Prairie City, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Prairie City is a city in Grant County
, Oregon
, United States
. The population was 1,080 at the 2000 census. The community was incorporated by the Oregon Legislative Assembly
on February 23, 1891.
, established in the summer of 1862 and was a short distance up Dixie Creek. Prairie City was the western terminus of the Sumpter Valley Railroad, which extended over Dixie Summit and Tipton to Sumpter
and then to Baker City
; passenger train service was discontinued in 1937. Freight service continued through World War II
, but the line was abandoned in 1947.
, the second longest undammed river in the contiguous United States.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,080 people, 433 households, and 286 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,140.7 people per square mile (438.9/km²). There were 493 housing units at an average density of 520.7 per square mile (200.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.56% White, 2.13% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 1.20% from other races
, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.67% of the population.
There were 433 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples
living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 102.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,354, and the median income for a family was $35,893. Males had a median income of $31,771 versus $24,500 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,278. About 10.6% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
, built on the site of a former lumber mill, is located about 17 miles (27.4 km) to the northwest.
Grant County, Oregon
Grant County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. In 2010, its population was 7,445. It is named for President Ulysses S. Grant, who served as an army officer in the Oregon Territory, and at the time of the county's creation...
, 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 population was 1,080 at the 2000 census. The community was incorporated by the Oregon Legislative Assembly
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...
on February 23, 1891.
History
Prairie City grew out of the former mining camp of DixieDixie, Grant County, Oregon
Dixie is an unincorporated historic locale in Grant County, Oregon, United States. It was a station on the Sumpter Valley Railway near Dixie Summit. The station was named for Dixie Creek, a tributary of the John Day River near Prairie City. The creek was named for the many gold miners from the U.S....
, established in the summer of 1862 and was a short distance up Dixie Creek. Prairie City was the western terminus of the Sumpter Valley Railroad, which extended over Dixie Summit and Tipton to Sumpter
Sumpter, Oregon
Sumpter is a city in Baker County, Oregon, United States. The population was 171 at the 2000 census. Sumpter is named after Fort Sumter by its founders.- History :...
and then to Baker City
Baker City, Oregon
Baker 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:...
; passenger train service was discontinued in 1937. Freight service continued through 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...
, but the line was abandoned in 1947.
Geography
Prairie City is at the upper end of the John Day Valley, on the John Day RiverJohn Day River
The John Day River is a tributary of the Columbia River, approximately long, in northeastern Oregon in the United States. Undammed along its entire length, the river is the third longest free-flowing river in the conterminous United States. There is extensive use of its waters for irrigation. Its...
, the second longest undammed river in the contiguous United States.
According to the United States Census Bureau
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 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it 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 1,080 people, 433 households, and 286 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 1,140.7 people per square mile (438.9/km²). There were 493 housing units at an average density of 520.7 per square mile (200.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.56% White, 2.13% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 1.20% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.67% of the population.
There were 433 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% 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, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 102.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,354, and the median income for a family was $35,893. Males had a median income of $31,771 versus $24,500 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 $16,278. About 10.6% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The current economy includes ranching, and a number of retail vendors and public services.Museums and other points of interest
Prairie City has a number of historic stone buildings, quarried in the area and built in the first decade of the twentieth century. The Dewitt Museum, containing pioneer artifacts and memorabilia from the surrounding area, is located in the former Sumpter Valley Railway Depot, Prairie City. The town's cemetery also includes marked graves of both Union and Confederate veterans. Bates State ParkBates State Park
Bates State Park is a Oregon state park in Grant County near the city of Prairie City. The park includes hiking trails, primitive RV and tent campsites, and a day use area for hikers and bicyclists.-History:...
, built on the site of a former lumber mill, is located about 17 miles (27.4 km) to the northwest.
External links
- Entry for Prairie 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...
- Grant County Chamber of Commerce entry for Prairie City