Cascade Locks, Oregon

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Coordinates: 45°40′21″N, 121°52′25″W
Cascade Locks, Oregon
The locks on the Columbia River c. 1920
Location in Oregon
County	Hood River County
Incorporated	1935
Government
- Mayor	Ralph Hesgard
Area
- City	7.7 km² (3.0 sq mi)
- Land	5.6 km² (2.2 sq mi)
- Water	2.1 km² (0.8 sq mi)
Elevation	51.82 m (170 ft)
Population (2000)
- City	1,115
- Density	200.2/km² (517.8/sq mi)
Time zone	Pacific (UTC-8)
- Summer (DST)	Pacific (UTC-7)
Website: www.clbb.net

Cascade Locks is a city in Hood River County, Oregon, United States. The town took its name from a set of locks built to improve navigation past the Cascades Rapids of the Columbia River. The federal government approved the plan for the locks in 1875, construction began in 1878, and the locks were completed on November 5, 1896. The locks were subsequently submerged in 1938, replaced by Bonneville Lock and Dam, although the town lost no land from the expansion of Lake Bonneville behind the dam located some 4 miles downstream of the town.

Cascade Locks is located just upstream from the Bridge of the Gods, a toll bridge that spans the Columbia River. It is the only bridge across the Columbia between Portland and Hood River.

Cascade Locks is used frequently by hikers along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) to cross the Columbia River. Cascade Locks is the lowest point along the trail, which runs from the Mexican border in California to the Canadian border in Washington.

Cascade Locks is a few miles upstream of Eagle Creek Gorge, a popular scenic area that doubles as an alternate route for the Pacific Crest Trail.

As of the 2000 Census, the town population was 1,115.

[edit] Geography

Cascade Locks is located at 45°40′21″N, 121°52′25″W (45.672393, -121.873540)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.7 km² (3.0 mi²). 5.6 km² (2.2 mi²) of it is land and 2.1 km² (0.8 mi²) of it (27.85%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,115 people, 427 households, and 313 families residing in the city. The population density was 200.2/km² (517.8/mi²). There were 476 housing units at an average density of 85.5/km² (221.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.15% White, 0.09% African American, 4.22% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 2.60% from other races, and 3.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.17% of the population.

There were 427 households out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,284, and the median income for a family was $37,422. Males had a median income of $35,469 versus $25,234 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,359. About 17.0% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.1% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.