Cornelius, Oregon

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Coordinates: 45°31′7″N, 123°3′19″W
Cornelius, Oregon
Nickname: "Oregon's Family Town"
Location in Oregon
County	Washington County
Incorporated	1893
Mayor	Terry Rilling
Area
- City	4.9 km² (1.9 sq mi)
- Land	4.9 km² (1.9 sq mi)
- Water	0 km² (0 sq mi)
Elevation	181.66 m (596 ft)
Population
- City (2000)	10,150
- Density	613.5/km² (1,585.5/sq mi)
Time zone	Pacific (UTC-8)
- Summer (DST)	Pacific (UTC-7)
Website: http://www.ci.cornelius.or.us

Cornelius is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The population was 9,652 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Cornelius is located at 45°31′7″N, 123°3′19″W (45.518717, -123.055308)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.9 km² (1.9 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 9,652 people, 2,880 households, and 2,246 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,971.8/km² (5,095.9/mi²). There were 3,003 housing units at an average density of 613.5/km² (1,585.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.61% White, 0.76% African American, 1.24% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.28% Pacific Islander, 24.32% from other races, and 3.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 37.39% of the population.

There were 2,880 households out of which 45.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. 15.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.31 and the average family size was 3.64.

In the city the population was spread out with 32.5% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 108.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,959, and the median income for a family was $49,456. Males had a median income of $32,164 versus $25,207 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,290. About 10.8% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over. Cornelius is known as Oregon's family town.

[edit] History

In 1845, Benjamin Cornelius emigrated to Oregon with his family, travelling with Joseph Meek. The Cornelius family settled on the Tualatin Plains, near what is now North Plains. The same year, Benjamin Q. Tucker and Solomon Emerick staked land claims and established farms on the land that would eventually become Cornelius. At that time, the area was called Free Orchards; there was no actual community, but the name referred to the orchards on the 107 acres of land.

In 1871, Benjamin Cornelius's son Colonel Thomas R. Cornelius learned that Ben Holladay planned to extend the Oregon and California Railroad right through Free Orchards. Holladay had been told by Forest Grove and Hillsboro that they would not allow the railroad free right-of-way, so Holladay planned to bypass them, and build Free Orchards into a new city that would become the new county seat of Washington County.

The new railroad was approaching Free Orchards in 1871, and Cornelius saw an opportunity to benefit from the new railroad. He left his farm and built a new house, a warehouse, and a store in Free Orchards. The warehouse and store were located right next to the railroad, and so became natural places for local farmers to trade and store their goods. Cornelius also built a creamery to process milk, and two sawmills to supply lumber for the growing community. In addition, he helped to build the first frame schoolhouse and the Methodist Church.

In 1893, Free Orchards was incorporated and renamed "Cornelius", to honor the man who spent many years helping build the community. Though Holladay's plan to make Free Orchards into the county seat never materialized, Cornelius survives today as an agricultural town and, increasingly, as a suburb of Portland.