Marion County, Oregon

History

Marion County was created by the Provisional Legislature of Oregon on July 5, 1843, as the Champooick District, one of the original four districts of the Oregon Country along with Twality (later Washington), Clackamas, and Yamhill counties. The four districts were redesignated as counties in 1845.

Originally, this political entity stretched southward to the California border and eastward to the Rocky Mountains. With the creation of Wasco, Linn, Polk, and other counties, its area was reduced in size. Marion County's present geographical boundaries were established in 1856.

In 1849, Salem was designated the county seat. The territorial capital was moved from Oregon City to Salem in 1852. The ensuing controversy over the location of the capital was settled in 1864 when Salem was confirmed as the state capital.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1193 sqmi, of which 1182 sqmi is land and 10 sqmi (0.9%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Yamhill County (northwest)
• Clackamas County (north)
• Wasco County (northeast)
• Jefferson County (east)
• Linn County (south)
• Polk County (west)

National protected areas

• Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge
• Mount Hood National Forest (part)
• Willamette National Forest (part)

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 345,920. Of the residents, 24.0% were under the age of 18 and 16.8% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 37.1 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.3 males. 84.6% of residents lived in urban areas and 15.4% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 67.4% White, 1.2% Black or African American, 2.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% Asian, 1.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 13.8% from some other race, and 12.3% from two or more races; Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 27.7% of the population. Non-Hispanic whites alone made up 61.8% of the population, while non-Hispanic African Americans were 1.1%, non-Hispanic Native Americans 0.9%, non-Hispanic Asians 2.1%, and non-Hispanic people reporting two or more races 4.9%.

There were 122,586 households in the county, of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 128,541 housing units, of which 4.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 61.3% were owner-occupied and 38.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.4%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 315,335 people, 112,957 households, and 77,044 families living in the county. The population density was 266.7 PD/sqmi. There were 120,948 housing units at an average density of 102.3 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 78.2% white, 1.9% Asian, 1.6% American Indian, 1.1% black or African American, 0.7% Pacific islander, 12.6% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 24.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 22.1% were German, 11.4% were English, 11.0% were Irish, and 4.7% were American.

Of the 112,957 households, 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.8% were non-families, and 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.23. The median age was 35.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,069 and the median income for a family was $54,661. Males had a median income of $39,239 versus $32,288 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,915. About 11.7% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 284,834 people, 101,641 households, and 70,437 families living in the county. The population density was 241 PD/sqmi. There were 108,174 housing units at an average density of 91 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 81.62% White, 0.89% Black or African American, 1.44% Native American, 1.75% Asian, 0.36% Pacific Islander, 10.58% from other races, and 3.35% from two or more races. 17.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.4% were of German, 9.2% English, 8.2% American and 7.4% Irish ancestry. 80.8% spoke only English at home, while 14.8% spoke Spanish and 1.4% Russian.

There were 101,641 households, out of which 34.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.70% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county, 27.40% of the population was under the age of 18, 10.30% was from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,314, and the median income for a family was $46,202. Males had a median income of $33,841 versus $26,283 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,408. About 9.60% of families and 13.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.10% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Elected officials

Marion County is among the 24 of Oregon's 36 counties that operate under a board of commissioners (BOC) of three members elected countywide to 4-year terms. In Marion County these are partisan races. Commissioners, who are full-time, salaried officials, have executive, legislative, and quasi-judicial powers (the latter in land-use cases). The Board of Commissioners serves as the governing body. The commissioners elect their chair annually; in practice, in Marion County the chair rotates annually. The BOC is responsible for accepting funds from sources outside the county, strategic planning, and enacting ordinances as needed to carry out plans and serve the public. The BOC also prepares a county budget in cooperation with the elected heads of the various departments. The BOC is required by law to appoint a Budget Officer who presents a budget to the Budget Committee composed of the Commissioners and three public members. County commissioners appoint and oversee non-elected department heads, officers, boards, and commissions.

In addition to the Board of Commissioners, the county has non-partisan positions that are elected in county-wide elections for four year terms: Assessor, Clerk, Treasurer, District Attorney, and Sheriff. Further, the county elects one Justice of the Peace (Justice Court Judge) to a six year term. These officers are accountable to the voters, rather than to the Board of Commissioners, although they work with the Commissioners in establishing a county budget. All are full-time, paid county officers.

County Commission

Politics

Although Democrats took the presidential vote with pluralities in 1996, 2008, and 2020, no Democrat has carried a majority of the county since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Marion County is one of 13 counties to have voted for Barack Obama in 2008, Mitt Romney in 2012, Donald Trump in 2016, and Joe Biden in 2020.

Economy

Agriculture and food processing are important to the county's economy, as are lumber, manufacturing, and education. Marion County is the leader in agricultural production among all other Oregon counties. Marion County has 10,640 acre planted in orchards. The marionberry was named after the county. Government, however, is the county's main employer and economic base.

Education

Tertiary education

Marion County is the home of Willamette University, Corban University, and Chemeketa Community College.

K-12 schools

Public K-12 school districts include:

• Cascade School District 5
• Central School District 13J
• Gervais School District 1
• Jefferson School District 14J
• Mount Angel School District 91
• North Marion School District 15
• North Santiam School District 29J
• Salem-Keizer School District 24J
• Santiam Canyon School District 129J
• Silver Falls School District 4J
• St. Paul School District 45
• Woodburn School District

State-operated schools:

• Oregon School for the Deaf The Oregon School for the Blind closed in 2009.

Bureau of Indian Education-affiliated tribal school:

• Chemawa Indian School

Communities

Cities

• Aumsville
• Aurora
• Detroit
• Donald
• Gates (part)
• Gervais
• Hubbard
• Idanha (part)
• Jefferson
• Keizer
• Mill City (part)
• Mt. Angel
• St. Paul
• Salem (county seat)
• Scotts Mills
• Silverton
• Stayton
• Sublimity
• Turner
• Woodburn

Census-designated places

• Brooks
• Butteville
• Four Corners
• Hayesville
• Labish Village
• Marion
• Mehama

Locales, etc.

• Champoeg
• Saint Benedict

Unincorporated communities

• Breitenbush
• Brooks
• Butteville
• Chemawa
• Clear Lake
• Hayesville
• Macleay
• Marion
• McKee
• Mehama
• Middle Grove
• Monitor
• Niagara
• North Howell
• Pratum
• Rosedale
• Saint Louis
• Shaw
• Talbot
• Waconda
• West Stayton

Notes

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. Horner, John B.. (1919). "Oregon: Her History, Her Great Men, Her Literature". The J.K. Gill Co..
4. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". U.S. Government Printing Office.
5. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
6. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
9. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
10. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
11. "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)".
12. "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Oregon - Table 5 - Race and Hispanic Origin".
13. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Marion County, Oregon".
14. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Marion County, Oregon".
15. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Marion County, Oregon".
16. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
17. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
18. not an option in the 1980 Census
19. not an option in the 1990 Census
20. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
21. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
22. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
23. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". [[United States Census Bureau]].
24. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". [[United States Census Bureau]].
25. "DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". [[United States Census Bureau]].
26. "DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". [[United States Census Bureau]].
27. "County Government in Marion and Polk Counties (2005)".
28. ORS 51.210
29. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
30. The leading "other" candidate, [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912). Progressive]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]], received 1,919 votes, while Socialist [[Eugene V. Debs. Eugene Debs]] received 580 votes, [[Prohibition Party. Prohibition]] candidate [[Eugene W. Chafin. Eugene Chafin]] received 475 votes.
31. "Marion County, Oregon".
32. "Oregon Community Colleges and Community College Districts". [[Oregon Department of Community Colleges & Workforce Development]].
33. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Marion County, OR". [[United States Census Bureau]].
34. Hammond, Betsy. (June 10, 2009). "Vote closes Oregon School for the Blind". [[The Oregonian]].