Douglas County, Oregon

History

The area originally was inhabited by the Umpqua Indians, a grouping of natives who spoke a variety of Penutian and Athabaskan languages. Following the Rogue River Wars in 1856, most of the remaining natives were moved by the federal government to the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation. However, seven families of Umpqua hid in the hills, eluding capture for many decades. They are now federally recognized as the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians. The tribe manages a small reservation in Canyonville, Oregon, and operates the Seven Feathers Casino Resort, named to represent the seven families who refused forced removal to the Grand Ronde Reservation.

Douglas County was created on January 7, 1852, from the portion of Umpqua County which lay east of the Coast Range summit. In 1856 the Camas Valley was annexed to Douglas County from Coos County. In 1862, the rest of Umpqua county was absorbed into Douglas County, some say due to the loss of population following the end of the early gold boom, while others attribute the absorption to politics. Further boundary adjustments were made with Jackson and Lane Counties in 1915. The borders of Douglas County are largely defined by the Umpqua River watershed.

In 2017, after the defeat of a referendum, the Douglas County Library System ceased operations and all public libraries in the county were closed. Subsequently, ten of the cities in the county reopened their libraries to continue serving their communities.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5134 sqmi, of which 5036 sqmi is land and 98 sqmi (1.9%) is water. It is the fifth-largest county in Oregon by area. A portion of the Umpqua National Forest is in Douglas County. Douglas County is one of two Oregon counties that extend from the Pacific Ocean to the Cascade Range, the other being Lane County.

National protected areas

• Crater Lake National Park (part)
• Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest (part)
• Siuslaw National Forest (part)
• Umpqua National Forest (part)
• Willamette National Forest (part)

Adjacent counties

• Lane County (north)
• Klamath County (east)
• Jackson County (south)
• Josephine County (south)
• Curry County (southwest)
• Coos County (west)

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 111,201. Of the residents, 19.1% were under the age of 18 and 26.8% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 48.1 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.5 males. 59.6% of residents lived in urban areas and 40.4% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 86.4% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 1.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.9% from some other race, and 8.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.0% of the population.

There were 45,817 households in the county, of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 49,774 housing units, of which 7.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.1% were owner-occupied and 29.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.1%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 107,667 people, 44,581 households, and 29,839 families living in the county. The population density was 21.4 /mi2. There were 48,915 housing units at an average density of 9.7 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 92.4% white, 1.8% American Indian, 1.0% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.2% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 25.6% were German, 16.7% were Irish, 15.8% were English, and 5.7% were American.

Of the 44,581 households, 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.1% were non-families, and 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.82. The median age was 46.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,711 and the median income for a family was $48,729. Males had a median income of $39,308 versus $28,176 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,342. About 10.6% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 100,399 people, 39,821 households, and 28,233 families living in the county. The population density was 20 /mi2. There were 43,284 housing units at an average density of 9 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 93.86% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 1.52% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.02% from other races, and 2.70% from two or more races. 3.27% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.4% were of German, 13.2% American, 12.6% English and 10.2% Irish ancestry. 96.5% spoke English and 2.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 39,821 households, out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.9.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,223, and the median income for a family was $39,364. Males had a median income of $32,512 versus $22,349 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,581. About 9.6% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Canyonville
• Drain
• Elkton
• Glendale
• Myrtle Creek
• Oakland
• Reedsport
• Riddle
• Roseburg (county seat)
• Sutherlin
• Winston
• Yoncalla

Census-designated places

• Days Creek
• Dillard
• Fair Oaks
• Gardiner
• Glide
• Green
• Lookingglass
• Melrose
• Roseburg North
• Tri-City
• Winchester Bay

Unincorporated communities

• Anlauf
• Ash
• Azalea
• Brockway
• Camas Valley
• Clearwater
• Cleveland
• Curtin
• Diamond Lake
• Dixonville
• Drew
• Edenbower
• Elkhead
• Idleyld Park
• Kellogg
• Leona
• Milo
• Nonpareil
• Peel
• Rice Hill
• Round Prairie
• Scottsburg
• Shady
• Steamboat
• Sulphur Springs
• Tenmile
• Tiller
• Tyee
• Umpqua
• Union Gap
• Wilbur
• Winchester

Former communities

• Toketee
• Parksdale

Transportation

Roads

Oregon Route 99 runs through Azalea, Tri-City, Myrtle Creek, Canyonville, Green, Roseburg, Winchester, Sutherlin, Rice Hill, Drain, and Anlauf.

Interstate 5 provides access to the communities of Tri-City, Myrtle Creek, Canyonville, Green, Roseburg, Sutherlin, and Rice Hill.

Oregon Route 138 runs northwest from Roseburg to Elkton, Oregon, and generally east from Roseburg to its terminus at a junction with U.S. Route 97, just east of Diamond Lake and Crater Lake.

Buses

The communities of Douglas county are regionally served by U-Trans (formerly Umpqua Transit), the local bus service. In 2017, these services were significantly expanded to include locations such as Oakland, Oregon and Tenmile

Greyhound Lines provide the community of Roseburg with more distant transportation.

Airports

There are two public airports in Roseburg, Roseburg Regional Airport, a.k.a. Marion E. Carl Memorial Field at the north end of town and George Felt Airport (5S1) to the west.

Politics

In contrast to the Willamette Valley, Douglas County is powerfully conservative and Republican, being akin to Josephine County to the south, or to Eastern Oregon. No Democratic presidential nominee has carried Douglas County since Lyndon B. Johnson's landslide win in 1964: indeed the last Democrat to crack forty percent of the county's vote was Michael Dukakis in 1988 during an election influenced by a major drought. Historically, the county, like all of Western Oregon north of the Rogue Valley, also leaned strongly Republican: before 1964 the only other Democrats to carry Douglas County had been John F. Kennedy in 1960, Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936 and 1932, Woodrow Wilson in 1912 and William Jennings Bryan in 1896.

Douglas County is split between the highly conservative 2nd congressional district, represented by Cliff Bentz, and the liberal-leaning 4th district, which includes the Democratic stronghold of Eugene and has been represented by Democrat Val Hoyle since 2023. Within the Oregon House of Representatives, Douglas County is split between four districts. The coastal part, including Reedsport, lies within the 9th District represented by Republican Boomer Wright. A belt from Roseburg south lies in the 4th District, which extends into Jackson and Josephine counties, is represented by Republican Christine Goodwin. The far southwest adjacent to Curry and Coos counties is within the 1st District represented by Republican Court Boice, and the bulk of the county, centered on the northeastern half, lies in the 2nd District represented by Republican Virgle Osborne.

In the Oregon State Senate, Douglas County is split between three districts. The coastal part (9th House of Representatives District) lies within the 5th Senate District represented by Republican Dick Anderson. The two southwestern State House Districts (1st and 2nd) are part of the 1st Senate District represented by Republican David Brock Smith. The southernmost portion of Douglas County exists within the state's 2nd Senate District, represented by Republican Art Robinson.

In spite of its conservative reputation, Douglas County voters have rejected two secessionist proposals to join the Greater Idaho coalition. An initial effort in November of 2020 failed on a vote of 56.68% in opposition to 43.32% in support. A second effort in May of 2022 was also rejected on a vote of 52.63% in opposition to 47.37% in support. This came despite the county, in 2020, giving 67.29% of its votes to Donald Trump and 29.78% of its votes to Joe Biden.

Economy

Almost the entire watershed of the Umpqua River lies within the boundaries of Douglas County. The heavily timbered county contains nearly 1.8 e6acre of commercial forest lands and one of the oldest stands of old growth timber in the world. Approximately 25–30% of the labor force is employed in the forest products industry. Agriculture, mainly field crops, orchards, and livestock (particularly sheep ranching), is also important to the economy of the county. The land of Douglas County is roughly half-publicly and half-privately owned.

The post-Prohibition wine industry in Oregon began with Richard Sommer planting HillCrest Vineyard at the south end of the Umpqua Valley in 1961. The Umpqua Valley wine appellation lies entirely within Douglas county.

Nickel has been refined at Riddle since 1954. There is a significant federal presence in the region; the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management administer more than 50% of the county's land.

As of 2015, the top ten private employers in the county were as follows:

Newspapers

• Douglas County News (2001-2015)
• The Drain Enterprise (1922-2015)
• The News-Review (1887-Present)
• The Umpqua Post (1996-2020)

Notes

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. "Anti-Tax Fervor Closed Their Libraries. Now Residents Are Trying to Go It Alone.".
4. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
5. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
8. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
9. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
10. "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)".
11. "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Oregon - Table 5 - Race and Hispanic Origin".
12. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Douglas County, Oregon".
13. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Douglas County, Oregon".
14. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Douglas County, Oregon".
15. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
16. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
17. not an option in the 1980 Census
18. not an option in the 1990 Census
19. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
20. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
21. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
22. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". [[United States Census Bureau]].
23. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". [[United States Census Bureau]].
24. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". [[United States Census Bureau]].
25. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". [[United States Census Bureau]].
26. Menendez, Albert J.; ''The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004'', pp. 284-286 {{ISBN. 0786422173
27. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
28. "Our Campaigns - U.S. President".
29. "Douglas County Case Study". Darkwing.uoregon.edu.
30. "2015 Douglas County Largest Employers (private sector)". Umpqua Economic Development Partnership.