Forest Grove, Oregon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Forest Grove, Oregon | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Washington |
| Incorporated | 1872 |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Richard G. Kidd |
| Area | |
| - Total | 4.7 sq mi (12.3 km²) |
| - Land | 4.6 sq mi (11.9 km²) |
| - Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²) |
| Elevation | 210 ft (64.0 m) |
| Population (2007) | |
| - Total | 20,775 |
| - Density | 3,850.5/sq mi (1,486.3/km²) |
| Time zone | Pacific (UTC-8) |
| - Summer (DST) | Pacific (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 97116 |
| Area code(s) | 503, 971 |
| FIPS code | 41-26200[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1162990[2] |
| Website: http://www.ci.forest-grove.or.us | |
Forest Grove is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, 25 miles (40 km) west of Portland.
Pacific University has been the most distinctive aspect of the town throughout its history. Originally a small farm town, it is now primarily a bedroom suburb of Portland. The population was 17,708 at the 2000 census. As of 2007, the estimated population is 20,775.[3]
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[edit] History
Forest Grove was pioneered as a farming settlement by Alvin T. and Abigail Smith,[4] who were among the earliest to use the Oregon Trail. They overwintered with Henry Harmon Spalding, arriving in what is now Forest Grove in the fall of in 1841. Intending to be missionaries, they found little potential as most of the natives had succumbed to European diseases. According to Oregon Geographic Names, the name Forest Grove was selected on January 10, 1851 at a meeting of the trustees of Tualatin Academy (later known as Pacific University). It is probable that trustee J. Quinn Thornton suggested the name. Before the name Forest Grove was adopted, that part of the county was known as the West Tualatin Plain. Previous post offices in the area were called Tuality Plains and Tualatin. The city was platted in 1850 and incorporated in 1872.
There are ten buildings on the National Register of Historic Places and an entire 18 block district (Clark District) with homes dating as far back as 1854, and several dozen pre-1900.[5] These include the Alvin T. Smith House, First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Old College Hall.
The TV show Nowhere Man has been filmed in Forest Grove numerous times.[6]
[edit] Geography
Forest Grove is located at (45.521372, -123.108759).[7] It is on the western edge of the Portland metropolitan area and the Willamette Valley.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.7 square miles (12.3 km²), of which, 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (2.75%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 17,708 people, 6,336 households, and 4,131 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,850.5 people per square mile (1,486.3/km²). There were 6,702 housing units at an average density of 1,457.3/sq mi (562.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.46% White, 0.43% African American, 0.89% Native American, 2.11% Asian, 0.24% Pacific Islander, 11.39% from other races, and 3.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.31% of the population.
There are 6,336 households out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 13.4% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,135, and the median income for a family was $47,733. Males had a median income of $36,139 versus $25,703 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,992. About 10.4% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Education
The principal landmark of Forest Grove is Pacific University, a private school of higher education.
Forest Grove, as well as Cornelius, Gales Creek, and Dilley, are all part of the Forest Grove School District.
[edit] Sister cities
Forest Grove has two sister cities, both in Japan:[8]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ PSU:Population Research Center
- ^ Historic Forest Grove
- ^ Oregon National Register List. Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department (July 16, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
- ^ IMDB.com
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Oregon Sister Relationships—Organized by Country. Oregon Economic & Community Development Department. Retrieved September 27, 2007.
- Smith, Alvin T. Original diaries at Pacific University Archives
- Drury, Clifford Merrill. 'Henry Harmon Spalding: Pioneer of Old Oregon." Caxton Printers, Caldwell, ID, 1936.
[edit] External links
- City of Forest Grove
- Oregon Blue Book entry for Forest Grove
- Forest Grove Chamber of Commerce
- Forest Grove history from Grovenet
- Friends of Historic Forest Grove
- Forest Grove, Oregon is at coordinates Coordinates:
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