Oregon City, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Oregon City was the first city in the United States
west of the Rocky Mountains
to be incorporated. It is the county seat
of Clackamas County
, Oregon
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 31,859.
The city's motto is Urbs civitatis nostrae prima et mater (First and mothertown of our state), as seen on the city's seal.
Known in recent decades as the site of several large paper mill
s on the Willamette River
, the city played a significant role in the early history of the Oregon Country
. It was established by Hudson's Bay Company
's Dr. John McLoughlin
in 1829 near the confluence of the Clackamas River
with the Willamette to take advantage of the power of Willamette Falls
to run a lumber mill. During the 1840s and 1850s it was the destination for those wanting to file land claims after traveling the Oregon Trail
as the last stop on the trail. It was the capital of the Oregon Territory
from its establishment in 1848 until 1851, and rivaled Portland
for early supremacy in the area. In 1846, the city's newspaper, the Oregon Spectator
, was the first American newspaper to be published west of the Rocky Mountains
. The center of the city retains part of its historic character through the preservation of houses and other buildings from the era of the city's founding.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 8.4 square miles (21.6 km²), of which 8.1 square miles (21.1 km²) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.5 km²) (2.52%) is water.
, which flows along the northwest side of the city, and the Clackamas River
, which merges with the larger Willamette to the north of the city. The Willamette forms the boundary between Oregon City and West Linn
; the Clackamas serves as the boundary between Oregon City and Gladstone
.
Other notable tributaries of the Willamette are Abernathy (sometimes spelled Abernethy) and Singer Creeks; Newell Creek is a tributary of Abernathy Creek which flows through a canyon on the city's eastern boundary.
in West Linn were the first multi-lift navigational locks in the United States and are now a National Historical Site, although still in use. The first long-distance electrical service
in the United States originated in Oregon City, transmitting electricity 14 miles to Portland.
basalt
. For many years, Indian trails connected the two, but stairs were built in the 19th century. In 1915 the town built the water-powered Oregon City Municipal Elevator
to connect the two parts, which was converted to electricity in the 1920s. In 1952, a new electric elevator was constructed with the specification that it was to be "as plain as possible and without ornament."
s:
In addition, the downtown core of Oregon City, along with Abernethy Green and those portions of the city north of I-205, are not represented by any neighborhood association.
of 2000, there were 25,754 people, 9,471 households, and 6,667 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,163.9 people per square mile (1,221.6/km²). There were 10,110 housing units at an average density of 1,242.0 per square mile (479.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.44% White, 1.12% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.08% Native American, 0.58% African American, 2.15% from other races
, and 2.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.98% of the population.
There were 9,471 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples
living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,531, and the median income for a family was $51,597. Males had a median income of $38,699 versus $29,547 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,870. About 6.5% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.
industry, until the decline of the Pacific Northwest lumber industry started in the 1980s. At its height, several mills operated in the city and surrounding communities; all but one paper mill
have been shuttered.
Today, the city is home to several notable high technology and light manufacturing concerns. Notable companies based in Oregon City include Benchmade
, a leading manufacturer of high-end cutlery
. Chrome Systems Corporation (formerly Chrome Data) was founded there, but has since moved its operations to nearby Portland. Medrisk, LLC is a major insurance brokerage which does business in the Northwest and is headquartered in Oregon City. In 2006 Anderson Vending Inc. chose Oregon City as its new headquarters.
, a public school district consisting of 10 elementary school
s, two middle school
s, a traditional four-year high school
(Oregon City High School
), and an alternative secondary school. Several schools in the district offer bilingual English/Spanish programs. Oregon City High School is the third most populated high school in Oregon, and is a state and national power in girls' basketball
, winning three consecutive USA Today
girls' national championships in the 1990s.
The city also is the home of Clackamas Community College
, numerous private and parochial schools, and a public library that is part of the Library Information Network of Clackamas County
.
. The Ermatinger House
, the oldest house in Clackamas County, dates to about 1845. The Stevens Crawford Museum is an 1908 structure with 15 furnished rooms, many with their original fittings, as the house was used as a home continuously until 1968.
Other museums include the Museum of the Oregon Territory and the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, with costumed "living history" guides. The Clackamas County Historical Society archives, housed in the Museum of the Oregon Territory, also include the incorporation plat
for the city of San Francisco. Clackamas Heritage Partners owns and operates these museums, along with the Stevens Crawford Museum. In 2009, Clackamas Heritage Partners announced that it could no longer afford to keep the museums open. The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center was closed to the public indefinitely in September 2009, while the Stevens Crawford Museum and Museum of the Oregon Territory, which are staffed largely by volunteers, will operate on a limited schedule.
passes through the city's northern edge, and is the only freeway to serve the city. In addition, three state highways (OR 43, OR 99E, and OR 213) pass through or terminate in Oregon City. The former two serve the city's downtown core, the latter provides service to the southern parts of Oregon City.
mainline passes through the city, and provides service to the Blue Heron paper mill immediately west of downtown. The city also has an Amtrak depot
, which is served twice daily in each direction by Amtrak Cascades
trains running between Portland
and Eugene, Oregon
.
, located 15 miles (25 km) to the north, and by Portland-Mulino Airport, a general-aviation facility located in the town of Mulino
, located approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) to the south.
allow boats to navigate around the falls. The Clackamas River is not navigable, except for the lowermost portions.
, Oregon City is served by TriMet
, the regional transit authority, with several bus lines. Until 1958, an interurban
trolley
line operated by the now-defunct Portland Traction Company connected Oregon City with Portland; remnants of this line are still visible (such as an abandoned bridge across the Clackamas River, just east of the OR 99E bridge). Today, the city operates a "historic trolley" service during the summer months, primarily to serve the needs of tourism, but the vehicles used are trolley-replica buses
, rather than actual trolley cars.
Two other public agencies provide transit service in Oregon City, supplementing that of TriMet. The South Clackamas Transportation District
(SCTD) operates a route between Clackamas Community College on the south east end of Oregon City to Molalla, about 18 miles (29 km) south on Oregon Route 213. Canby Area Transit
(CAT) operates regular service on Oregon Route 99E between the Oregon City Transit Center and Canby. SMART, South Metro Area Regional Transit, serving Wilsonville, connects to CAT in Canby. CAT also has service to Woodburn.
Dial-a-ride service is operated by TriMet, but CAT also operates within the Oregon City city limits for trips originating or terminating in the CAT service area. If transfers between TriMet and CAT are necessary, they are accomplished at the Oregon City Transit Center (OCTC) at 11th & Main, which is at the northeast end of the downtown area.
until 1851; the following governors served during that time:
: Tateshina, Nagano
, Japan
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
west of the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
to be incorporated. It is the county seat
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 Clackamas County
Clackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
, 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...
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 31,859.
The city's motto is Urbs civitatis nostrae prima et mater (First and mothertown of our state), as seen on the city's seal.
History
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
s on 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...
, the city played a significant role in the early history of 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...
. It was established by Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
's Dr. John McLoughlin
John McLoughlin
Dr. John McLoughlin, baptized Jean-Baptiste McLoughlin, was the Chief Factor of the Columbia Fur District of the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Vancouver. He was later known as the "Father of Oregon" for his role in assisting the American cause in the Oregon Country in the Pacific Northwest...
in 1829 near the confluence of the Clackamas River
Clackamas River
The Clackamas River is an approximately tributary of the Willamette River in northwestern Oregon, in the United States. As it drains an area of about , the Clackamas passes through mostly forested and rugged mountainous terrain in its upper reaches, and passes through agricultural and urban areas...
with the Willamette to take advantage of the power of Willamette Falls
Willamette Falls
The Willamette Falls is a natural waterfall on the Willamette River between Oregon City and West Linn, Oregon, in the United States. It is the largest waterfall in the Pacific Northwest and the eighteenth largest in the world by water volume. Horseshoe in shape, it is wide and high with a flow...
to run a lumber mill. During the 1840s and 1850s it was the destination for those wanting to file land claims after traveling 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...
as the last stop on the trail. It was the capital of the Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
from its establishment in 1848 until 1851, and rivaled 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...
for early supremacy in the area. In 1846, the city's newspaper, the Oregon Spectator
Oregon Spectator
The Oregon Spectator, was a newspaper published from 1846 to 1855 in Oregon City of what was first the Oregon Country and later the Oregon Territory of the United States. The Spectator was the first American newspaper to be published west of the Rocky Mountains and was the main paper of the region...
, was the first American newspaper to be published west of the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
. The center of the city retains part of its historic character through the preservation of houses and other buildings from the era of the city's founding.
Geography
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...
, the city has a total area of 8.4 square miles (21.6 km²), of which 8.1 square miles (21.1 km²) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.5 km²) (2.52%) is water.
Waterways
The major waterways of Oregon City include the Willamette RiverWillamette 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...
, which flows along the northwest side of the city, and the Clackamas River
Clackamas River
The Clackamas River is an approximately tributary of the Willamette River in northwestern Oregon, in the United States. As it drains an area of about , the Clackamas passes through mostly forested and rugged mountainous terrain in its upper reaches, and passes through agricultural and urban areas...
, which merges with the larger Willamette to the north of the city. The Willamette forms the boundary between Oregon City and West Linn
West Linn, Oregon
West Linn is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. Now a prosperous southern suburb of Portland, West Linn has a history of early development, prompted by the opportunity to harvest energy from nearby Willamette Falls. It was named after Senator Dr. Lewis Fields Linn of Ste...
; the Clackamas serves as the boundary between Oregon City and Gladstone
Gladstone, Oregon
Gladstone is a city located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 11,438. The 2007 estimate is 12,200 residents. Gladstone is a four-square-mile suburban community twelve miles south of Portland at the confluence of the Clackamas and...
.
Other notable tributaries of the Willamette are Abernathy (sometimes spelled Abernethy) and Singer Creeks; Newell Creek is a tributary of Abernathy Creek which flows through a canyon on the city's eastern boundary.
Willamette Falls
The Willamette Falls LocksWillamette Falls Locks
The Willamette Falls Locks are a lock system on the Willamette River in the U.S. state of Oregon. Opened in 1873 and currently closed, they allow boat traffic on the Willamette to navigate beyond Willamette Falls...
in West Linn were the first multi-lift navigational locks in the United States and are now a National Historical Site, although still in use. The first long-distance electrical service
Electric power transmission
Electric-power transmission is the bulk transfer of electrical energy, from generating power plants to Electrical substations located near demand centers...
in the United States originated in Oregon City, transmitting electricity 14 miles to Portland.
Topography
The town is divided into upper and lower areas; the lower area is on a bench next to the Willamette River, and the upper area atop a bluff composed of Columbia PlateauColumbia Plateau
The Columbia Plateau is a geologic and geographic region that lies across parts of the U.S. states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. It is a wide flood basalt plateau between the Cascade Range and the Rocky Mountains, cut through by the Columbia River...
basalt
Basalt
Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
. For many years, Indian trails connected the two, but stairs were built in the 19th century. In 1915 the town built the water-powered Oregon City Municipal Elevator
Oregon City Municipal Elevator
The Oregon City Municipal Elevator is a elevator which connects two neighborhoods in Oregon City in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the only outdoor municipal elevator in the US and one of only four in the world...
to connect the two parts, which was converted to electricity in the 1920s. In 1952, a new electric elevator was constructed with the specification that it was to be "as plain as possible and without ornament."
Neighborhoods
Oregon City has several neighborhoods represented by official neighborhood associationNeighborhood association
A neighborhood association is a group of residents or property owners who advocate for or organize activities within a neighborhood. An association may have elected leaders and voluntary dues....
s:
- The Park Place neighborhood is in the northeastern corner of the city, located on a bluff overlooking Abernethy Green. The neighborhood includes a housing project, as well as numerous rural properties. Park Place, formerly an independent community, also includes unincorporated areas outside the city limits. First called Clackamas (a name that was later given to a community three miles north), then Paper Mill, the community was finally named Park Place for a park in a nearby oakGarry OakQuercus garryana, the Garry Oak, Oregon White Oak or Oregon Oak, has a range from southern California to extreme southwestern British Columbia, particularly southeastern Vancouver Island and the adjacent Gulf Islands. It grows from sea level to 210 m altitude in the northern part of its range, and...
grove. Park Place was platted in 1889, and a post office was established the following year. For a while the name was changed to "Parkplace." - The McLoughlin neighborhood is bordered by Washington Street and Singer Hill on the Northwest, a bluff overlooking Abernethy Creek on the northeast and east, and Division Street on the south. It also includes extends to the west to border the Canemah district. The John McLoughlin House and the upper entrance to the Municipal Elevator are located in this neighborhood.
- The Barclay Hills neighborhood lies between Rivercrest Park on the west, the city limits on the east, the McLoughlin Neighborhood on the north, and Warner-Milne Road on the south. This neighborhood is bisected by Molalla Avenue, the former route of Oregon Route 213 before it was moved to the Oregon City Bypass to the east.
- The CanemahCanemah, OregonCanemah was an early settlement in the U.S. state of Oregon located near Willamette Falls on the Willamette River. It is now a district within Oregon City.-Location:...
neighborhood lies along Oregon Route 99E, and is a narrow strip of land sandwiched between the Willamette River and a bluff. Canemah was once an independent city before being annexed into Oregon City. Canemah was founded in 1845 and was the portagePortagePortage or portaging refers to the practice of carrying watercraft or cargo over land to avoid river obstacles, or between two bodies of water. A place where this carrying occurs is also called a portage; a person doing the carrying is called a porter.The English word portage is derived from the...
site around Willamette Falls for many years. It was supposedly named after an IndianNative Americans in the United StatesNative Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
chief. - The Rivercrest neighborhood includes Rivercrest Park, and the residential communities overlooking the Willamette RiverWillamette RiverThe 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...
to the west. - The South End neighborhood lies to the southwest of Rivercrest Park. It centers around the intersection of South End and Warner-Parrot roads, and was the location of Oregon City's (now defunct) drive-in movie theater.
- The Hazel Grove/Westling Farm neighborhood lies in the southwestern corner of the city, lying between the bluffs over the Willamette River and the unincorporated areas to the south.
- The Tower Vista neighborhood lies southeast of South End, and east of Hazel Grove/Whistling Farm. It is bordered on the east and southeast by Leland Road.
- The Hillendale neighborhood lies south of Warner-Milne Road, east of Leland Road, north of Clairmont Way and Beavercreek Road, and west of OR 213 and the city limits. The former site of City Hall is located here, as is the Clackamas County jail.
- The Gaffney Lane neighborhood, centered around the elementary school of the same name, lies south of Hillendale, west of OR 213, and north/east of the city limits.
- The Caufield neighborhood contains those parts of the city located south of Park Place, and east of OR 213. Clackamas Community CollegeClackamas Community CollegeClackamas Community College is a community college located in Oregon City, Oregon, United States. It is located at the junction of Oregon Route 213 and Molalla Avenue, nearly at the southern edge of the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area...
is located here, as is Oregon City High SchoolOregon City High SchoolOregon City High School is a public high school located in Oregon City, Oregon. It is the third-most populated high school in Oregon.-History:...
.
In addition, the downtown core of Oregon City, along with Abernethy Green and those portions of the city north of I-205, are not represented by any neighborhood association.
Climate
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 25,754 people, 9,471 households, and 6,667 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 3,163.9 people per square mile (1,221.6/km²). There were 10,110 housing units at an average density of 1,242.0 per square mile (479.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.44% White, 1.12% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.08% Native American, 0.58% African American, 2.15% 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 2.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.98% of the population.
There were 9,471 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% 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, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,531, and the median income for a family was $51,597. Males had a median income of $38,699 versus $29,547 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 $19,870. About 6.5% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
For much of its existence, Oregon City's economy has been dominated by the forestryForestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
industry, until the decline of the Pacific Northwest lumber industry started in the 1980s. At its height, several mills operated in the city and surrounding communities; all but one paper mill
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
have been shuttered.
Today, the city is home to several notable high technology and light manufacturing concerns. Notable companies based in Oregon City include Benchmade
Benchmade
The Benchmade Knife Company is a knife manufacturer run by Roberta and Les de Asis in Oregon City, Oregon, United States. Its products are geared toward many niche markets, such as outdoor sporting cutlery, rescue, law-enforcement, martial-arts, and military...
, a leading manufacturer of high-end cutlery
Cutlery
Cutlery refers to any hand implement used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food in the Western world. It is more usually known as silverware or flatware in the United States, where cutlery can have the more specific meaning of knives and other cutting instruments. This is probably the...
. Chrome Systems Corporation (formerly Chrome Data) was founded there, but has since moved its operations to nearby Portland. Medrisk, LLC is a major insurance brokerage which does business in the Northwest and is headquartered in Oregon City. In 2006 Anderson Vending Inc. chose Oregon City as its new headquarters.
Education
The city, and several surrounding communities, is served by the Oregon City School DistrictOregon City School District (Oregon)
The Oregon City School District is a school district that serves the city of Oregon City, Oregon and some unincorporated areas of southwestern Clackamas County, including the hamlet of Beavercreek and the community of Jennings Lodge, which is physically separated from the rest of the district by...
, a public school district consisting of 10 elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
s, two middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
s, a traditional four-year high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
(Oregon City High School
Oregon City High School
Oregon City High School is a public high school located in Oregon City, Oregon. It is the third-most populated high school in Oregon.-History:...
), and an alternative secondary school. Several schools in the district offer bilingual English/Spanish programs. Oregon City High School is the third most populated high school in Oregon, and is a state and national power in girls' basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, winning three consecutive USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
girls' national championships in the 1990s.
The city also is the home of Clackamas Community College
Clackamas Community College
Clackamas Community College is a community college located in Oregon City, Oregon, United States. It is located at the junction of Oregon Route 213 and Molalla Avenue, nearly at the southern edge of the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area...
, numerous private and parochial schools, and a public library that is part of the Library Information Network of Clackamas County
Library Information Network of Clackamas County
Libraries in Clackamas County is a consortium of the public libraries of Clackamas County, Oregon. It was established in 1977 when the first county-wide funding levy was approved by county voters...
.
Museums
Many historical buildings have been preserved in Oregon City, including the McLoughlin House, John McLoughlin's Georgian homeGeorgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
. The Ermatinger House
Francis Ermatinger House
The Francis Ermatinger House is located in Oregon City, Oregon, United States. Built by Francis Ermatinger in 1845, it is the oldest house in Clackamas County...
, the oldest house in Clackamas County, dates to about 1845. The Stevens Crawford Museum is an 1908 structure with 15 furnished rooms, many with their original fittings, as the house was used as a home continuously until 1968.
Other museums include the Museum of the Oregon Territory and the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, with costumed "living history" guides. The Clackamas County Historical Society archives, housed in the Museum of the Oregon Territory, also include the incorporation 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....
for the city of San Francisco. Clackamas Heritage Partners owns and operates these museums, along with the Stevens Crawford Museum. In 2009, Clackamas Heritage Partners announced that it could no longer afford to keep the museums open. The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center was closed to the public indefinitely in September 2009, while the Stevens Crawford Museum and Museum of the Oregon Territory, which are staffed largely by volunteers, will operate on a limited schedule.
Parks
Oregon City currently has over 22 city parks, with more planned for the future. One of the city's larger parks is Clackamette Park, at the confluence of the Clackamas and Willamette Rivers. The park's features include RV camping, a boat launch and dock, a skateboard park, and other recreational facilities. Several community festivals are held there throughout the year. Other major parks include Chapin, Hillendale, Rivercrest, and the new Wesley Lynn.Transportation
The city is served by the following transportation links:Road
Interstate 205Interstate 205 (Oregon-Washington)
Interstate 205 is a loop route that serves the Portland—Vancouver metropolitan area in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington. I-205 is officially named the War Veterans Memorial Freeway, and is also known as the East Portland Freeway...
passes through the city's northern edge, and is the only freeway to serve the city. In addition, three state highways (OR 43, OR 99E, and OR 213) pass through or terminate in Oregon City. The former two serve the city's downtown core, the latter provides service to the southern parts of Oregon City.
Rail
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....
mainline passes through the city, and provides service to the Blue Heron paper mill immediately west of downtown. The city also has an Amtrak depot
Oregon City (Amtrak station)
Oregon City is an Amtrak station in Oregon City, Oregon, United States. The current station consists of a platform and the city's historic Southern Pacific depot that was restored and returned to the site....
, which is served twice daily in each direction by Amtrak Cascades
Amtrak Cascades
The Amtrak Cascades is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak in partnership with the states of Washington and Oregon in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and the province of British Columbia in Canada...
trains running between 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 Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
.
Air
There are no public airports located within the city. A small private airfield is located along Beavercreek Road, south of Oregon City. Oregon City is served by Portland International AirportPortland International Airport
Portland International Airport is a joint civil-military airport and the largest airport in the U.S. state of Oregon, accounting for 90% of passenger travel and more than 95% of air cargo of the state. It is located within Portland's city limits just south of the Columbia River in Multnomah...
, located 15 miles (25 km) to the north, and by Portland-Mulino Airport, a general-aviation facility located in the town of Mulino
Mulino, Oregon
Mulino, Oregon is a hamlet located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, on Oregon Route 213 between the cities of Oregon City and Molalla.-History:...
, located approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) to the south.
Water
The Willamette River in Oregon City is navigable to small craft, and Oregon City has a thriving fishing and recreational boating industry. The Willamette Falls LocksWillamette Falls Locks
The Willamette Falls Locks are a lock system on the Willamette River in the U.S. state of Oregon. Opened in 1873 and currently closed, they allow boat traffic on the Willamette to navigate beyond Willamette Falls...
allow boats to navigate around the falls. The Clackamas River is not navigable, except for the lowermost portions.
Transit
As part of the greater Portland metropolitan areaPortland metropolitan area
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area , also known as the Portland metropolitan area or Greater Portland, is an urban area in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington centered around the city of Portland, Oregon. The U.S...
, Oregon City is served by TriMet
TriMet
TriMet, more formally known as the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon, is a public agency that operates mass transit in a region that spans most of the Portland metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Oregon...
, the regional transit authority, with several bus lines. Until 1958, an interurban
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
trolley
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
line operated by the now-defunct Portland Traction Company connected Oregon City with Portland; remnants of this line are still visible (such as an abandoned bridge across the Clackamas River, just east of the OR 99E bridge). Today, the city operates a "historic trolley" service during the summer months, primarily to serve the needs of tourism, but the vehicles used are trolley-replica buses
Tourist trolley
A tourist trolley, also called a road trolley, is a rubber-tired bus , which is made to resemble an old-style streetcar or tram....
, rather than actual trolley cars.
Two other public agencies provide transit service in Oregon City, supplementing that of TriMet. The South Clackamas Transportation District
South Clackamas Transportation District
The South Clackamas Transportation District is a bus service that provides public transportation in Molalla, Oregon, connecting that city to Clackamas Community College in Oregon City, and Canby...
(SCTD) operates a route between Clackamas Community College on the south east end of Oregon City to Molalla, about 18 miles (29 km) south on Oregon Route 213. Canby Area Transit
Canby Area Transit
Canby Area Transit or simply CAT is a bus service that provides public transit in the US city of Canby, Oregon, and north to Oregon City. It is operated by the City of Canby, with a hub at the downtown Canby Transit Center....
(CAT) operates regular service on Oregon Route 99E between the Oregon City Transit Center and Canby. SMART, South Metro Area Regional Transit, serving Wilsonville, connects to CAT in Canby. CAT also has service to Woodburn.
Dial-a-ride service is operated by TriMet, but CAT also operates within the Oregon City city limits for trips originating or terminating in the CAT service area. If transfers between TriMet and CAT are necessary, they are accomplished at the Oregon City Transit Center (OCTC) at 11th & Main, which is at the northeast end of the downtown area.
Oregon pioneer history
- John McLoughlinJohn McLoughlinDr. John McLoughlin, baptized Jean-Baptiste McLoughlin, was the Chief Factor of the Columbia Fur District of the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Vancouver. He was later known as the "Father of Oregon" for his role in assisting the American cause in the Oregon Country in the Pacific Northwest...
, the "Father of Oregon". Chief factor of the Hudson's Bay CompanyHudson's Bay CompanyThe Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
until 1845; lived in Oregon City from 1846 until his death in 1857.
Early governors of Oregon
Oregon City was the capital of the Oregon TerritoryOregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
until 1851; the following governors served during that time:
- George AbernethyGeorge AbernethyGeorge Abernethy was an American pioneer, notable entrepreneur, and first governor of Oregon under the provisional government in what would become the state of Oregon in the United States...
, provisional governor of the Oregon CountryOregon CountryThe 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...
(1845–1848) - George Law CurryGeorge Law CurryGeorge Law Curry was a United States political figure and newspaper publisher predominately in what became the state of Oregon. A native of Pennsylvania, he published a newspaper in St. Louis, Missouri, before traveling the Oregon Trail to the unorganized Oregon Country...
, journalist and acting territorial governor - John P. GainesJohn P. GainesJohn Pollard Gaines was a U.S. military and political figure. He was a Whig member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Kentucky from 1847 to 1849, and he served as Governor of the Oregon Territory from 1850 to 1853, stepping down after a turbulent term in office.-Early...
, governor of Oregon territory, 1850-1853. During his term (and against his wishes), the territorial capital of Oregon moved to SalemSalem, OregonSalem 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...
. - Joseph LaneJoseph LaneJoseph Lane was an American general during the Mexican-American War and a United States Senator from Oregon.-Early life:...
, First governor of the Oregon TerritoryOregon TerritoryThe Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
, 1848–1850; acting governor in 1853. - Kintzing PrichetteKintzing PrichetteKintzing Prichette was an American political figure. He was primarily a political appointee within the federal government's various departments, which at the time included U.S. Territories...
, acting governor, 1850
Other notable figures from the pioneer era
- John C. AinsworthJohn C. AinsworthJohn Commingers Ainsworth was an American pioneer businessman and steamboat owner in Oregon. A native of Ohio, he moved west to mine gold in California before immigrating to Oregon where he piloted steamships and became a founder of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company and several banks.-Early...
, pioneer, businessman, steamship captain - George H. AtkinsonGeorge H. AtkinsonGeorge Henry Atkinson was an American missionary and educator in what would become the state of Oregon. In Oregon, he served as a pastor for several churches, helped found what would become Pacific University, and pushed for legislation to create a public school system in Oregon Territory...
, pioneer, missionary, co-founder of Pacific UniversityPacific UniversityPacific University is a private university located in Oregon, United States. The first campus began more than 160 years ago and is located about 38 km west of Portland in Forest Grove... - Asahel BushAsahel BushAsahel Bush was an American newspaper publisher and businessman in Salem, Oregon. As publisher the Oregon Statesman newspaper, he moved the paper to Salem when the territorial capital moved to that city...
, pioneer, printer, founder of the Salem Statesman JournalStatesman JournalThe Statesman Journal is the major daily newspaper published in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1851, the Oregon Statesman later merged with the Capital Journal to form the current newspaper, the second-oldest in Oregon. The Statesman Journal is distributed in Salem, Keizer, and much of... - Tabitha BrownTabitha BrownTabitha Moffatt Brown was an American pioneer emigrant who traveled the Oregon Trail to the Oregon Country. There she assisted in the founding of Tualatin Academy, which would grow to become Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon...
, pioneer, co-founder of Pacific UniversityPacific UniversityPacific University is a private university located in Oregon, United States. The first campus began more than 160 years ago and is located about 38 km west of Portland in Forest Grove... - Captain John H. CouchJohn H. CouchJohn Heard Couch was an American sea captain and pioneer in the Oregon Country in the 19th century. Often referred to as Captain Couch, he became famous for his singular skill at navigation of the mouth of the Columbia River. He is one of the early residents and founders of Portland,...
, seaman and trader - Philip FosterPhilip FosterPhilip Foster was one of the first settlers in Oregon, United States. The farmstead he established in Eagle Creek in 1847 became the first outpost of civilization after 2,000 miles of travel for pioneers heading west along the Oregon Trail. Approximately 10,000 emigrants are believed to have...
, settler and businessman - Gustavus HinesGustavus HinesReverend Gustavus Hines was an American missionary in Oregon Country. Working for the Methodist Mission in what became the state of Oregon, the New York native became involved in early attempts to form a government at the Champoeg Meetings in 1841...
, missionary - Amory HolbrookAmory HolbrookAmory Holbrook was an American attorney and politician in the Oregon Territory. He was the first United States Attorney for the territory and later served as mayor of Oregon City and in the Oregon Legislative Assembly....
, mayor, attorney - Peter Skene OgdenPeter Skene OgdenPeter Skene Ogden , was a fur trader and a Canadian explorer of what is now British Columbia and the American West...
, explorer and fur trader - Samuel ParkerSamuel Parker (Oregon politician)Samuel Parker was an American pioneer of the Oregon Country, in what was to become the state of Oregon. Parker would later participate in the legislatures of the provisional, territorial, and state governments of Oregon.-Early life:...
, politician, pioneer - Peter G. StewartPeter G. StewartPeter Grant Stewart was a jeweler and pioneer of the Oregon Country in what later became the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington. A native of New York state, he traveled the Oregon Trail to the Willamette Valley and settled first in Oregon City and later in what became Washington...
, pioneer, politician, watchmaker - William G. T'VaultWilliam G. T'VaultWilliam Green T'Vault was a pioneer of the Oregon Country and the first editor of the first newspaper published west of the Missouri River. T'Vault led a wagon train of 300 that arrived in Oregon in 1845, after traveling on the Meek Cutoff, a branch of the Oregon Trail...
, pioneer, postmaster, publisher - Aaron E. WaiteAaron E. WaiteAaron E. Waite was an American judge and politician. He was the 4th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court serving from 1859 to 1862. He was the first chief justice after Oregon became a state on February 14, 1859...
, pioneer, first chief justice of the state of Oregon - Alvin F. WallerAlvin F. WallerAlvin F. Waller was an American missionary in Oregon Country and an early leader at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. He was a native of Pennsylvania and helped found the first Protestant church west of the Rocky Mountains in 1843 in Oregon City.-Early life:Alvin Waller was born in Abington,...
, pioneer, missionary
Sports
- Brian BurresBrian BurresBrian Burres is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Burres' best pitch is his changeup, which is highly regarded...
, major league baseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher - Jeff CharlestonJeff CharlestonJeffrey David Charleston is an American football defensive end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
, professional American footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player - Ed ColemanEd Coleman (baseball)Parke Edward Coleman is a former professional baseball player who played Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Athletics from 1932–1935 and the St. Louis Browns from 1935–1936...
, major league baseball player - Jeff LahtiJeff LahtiJeffrey Allen Lahti was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He is an alumnus of Portland State University....
, major league baseball pitcher - Matt LindlandMatt LindlandMatthew James Lindland is an American mixed martial artist, Olympic wrestler and politician. He won the Oregon Republican Party's nomination for the Oregon House of Representatives, District 52 seat on May 20, 2008....
, Olympics silver medalSilver medalA silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
ist in wrestlingAmateur wrestlingAmateur wrestling is the most widespread form of sport wrestling. There are two international wrestling styles performed in the Olympic Games under the supervision of FILA : Greco-Roman and freestyle. Freestyle is possibly derived from the English Lancashire style...
, mixed martial artistMixed martial artsMixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be... - Dan MonsonDan MonsonDaniel Lloyd Monson is an American college basketball coach. He was hired as the head coach of the Long Beach State 49ers on April 7, 2007. Previously he was head coach at the University of Minnesota for over seven seasons, from July 24, 1999, to November 30, 2006...
, basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach - Jonah NickersonJonah NickersonJonah S. Nickerson is a former minor league pitcher. Nickerson played for the 2006 College World Series-winning Oregon State Beavers, and was named the Most Outstanding Player.-Early life:...
, pitcher for the Oregon State Beavers men's baseball team, and the Most Outstanding Player of the 2006 College World Series - Dean PetersDean PetersDean R. Peters was an American professional wrestler and referee. He was perhaps best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation under the ring names Brady Boone and Battle Kat....
, professional wrestler - Trevor WilsonTrevor Wilson (baseball)Trevor Kirk Wilson , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1988–1993, 1995, and 1998....
, a former major-league pitcher for the San Francisco Giants and Anaheim Angels - Lindsey YamasakiLindsey Yamasaki-External links:* * *...
, professional women's basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player - John Stalberger and Mike Marshall, the inventors of Hacky SackHacky Sackthumb|right|200px|A Hacky SackHacky Sack is the trademarked name of a type of footbag.-History:The name "hacky sack" came from the 1972 inventors of the Footbag, John Stalberger and Mike Marshall. Although Marshall suffered a fatal heart attack in 1975, Stalberger continued the business. At a...
- Brad TinsleyBrad TinsleyBradley Glen Tinsley is an American basketball player at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Tinsley played high school basketball at Oregon City High School in Oregon City, Oregon, where he was a top recruit...
Basketball. Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee
Arts
- Meredith BrooksMeredith BrooksMeredith Ann Brooks is an American singer/songwriter and guitarist. She is best known for her 1997 hit song "Bitch", for which she was nominated for a Grammy Award.- Early life :...
, singer/songwriter - M. K. HobsonM. K. HobsonM. K. Hobson is a speculative fiction and fantasy writer. In 2003 she was a Pushcart Prize nominee, and her debut novel The Native Star was nominated for the 2010 Nebula Award...
, science fictionScience fictionScience fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
writer - Kenneth Scott LatouretteKenneth Scott LatouretteKenneth Scott Latourette was an American historian of China, Japan, and world Christianity. His formative experiences as Christian missionary and educator in early 20th century China shaped his life's work...
, historian - Edwin MarkhamEdwin MarkhamCharles Edwin Anson Markham was an American poet. From 1923 to 1931 he was Poet Laureate of Oregon.-Life:Edwin Markham was born in Oregon City, Oregon and was the youngest of 10 children; his parents divorced shortly after his birth...
, American Poet Laureate - Bobby PrestonBobby PrestonRobert Thomas Preston AKA: Bobby Preston-Weiss is an American actor.-Filmography:# Motocross Kids .... Skeeter# The Hunted .... Boy at Airport# Rose Red TV series ......
, actor - Louis Conrad RosenbergLouis Conrad RosenbergLouis Conrad Rosenberg, born in 1890 in Portland, Oregon, was an American printmaker. Rosenberg was a prolific American artist who produced hundreds of etchings of architectural buildings and structures in Europe and the United States, from the 1920s to the 1940s...
, artist and architect - Jeffrey St. ClairJeffrey St. ClairJeffrey St. Clair is an investigative journalist, writer and editor. He is the co-editor, with Alexander Cockburn, of the political newsletter CounterPunch, and a contributing editor to the monthly magazine In These Times. He has also written for The Washington Post, San Francisco Examiner, The...
, journalist and author
Business
- Melville EasthamMelville EasthamMelville Eastham was a noted American radio pioneer and business executive.Eastham was born in Oregon City, Oregon. After high school graduation from Portland Academy, he worked as electrician for a Portland street railway, then moved to New York City in 1905 where he worked for the Ovington X-ray...
, businessman, engineer, radio pioneer - David EcclesDavid Eccles (businessman)David Eccles was an American businessman and industrialist who founded many businesses throughout the western United States and became Utah's first multimillionaire.-Biography:...
, railroadman and businessman
Sister cities
Oregon City has one sister city, as designated by Sister Cities InternationalSister 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...
: Tateshina, Nagano
Tateshina, Nagano
is a town located in Kitasaku District, Nagano, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 8,492 and a density of 127.09 persons per km². The total area is 66.82 km².Tateshina is sister city to Oregon City, Oregon, in the United States....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
External links
- Entry for Oregon City 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...
- Historic Oregon City
- Oregon City Chamber of Commerce
- Oregon City community profile from the Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority