Warrenton, Oregon

Warrenton, Oregon
—  City  —
Location in Oregon
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Oregon
County Clatsop
Incorporated 1899
Government
 • Mayor Mark Kujala
Area
 • Total 16.7 sq mi (43.3 km2)
 • Land 12.3 sq mi (31.9 km2)
 • Water 4.4 sq mi (11.3 km2)
Elevation 8 ft (2.4 m)
Population (2000)
 • Total 4,096
 • Density 332.2/sq mi (128.3/km2)
Time zone Pacific (UTC-8)
 • Summer (DST) Pacific (UTC-7)
ZIP code 97146
Area code(s) 503 and 971
FIPS code 41-78900[1]
GNIS feature ID 1136879[2]
Website www.ci.warrenton.or.us

Warrenton is a city in Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. The city is named for D.K. (Daniel Knight) Warren, an early settler. The population was 4,096 at the 2000 census.

Contents

History

The first settlement within the Warrenton city limits was Lexington, which was laid out in 1848, and served as the first county seat for Clatsop county. The name fell out of use, and this area became known as Skipanon, which is preserved in the name of Skipanon River which flows through the town. A Lexington post office operated intermittently between 1850 and 1857; a Skipanon post office operated without a break from 1871 to 1903.

Fort Stevens was built in the Warrenton area in 1863. Its remains are preserved as part of Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks.

Warrenton was platted in 1889, and incorporated as a city in 1899. Built on tidal flats, it relied on a system of dikes built by Chinese laborers to keep the Columbia River from flooding the town.

Warrenton has 2 charter fishing boat ports.

Geography

Warrenton is located 8 miles west of Astoria across the Young's Bay bridge spanning over 4200 feet of the Young's Bay estuary at the mouth of the [Columbia River].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.7 square miles (43 km2), of which, 12.3 square miles (32 km2) of it is land and 4.4 square miles (11 km2) of it (26.15%) is water.

Neighborhoods

Warrenton includes the former communities of Fort Stevens, Hammond, and Skipanon.[3] Fort Stevens post office operated at the Fort Stevens military post from 1899 to 1949.[3] Hammond voted to disincorporate in November 1991 and merged with Warrenton on December 5.[3] Hammond was named for lumberman Andrew B. Hammond.[3]

Demographics

At the 2000 census[1], there were 4,096 people, 1,621 households and 1,087 families residing in the city. The population density was 332.2 per square mile (128.3/km²). There were 1,799 housing units at an average density of 145.9 per square mile (56.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.53% White, 0.22% African American, 1.32% Native American, 1.76% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.27% from other races, and 2.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.91% of the population. 15.4% were of American, 12.1% German, 9.2% English, 8.9% Irish and 8.1% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 1,621 households of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.00.

Age distribution was 26.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 103.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.3 males.

The median household income was $33,472, and the median family income was $42,946. Males had a median income of $31,654 versus $21,133 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,874. About 11.9% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Warrenton High School is a small school with a total enrolment of between 250 and 400. Warrenton Grade School is a K through 8 school.

Notable people

References

  1. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  3. ^ a b c d McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [First published 1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. pp. 373, 440. ISBN 9780875952772. OCLC 53075956. 

External links