October 1st. Klamath Falls has a Veterans Memorial Park
Klamath Falls Veterans Memorial Park
The Klamath Falls Vererans Memorial Park is a recreational park located on Lake Ewauna in downtonw Klamath Falls, Oregon. It was established in 2007 as a memorial honoring those who have served and/or are serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, Coast Guard and Wartime Merchant Marine...
located downtown along the shore of Lake Ewauna
Lake Ewauna
Lake Ewauna is a lake in Klamath Falls, Oregon, United States. It is the headwaters of the Klamath River. Fed by Link River from Upper Klamath Lake and controlled by the release of water from Keno Dam downstream, Lake Ewauna stays at a constant level throughout the year.At just over 6,500 feet ...
.
Klamath Falls is located on the Pacific Flyway
Pacific Flyway
The Pacific Flyway is a major north-south route of travel for migratory birds in America, extending from Alaska to Patagonia. Every year, migratory birds travel some or all of this distance both in spring and in fall, following food sources, heading to breeding grounds, or travelling to...
, and large numbers of waterfowl
Waterfowl
Waterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans....
and raptors are seen throughout the year. A large number of Bald Eagles winter in Bear Valley, located 10 miles (16.1 km) west of Klamath Falls, near Keno
Keno, Oregon
Keno is an unincorporated community in Klamath County, Oregon, United States, southwest of Klamath Falls on the Klamath River near Oregon Route 66. As of 2000, the population was 1,059. Keno's elevation is 4,108 feet....
, and the American White Pelican
American White Pelican
The American White Pelican is a large aquatic bird from the order Pelecaniformes. It breeds in interior North America, moving south and to the coasts, as far as Central America, in winter....
shows in great numbers in summer.
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park is a United States National Park located in southern Oregon. Established in 1902, Crater Lake National Park is the sixth oldest national park in the United States and the only one in the state of Oregon...
is 50 miles (80.5 km) north of Klamath Falls, and 33 miles (53.1 km) Rim Drive, which circles the lake, is a favorite of cyclists. Winter cross country skiing and snow shoeing in the park is also very popular. The more than mile high Crater Lake Marathon is an annual event.
Lava Beds National Monument
Lava Beds National Monument
Lava Beds National Monument is located in northeastern California, in Siskiyou and Modoc Counties. The Monument lies on the northeastern flank of the Medicine Lake Volcano, with the largest total area covered by a volcano in the Cascade Range....
is about 30 miles (48.3 km) to the south east of Klamath Falls near the town of Tulelake, California
Tulelake, California
Tulelake is a city in Siskiyou County, California, United States. It is named after the nearby Tule Lake. The population was 1,010 at the 2010 census, down from 1,020 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Tulelake is located at ....
. The Lava Beds provide an excellent opportunity to explore an area that has perhaps the highest concentration of lava tubes. The monument also interprets the Modoc War
Modoc War
The Modoc War, or Modoc Campaign , was an armed conflict between the Native American Modoc tribe and the United States Army in southern Oregon and northern California from 1872–1873. The Modoc War was the last of the Indian Wars to occur in California or Oregon...
, including the First Battle of the Stronghold
First Battle of the Stronghold
The First Battle of the Stronghold was the second battle in the Modoc War of 1872–1873. The battle was fought between the United States Army under Lieutenant Colonel Frank Wheaton and a band of the Native American Modoc tribe from Oregon and California, led by Captain Jack...
.
Mountain Lakes Wilderness Area
Mountain Lakes Wilderness
The Mountain Lakes Wilderness is a wilderness area located in the Fremont–Winema National Forests in the southern Cascade Range of Oregon, USA. It surrounds a cluster of four overlapping shield volcanoes, the highest of which is Aspen Butte...
, one of the first designated wilderness areas in the United States, lies just to the west of Klamath Falls, providing some excellent opportunities for backpacking and fishing in pristine mountain lakes.
Transportation
AmtrakAmtrak
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...
, the national passenger rail system, serves Klamath Falls
Klamath Falls (Amtrak station)
Klamath Falls is a station on Amtrak's Coast Starlight service in Klamath Falls, Oregon. The station is located at 1600 Oak Avenue. The station building, which was built in 1916, has a waiting room with a ticket agent...
, operating its Coast Starlight
Coast Starlight
The Coast Starlight is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on the West Coast of the United States. It runs from King Street Station in Seattle, Washington, to Union Station in Los Angeles, California. The train's name was formed as a merging of two of Southern Pacific's train names, the Coast...
daily in both directions between Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
and Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
Fixed route public transit service is operated by Basin Transit Service, a special service district with an elected board.
Klamath Falls is also served by the Klamath Falls Airport
Klamath Falls Airport
Klamath Falls Airport , also known as Kingsley Field, is a joint civil-military public airport located four miles southeast of Klamath Falls, in Klamath County, Oregon, USA. The airport has two runways...
, which is located about 6 miles South of the town center.
Notable people
- Sharron AngleSharron AngleSharron Elaine Angle is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the Nevada Assembly from 1999 to 2007. She ran unsuccessfully as the 2010 Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate seat in Nevada, garnering 45 percent of the vote...
, Nevada politician - Brenda BakkeBrenda BakkeBrenda Jean Bakke is an American actress better known for her roles as Lana Turner in L.A. Confidential, Michelle Rodham Huddleston in Hot Shots! Part Deux, where she plays a spoof on Sharon Stone's character from Basic Instinct, Cordelia the prostitute in Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight and...
, actress - Dennis BennettDennis Bennett (baseball)Dennis John Bennett is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Phillies , Boston Red Sox , New York Mets and California Angels...
, Major League Baseball player - Don Pedro ColleyDon Pedro ColleyDon Pedro Colley is an American actor.Colley was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon to Muriel and Pete Colley. He attended Klamath Union High School and actively played American football and athletics, which led to an unsuccessful try-out for the 1960 Summer Olympics...
, actor - Chris EyreChris EyreChris Eyre , an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, is a film director and producer.His films focus on all aspects of contemporary Native American life, while dispelling the usual stereotypes. Eyre's debut film, Smoke Signals , won the coveted Sundance Film Festival Filmmakers...
, Sundance Film FestivalSundance Film FestivalThe Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
award winner - Chad GrayChad GrayChad Gray , is the lead vocalist for the American heavy metal bands Mudvayne and Hellyeah.-Personal life:Gray is the son of Dan and Mitzi Gray of Edgewater, Florida...
, musician - Ralph HillRalph HillRalph Anthony Hill was an American long distance runner.Hill studied at the University of Oregon when competing in the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles on the 5000 m. In an exciting race on Aug 5 1932, he came in second behind Lauri Lehtinen, with each runner recording a time of 14.30,0...
, Olympic 5000 meters silver medalist - James IvoryJames Ivory (director)James Francis Ivory is an American film director, best known for the results of his long collaboration with Merchant Ivory Productions, which included both Indian-born film producer Ismail Merchant, and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala...
, Oscar-nominated director - Charles S. MooreCharles S. MooreCharles Sumner Moore was an American businessman and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of the Pacific Northwest state, he held several elected offices in Klamath County in the southern part of the state, including county judge...
, Oregon politician - Dan O'BrienDan O'BrienDaniel Dion O'Brien is a former American decathlete. He was deemed one of the best decathlon athletes of the 1990s, winning an Olympic gold medal after winning three consecutive world titles....
, Olympic gold medalist-Decathlon - Charles O. PorterCharles O. PorterCharles Orlando Porter was a politician from the U.S. state of Oregon.-Early life:Born in Klamath Falls, Oregon, to Frank Porter and Ruth Peterson, he graduated from high school in Eugene, Oregon and then went on to graduate from Harvard University with a B.S. in 1941...
, Oregon politician - Manuel SanchezManuel SanchezManuel Anthony Sanchez was the guitarist for the Kansas City-based post-hardcore band, Flee the Seen. Manuel is a 2000 graduate of Lafayette High School in St. Joseph, MO, and currently resides in Kansas City, MO.- References :...
, musician - Paul ZahniserPaul ZahniserPaul Vernon Zahniser was an American Major League Baseball pitcher who played for three different teams over his five season career, which spanned from 1923 to 1929.-Career:...
, Major League Baseball player
Sister city
Klamath Falls has one sister cityTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
, as designated by Sister Cities International
Sister Cities International
Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between United States and international communities. More than 2,000 cities, states and counties are partnered in 136 countries around the world...
:
Rotorua, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
See also
- Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges ComplexKlamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges ComplexThe Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex is a wildlife preserve operated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service located in the Klamath Basin of southern Oregon and northern California near Klamath Falls, Oregon...
- Klamath Lake
- Klamath Reclamation Project
- Klamath RiverKlamath RiverThe Klamath River is an American river that flows southwest through Oregon and northern California, cutting through the Cascade Range to empty into the Pacific Ocean. The river drains an extensive watershed of almost that stretches from the high desert country of the Great Basin to the temperate...
- OC&E Woods Line State TrailOC&E Woods Line State TrailThe OC&E Woods Line State Trail is a rail trail in Klamath and Lake counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is Oregon's longest state park. The trail follows the old OC&E and Weyerhaeuser railroads from Klamath Falls to Thompson Reservoir...
External links
- Entry for Klamath Falls 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...
- Where are the falls? (flyer prepared by the Klamath County Museum, August 2008)
- Basin Transit Service website
42.223441°N 121.777578°W