Clatsop County, Oregon

History

The Lewis and Clark Expedition stayed for the winter of 1805–06 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 on June 21, 1942. The submarine escaped when the order was given not to return fire with the 10 in shore guns. 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. The movement was based on disagreements residents of the county had with Governor Bob Straub. The movement was created after Alumax Corporation canceled their plans to build a plant in the county. Some residents, including two county commissioners, blamed the Oregon Governor for the relocation of the plant. The State of Washington's Governor, Daniel J. Evans, said the county was not welcome in the state and Clatsop County commissioners later abandoned the idea.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1084 sqmi, of which 829 sqmi is land and 255 sqmi, or 24%, is water. The highest point is Saddle Mountain at 3,283 ft, part of the Northern Oregon Coast Range.

Major highways

• [[File:US 26.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 26
• [[Image:US 30.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 30
• [[File:US 101.svg|20px]] 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)

Ecology

Clatsop County is home to a number of plant species that are rare or endemic, including Agrostis swalalahos, Cardamine pattersonii, Carex macrochaeta, Castilleja chambersii, Erigeron peregrinus var. peregrinus, and Saxifraga hitchcockiana.

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 41,072. Of the residents, 19.0% were under the age of 18 and 23.8% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 44.6 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.2 males. 60.9% of residents lived in urban areas and 39.1% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 84.1% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% Asian, 0.3% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.0% from some other race, and 8.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 9.4% of the population.

There were 17,533 households in the county, of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 23,017 housing units, of which 23.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 62.1% were owner-occupied and 37.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.3%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 37,039 people, 15,742 households, and 9,579 families living in the county.{{cite web |access-date=February 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213010705/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US41007 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213234932/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US41007 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020354/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US41007 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

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.

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.{{cite web |access-date=February 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024302/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US41007 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 35,630 people, 14,703 households, and 9,454 families living in the county. The population density was 43 /mi2. There were 19,685 housing units at an average density of 24 /mi2. 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.

Economy

The principal industries of Clatsop County are manufacturing, travel (primarily tourism), and trade. Fishing and timber are still important but contribute proportionally less to the county's employment and income than they used to. The county's average nonfarm employment was 17,480 in 2007. About 30% of the lands within the county boundaries belong to the state of Oregon, as part of the state forests. The Port of Astoria was created in 1914 to support trade and commerce.

Tourism

Astoria, Oregon, the county seat, has multiple tourist attractions including the Astoria Riverfront Trolley, Fort Clatsop, the Uppertown Firefighters Museum, and Columbia River Maritime Museum. Seaside, Oregon, noted as Oregon's oldest ocean resort community, also has multiple tourist attractions, including the Seaside Aquarium, and the Seaside Historical Society Museum. Tourism is noted as one of the major forces in Clatsop County's economy.

Communities

Cities

• Astoria (county seat)
• Cannon Beach
• Gearhart
• Hammond (former)
• Seaside
• Warrenton

Census-designated places

• Jeffers Garden
• Knappa
• River Point
• Svensen
• Westport

Unincorporated communities

• Arch Cape
• Bradwood
• Brownsmead
• Carnahan
• Clifton
• Elsie
• Fern Hill
• Fort Stevens
• Grand Rapids
• Hamlet
• Jeffers Garden
• Jewell
• Jewell Junction
• Lukarilla
• Melville
• Miles Crossing
• Mishawaka
• Navy Heights
• Necanicum
• Oklahoma Hill
• Olney
• Sunset Beach
• Surf Pines
• Svensen Junction
• Taylorville
• Tolovana Park
• Tongue Point Village
• Vesper
• Vinemaple
• Wauna

Former unincorporated communities

• Hammond
• Skipanon

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Clatsop County.

† county seat

Politics

Like all of the northern Oregon coast, Clatsop County was consistently Republican up to and including the 1928 election, | access-date = April 10, 2018 | access-date = April 10, 2018 | access-date = April 10, 2018

In gubernatorial elections, the county has been won by the Democratic Party candidate since 1982, starting with a streak of seven consecutive elections with the Democratic Party carrying Clatsop County. That winning streak ended in 2014, with the GOP gubernatorial candidate, Dennis Richardson, unexpectedly carrying Clatsop with a final vote total of 6,550 votes (46.33 percent) for the Republican and 6,449 votes (45.62 percent) cast for the Democrat and future governor-elect John Kitzhaber. | access-date = April 10, 2018

Clatsop County is located in Oregon's 1st congressional district, which has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+18 and is represented by Suzanne Bonamici. In the Oregon State Senate, it is represented by Republican Suzanne Weber. In the Oregon House of Representatives, it is represented by Republican Cyrus Javadi.

Education

School districts include:

• Astoria School District 1
• Clatskanie School District 6J
• Jewell School District 8
• Knappa School District 4
• Seaside School District 10
• Warrenton-Hammond School District 30

Clatsop County is in the boundary of Clatsop Community College.

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (March 23, 1975). "Clatsop County changes plans". Ellensburg Daily Record.
4. (March 23, 1975). "Clatson 'not welcome'". Tri City Herald.
5. (March 18, 1975). "They want out". Ellensburg Daily Record.
6. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
7. {{cite peakbagger
8. (July 21, 2023). "Agrostis swalalahos (Poaceae), a grass endemic to the mountains of northwest Oregon, U.S.A.". [[Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas]].
9. (December 2004). "Saddle Mountain State Natural Area".
10. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
13. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
14. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
15. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
16. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
17. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
18. "1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Oregon - Table 58 - Persons by Race and Table 59 - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race (p. 39/24-39/32)".
19. "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Oregon - Table 5 - Race and Hispanic Origin".
20. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Clatsop County, Oregon".
21. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Clatsop County, Oregon".
22. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Clatsop County, Oregon".
23. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
24. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
25. not an option in the 1980 Census
26. not an option in the 1990 Census
27. "Welcome - QualityInfo".
28. Analysis, US Department of Commerce, BEA, Bureau of Economic. "Bureau of Economic Analysis".
29. "Astoria Travel Guide". astoria-or.worldweb.com.
30. "About Clatsop County". co.clatsop.or.us.
31. [https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html 2020 Census]
32. David Leip. "Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections {{hyphen}} 2016 Presidential General Election Results".
33. Geography Division. (December 18, 2020). "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Clatsop County, OR". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
34. "Oregon Community Colleges and Community College Districts". [[Oregon Department of Community Colleges & Workforce Development]].