Milton-Freewater, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Milton-Freewater is a city in Umatilla County
, Oregon
, United States
. The city received its current name in 1951 when the neighboring rival cities of Milton and Freewater voted to merge. The population was 6,470 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Pendleton
–Hermiston
Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Freewater, although named New Walla Walla on its original plat
filed in 1889, received its name from the offer of free water extended to new settlers. This town was located to the north of Milton.
In the 1960s, Milton-Freewater billed itself as the pea
capital of the world. They had a yearly festival and parade known as the "Pea Festival". In the late 1970s, agriculture practices and crop prices changed the dynamics of the local economy and peas were no longer grown as abundantly as they once were. The town dropped the title and the celebration. At the time, Milton-Freewater had a popular festival called the "Corn Roast" (started by local resident Thomas Dodd when he was Chamber President in the early 1970s) that took place in August, and the decision was made to increase the festival to a weekend long celebration which eventually became known as "Muddy Frogwater Days".
The city had long been referred to as "Muddy-Frogwater" by the locals, so some enterprising individuals decided to capitalize on that theme and hence Muddy Frogwater Days were born. Muddy Frogwater is now an annual festival that runs in August. The festival brings in all visitors from even Walla Walla, Weston, Athena and even Pendleton. The festival is a good way for business promotion as many booths and vendors are local companies in the area. Some activities in the past have included concerts, karaoke, a train ride for small children, roasted corn feed, and a dance in the evening. On the Sunday morning of the festival there is a church service. Since then the town has been firmly committed to marketing itself to business and tourism as a "fun town" able to laugh at itself and the quirky nickname. Unfortunately, since it is indeed a small town with limited infrastructure, the city has lost most of its business to Walla Walla, Washington
just to the north.
, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 6,470 people, 2,237 households, and 1,534 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,433.9 people per square mile (1,328.8/km²). There were 2,504 housing units at an average density of 1,329.0 per square mile (514.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.54% White, 0.43% African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 1.17% Pacific Islander, 20.83% from other races
, and 2.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.76% of the population.
There were 2,237 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples
living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.31.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,365, and the median income for a family was $33,265. Males had a median income of $28,292 versus $19,176 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,101. About 13.2% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.8% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.
and include McLoughlin High School
, Central Middle School, Freewater Elementary, Ferndale Elementary School, Grove Elementary School, and Pleasant View School. The high school is also called "Mac-Hi" by locals. Mac-Hi has many sports to choose from including football, soccer, volleyball, wrestling, basketball, track, baseball, softball, golf, and tennis. In previous years, the boys soccer team have won the state championship a number of times. The school also has a very strong wrestling team and many members have gone on to the district and state tournament. Currently, there are about four hundred students who attend Mac-Hi.
Umatilla County, Oregon
Umatilla County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. The county is named for the Umatilla River. In 2010, its population was 75,889...
, 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 city received its current name in 1951 when the neighboring rival cities of Milton and Freewater voted to merge. The population was 6,470 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Pendleton
Pendleton, Oregon
Pendleton 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...
–Hermiston
Hermiston, Oregon
As of the census of 2010, there were 16,745 people, 4,964 households, and 3,360 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,035.4 people per square mile . There were 5,383 housing units at an average density of 832.9 per square mile...
Micropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Originally called Freeport, when the construction of a mill was proposed about 1868, the community changed its name to Milltown, which became Milton by 1873.Freewater, although named New Walla Walla on its original plat
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
filed in 1889, received its name from the offer of free water extended to new settlers. This town was located to the north of Milton.
In the 1960s, Milton-Freewater billed itself as the pea
Pea
A pea is most commonly the small spherical seed or the seed-pod of the pod fruit Pisum sativum. Each pod contains several peas. Peapods are botanically a fruit, since they contain seeds developed from the ovary of a flower. However, peas are considered to be a vegetable in cooking...
capital of the world. They had a yearly festival and parade known as the "Pea Festival". In the late 1970s, agriculture practices and crop prices changed the dynamics of the local economy and peas were no longer grown as abundantly as they once were. The town dropped the title and the celebration. At the time, Milton-Freewater had a popular festival called the "Corn Roast" (started by local resident Thomas Dodd when he was Chamber President in the early 1970s) that took place in August, and the decision was made to increase the festival to a weekend long celebration which eventually became known as "Muddy Frogwater Days".
The city had long been referred to as "Muddy-Frogwater" by the locals, so some enterprising individuals decided to capitalize on that theme and hence Muddy Frogwater Days were born. Muddy Frogwater is now an annual festival that runs in August. The festival brings in all visitors from even Walla Walla, Weston, Athena and even Pendleton. The festival is a good way for business promotion as many booths and vendors are local companies in the area. Some activities in the past have included concerts, karaoke, a train ride for small children, roasted corn feed, and a dance in the evening. On the Sunday morning of the festival there is a church service. Since then the town has been firmly committed to marketing itself to business and tourism as a "fun town" able to laugh at itself and the quirky nickname. Unfortunately, since it is indeed a small town with limited infrastructure, the city has lost most of its business to Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
just to the north.
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 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all 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 6,470 people, 2,237 households, and 1,534 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 3,433.9 people per square mile (1,328.8/km²). There were 2,504 housing units at an average density of 1,329.0 per square mile (514.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.54% White, 0.43% African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 1.17% Pacific Islander, 20.83% 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 2.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.76% of the population.
There were 2,237 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.31.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,365, and the median income for a family was $33,265. Males had a median income of $28,292 versus $19,176 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 $13,101. About 13.2% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.8% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Schools in Milton-Freewater are under the jurisdiction of the Milton-Freewater Unified School DistrictMilton-Freewater Unified School District
The Milton-Freewater Unified School District is a school district in the U.S. state of Oregon in that serves the city of Milton-Freewater and the surrounding area.-Demographics:...
and include McLoughlin High School
McLoughlin High School
McLoughlin High School, known as Mac-Hi, is a public high school in Milton-Freewater, Oregon.-Academics:In 2008, 85% of the school's seniors received their high school diploma. Of 124 students, 106 graduated, 14 dropped out, 1 received a modified diploma, and 3 are still in high school....
, Central Middle School, Freewater Elementary, Ferndale Elementary School, Grove Elementary School, and Pleasant View School. The high school is also called "Mac-Hi" by locals. Mac-Hi has many sports to choose from including football, soccer, volleyball, wrestling, basketball, track, baseball, softball, golf, and tennis. In previous years, the boys soccer team have won the state championship a number of times. The school also has a very strong wrestling team and many members have gone on to the district and state tournament. Currently, there are about four hundred students who attend Mac-Hi.
External links
- Entry for Milton-Freewater 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...