Clatsop County

Clatsop County, Oregon From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigationJump to search Clatsop County U.S. county Clatsop County Courthouse in Astoria Clatsop County Courthouse in Astoria Official seal of Clatsop County Seal Map of Oregon highlighting Clatsop County Location within the U.S. state of Oregon Map of the United States highlighting Oregon Oregon's location within the U.S. Coordinates: 46°01′N 123°43′W Country United States State Oregon Founded June 22, 1844 Seat Astoria Largest city Astoria Area • Total 1,084 sq mi (2,810 km2) • Land 829 sq mi (2,150 km2) • Water 255 sq mi (660 km2) 24%% Population (2010) • Total 37,039 • Estimate (2019) 40,224 • Density 45/sq mi (17/km2) Congressional district 1st Website www.co.clatsop.or.us Clatsop County /ˈklætsəp/ is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,039.[1] The county seat is Astoria.[2] The county is named for the Clatsop tribe of Native Americans, who lived along the coast of the Pacific Ocean prior to European settlement. Clatsop County comprises the Astoria, OR Micropolitan Statistical Area, or Sunset Empire, and is located in Northwest Oregon. Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2.1 Adjacent counties 2.2 Major highways 2.3 National protected areas 3 Demographics 3.1 2000 census 3.2 2010 census 4 Communities 4.1 Cities 4.2 Census-designated places 4.3 Unincorporated communities 5 Politics 6 Economy 6.1 Tourism 7 See also 8 References 9 Further reading History The Lewis and Clark Expedition stayed for the winter of 1805–6 in the area, establishing Fort Clatsop as one of the earliest American structures on the west coast of North America. Astoria, Oregon's oldest settlement, was established as a fur trading post in 1811 and named after John Jacob Astor. Clatsop County was created from the northern and western portions of the original Twality District on June 22, 1844. Until the creation of Vancouver District five days later, Clatsop County extended north across the Columbia into present-day Washington. The Provisional and Territorial Legislatures further altered Clatsop County's boundaries in 1845 and 1853. Before 1850 most of Clatsop County's government activity occurred in Lexington, a community located where Warrenton is now. However, commercial and social activities came to center on Astoria as that city grew, and an election in 1854 chose Astoria to be the new county seat. Fort Stevens, located near the peninsula formed by the south shore of the Columbia river and the Pacific Ocean, became the only continental US military installation attacked in World War II, when submarine I-25 of the Imperial Japanese Navy fired 17 rounds at the base June 21, 1942. The submarine escaped when the order was given not to return fire with the 10-inch (250 mm) shore guns. This was ostensibly done in order to avoid disclosing the position of the fort, however this is disputed by various sources and the field report from the event has never been found. While the damage caused was slight (reportedly only a baseball backstop was damaged and a powerline severed), the presence of the enemy ship sowed panic along the Pacific coast of the United States, and other minor attacks occurred elsewhere in the region, including Vancouver Island. In 1975, Clatsop County commissioners considered seceding from Oregon and becoming a part of Washington.[3] The movement was based on disagreements residents of the county had with then-Governor Bob Straub.[4] The movement was created after Alumax Corporation changed their plans of building a plant in the county.[5] Some residents, including two county commissioners, blamed the Oregon Governor for the movement of the plant.[5] The State of Washington's Governor, Daniel J. Evans, said the county was not welcome in the state.[4] Clatsop County commissioners later abandoned the idea.[3] Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,084 square miles (2,810 km2), of which 829 square miles (2,150 km2) is land and 255 square miles (660 km2) (24%) is water.[6] The highest point is Saddle Mountain at 3,283 feet (1,001 m), part of the Northern Oregon Coast Range.[7] Adjacent counties Columbia County (east) Pacific County, Washington (north) Wahkiakum County, Washington (north) Tillamook County (south) Washington County (southeast) Major highways US 26.svg U.S. Route 26 US 30.svg U.S. Route 30 US 101.svg U.S. Route 101 National protected areas Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge (part) Lewis and Clark National Historical Park (part) Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge (part) Demographics Historical population Census Pop. %± 1850 462 — 1860 498 7.8% 1870 1,255 152.0% 1880 7,222 475.5% 1890 10,016 38.7% 1900 12,765 27.4% 1910 16,106 26.2% 1920 23,030 43.0% 1930 21,124 −8.3% 1940 24,697 16.9% 1950 30,776 24.6% 1960 27,380 −11.0% 1970 28,473 4.0% 1980 32,489 14.1% 1990 33,301 2.5% 2000 35,630 7.0% 2010 37,039 4.0% 2019 (est.) 40,224 [8] 8.6% U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2010-2019[1] 2000 census As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 35,630 people, 14,703 households, and 9,454 families living in the county. The population density was 43 people per square mile (17/km2). There were 19,685 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.14% White or European American, 0.52% Black or African American, 1.03% Native American, 1.21% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 1.64% from other races, and 2.30% from two or more races. 4.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.3% were of German, 10.8% English, 10.4% Irish, 9.3% American and 6.5% Norwegian ancestry. There were 14,703 households, out of which 28.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.60% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.70% were non-families. 29.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.88. In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 26.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males. The median income for a household in the county was $36,301, and the median income for a family was $44,575. Males had a median income of $32,153 versus $22,479 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,515. About 9.10% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.80% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over. 2010 census As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 37,039 people, 15,742 households, and 9,579 families living in the county.[14] The population density was 44.7 inhabitants per square mile (17.3/km2). There were 21,546 housing units at an average density of 26.0 per square mile (10.0/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 90.9% white, 1.2% Asian, 1.0% American Indian, 0.5% black or African American, 0.2% Pacific islander, 3.3% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 7.7% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 22.8% were German, 15.4% were English, 14.2% were Irish, 8.9% were American, and 7.5% were Norwegian.[16] Of the 15,742 households, 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.2% were non-families, and 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 43.2 years.[14] The median income for a household in the county was $42,223 and the median income for a family was $52,339. Males had a median income of $40,741 versus $28,463 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,347. About 9.6% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.[17]