La Grande, Oregon
Encyclopedia
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 12,327 people, 5,124 households, and 2,982 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,833.5 people per square mile (1,094.1/km²). There were 5,483 housing units at an average density of 1,260.3 per square mile (486.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.92% White, 1.26% Asian, 0.90% Pacific Islander, 0.78% Native American, 0.68% African American, 1.40% 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 2.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.77% of the population.
There were 5,124 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% 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, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.8% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 16.5% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,576, and the median income for a family was $40,508. Males had a median income of $32,746 versus $21,930 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 $16,550. About 8.3% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
Media
The ObserverThe Observer (La Grande)
The Observer, established in 1896, is a newspaper that serves Union and Wallowa counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Its headquarters are in La Grande, the county seat of Union County. The Observer circulates every day except Sunday to more than 14,000 people...
is the local daily newspaper. Local radio stations include
KLBM
KLBM
KLBM is a radio station in La Grande, Oregon broadcasting on a frequency of 1450 kHz. KLBM is simulcast with KBKR in Baker City, Oregon...
AM 1450 and the following stations on the FM dial:
KEOL
KEOL
KEOL is a radio station broadcasting from Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, Oregon. KEOL currently operates at 91.7 MHz, with an operating power of 100 watts.- History :KEOL first took the air in September 1973 as KEOC-FM...
FM 91.7,
KUBQ
KUBQ
KUBQ is a radio station licensed to serve La Grande, Oregon, in the United States of America. The station is owned by the Pacific Empire Radio Corporation...
FM 98.7,
KWRL
KWRL
KWRL is a radio station licensed to serve La Grande, Oregon, USA. The station is owned by Capps Broadcast Group and the broadcast license is held by KSRV, Inc.KWRL broadcasts an adult contemporary music format.-History:...
FM 99.9,
KCMB
KCMB
KCMB is a radio station licensed to serve Baker City, Oregon, USA. The station is owned by the Capps Broadcast Group and the broadcast license is held by Oregon Trail Radio, Inc.-Programming:...
FM 104.7, and
KRJT
KRJT
KRJT is a radio station licensed to serve Elgin, Oregon, USA. The station is owned by the Pacific Empire Radio Corporation...
FM 105.9.
Highways
- Interstate 84 is the main freeway through La Grande. It links La Grande with other nearby cities in the area (PendletonPendleton, OregonPendleton is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. Pendleton was named in 1868 by the county commissioners for George H. Pendleton, Democratic candidate for Vice-President in the 1864 presidential campaign. The population was 16,612 at the 2010 census...
, Baker CityBaker City, OregonBaker City is a city in and the county seat of Baker County, Oregon, United States. It was named after Edward D. Baker. The population was 9,828 at the 2010 census.-History:...
), as well as other regionally-important cities, including Boise, IdahoBoise, IdahoBoise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
, OntarioOntario, OregonOntario is the largest city in Malheur County, Oregon, United States. It lies along the Snake River at the Idaho border. The population was 10,985 at the 2000 census, with an estimated population of 11,245 in 2006...
and UmatillaUmatilla, OregonUmatilla is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. It is named for the Umatilla River, which enters the Columbia River on the side of the city. The river is named after the Umatilla Tribe. The city is located on the south side of the Columbia River, and is located on U.S...
, and SpokaneSpokaneSpokane is a city in the U.S. state of Washington.Spokane may also refer to:*Spokane *Spokane River*Spokane, Missouri*Spokane Valley, Washington*Spokane County, Washington*Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-Paloos War*Spokane * USS Spokane...
and the Tri-CitiesTri-Cities, WashingtonThe Tri-Cities is a mid-sized metropolitan area in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, consisting of three neighboring cities: Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland. The cities are located at the confluence of the Yakima, Snake, and Columbia rivers in the semi-arid region of...
area of Washington. - U.S. Route 30 serves as La Grande's main street under the name of Adams Avenue.
- Oregon Route 82 begins in La Grande at its intersection with Adams Avenue. The La Grande area's portion of OR 82 is Island Avenue, commonly known as the Island City Strip because it serves as the main road in La Grande's northern suburb of Island CityIsland City, OregonIsland City is a city in Union County, Oregon, United States. Its name originally came about due to it being located on an island between the Grande Ronde River and a nearby slough. However, the slough was later diverted, removing the city's island status...
. OR 82 ends in Wallowa CountyWallowa County, OregonWallowa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. According to Oregon Geographic Names, the origins of the county's name are uncertain, with the most likely explanation being that it is derived from the Nez Perce term for a...
's town of Joseph, OregonJoseph, OregonJoseph is a city in Wallowa County, Oregon, United States. Originally named Silver Lake and Lake City, in 1880 the city formally named itself for Nez Perce Chief Joseph. The population was 1,054 at the 2000 census.- History :...
. - Oregon Route 237Oregon Route 237Oregon Route 237 is an Oregon state highway running from OR 82 in Island City to Interstate 84 and U.S. Route 30 in North Powder. OR 237 is composed of the Cove Highway No. 342 and part of the La Grande-Baker Highway No. 66...
begins in nearby Island CityIsland City, OregonIsland City is a city in Union County, Oregon, United States. Its name originally came about due to it being located on an island between the Grande Ronde River and a nearby slough. However, the slough was later diverted, removing the city's island status...
and is the main route to the nearby town of CoveCove, OregonCove is a city in Union County, Oregon, United States. The population was 594 at the 2000 census.-History:Cove was platted in the 1870s along Ruckles Road, only the second road over the Blue Mountains.-Geography:...
. It ends in North PowderNorth Powder, OregonNorth Powder is a city in Union County, Oregon, United States. The population was 489 at the 2000 census.-History:North Powder was platted in 1885 or 1886 along the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company rail line, having been a stage stop before then....
and joins Interstate 84. - Oregon Route 203Oregon Route 203Oregon Route 203 is an Oregon state highway running from Interstate 84 near La Grande to I-84 near Baker City. OR 203 is composed of part of the La Grande-Baker Highway No. 66 and the Medical Springs Highway No. 340. It is a combined long and runs north–south.- Route description :OR 203...
starts southeast of La Grande, near the intersection of Interstate 84 and U.S. Route 30. It is the main route to the town of UnionUnion, OregonUnion is a city in Union County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,926 at the 2000 census.- History :Union was platted on November 11, 1864 along the Oregon Trail. The name references the Union states, or Northern States, of the American Civil War....
. It ends a few miles north of Baker CityBaker City, OregonBaker City is a city in and the county seat of Baker County, Oregon, United States. It was named after Edward D. Baker. The population was 9,828 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. The Highway travels through Pyles Canyon and is an alternate route to Ladd Canyon, the main way out of the Grande Ronde ValleyGrande Ronde ValleyThe Grande Ronde Valley is a valley in Union County in northeastern Oregon, United States. It is surrounded by the Blue Mountains, and is drained by the Grande Ronde River. La Grande is its largest community. The valley is long, north to south, from Pumpkin Ridge to Pyles Canyon, and wide, east...
to the south.
Rail
La Grande is a crew change point on the Huntington and La Grande subdivisions of the Union Pacific RailroadUnion Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
, originally constructed through the area in 1884 by the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company. Between 1977 and 1997, the city was a regular stop along the former route of Amtrak's Pioneer between Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Salt Lake City, Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
and Seattle. La Grande is also the junction of the Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad
Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad
The Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad is a small railroad that runs in Southwest Idaho and Eastern Oregon in the United States. It operates about 210 miles of former Union Pacific branch lines and is currently a subsidiary of the Rio Grande Pacific Company...
's 20-mile short line to Elgin
Elgin, Oregon
Elgin is a city in Union County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,654 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 1,685 residents. The community is named after the Lady Elgin, a ship lost on Lake Michigan....
.
Notable people
- Bucky BuckwalterBucky BuckwalterMorris "Bucky" Buckwalter is a former National Basketball Association coach and executive, as well as a former coach in the American Basketball Association.Buckwalter grew up in La Grande, Oregon, and played high school basketball at La Grande High School...
, former National Basketball Association coach and executive - Ron GilbertRon GilbertRon Gilbert is an American computer game designer, programmer, and producer, best known for his work on several classic LucasArts adventure games, including Maniac Mansion and the first two Monkey Island games. Gilbert was also co-founder of Humongous Entertainment and its sister company Cavedog...
, a computer game designer, best known for his work on several LucasArts adventure games - Steve HouseSteve HouseSteve House is an American professional climber and mountain guide from La Grande, Oregon.-Biography:House earned a Bachelor of Science in ecology from The Evergreen State College in 1995...
, professional climber and mountain guide - Steve WestSteve West (TV personality)Steve West is a professional hunting consultant and has been host of the Outdoor Channel's Steve's Outdoor Adventures since 2004. His year-a-round hunting and fishing guide service, also called Steve's Outdoor Adventures, is based out of the Eastern Oregon city of La Grande.-References:...
, host of the Outdoor Channel's Steve's Outdoor Adventures
External links
- City of La Grande (official website)
- La Grande listing 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...
- LaGrandeLife.com (a community website)
- Union County Chamber of Commerce