Keizer, Oregon

Keizer, Oregon
City
Keizer Station shopping center in Keizer
Location in Oregon
Coordinates: 45°0′2″N 123°1′19″W / 45.00056°N 123.02194°W / 45.00056; -123.02194Coordinates: 45°0′2″N 123°1′19″W / 45.00056°N 123.02194°W / 45.00056; -123.02194[1]
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Marion
Incorporated	1982
Government
• Mayor	Lore Christopher
Area[2]
• Total	7.21 sq mi (18.67 km2)
• Land	7.09 sq mi (18.36 km2)
• Water	0.12 sq mi (0.31 km2)
Elevation	132 ft (40.2 m)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	36,478
• Estimate (2012[4])	36,907
• Density	5,145.0/sq mi (1,986.5/km2)
Time zone	Pacific (UTC-8)
• Summer (DST)	Pacific (UTC-7)
ZIP codes	97303, 97307
Area code(s)	503
FIPS code	41-38500[5]
GNIS feature ID	1163084[6]
Website	www.keizer.org

Keizer /ˈkaɪzər/ is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States, along the 45th parallel. It was named for Thomas Dove and John Brooks Keizur, two pioneers who arrived in the Wagon Train of 1843, and later filed donation land claims. The population was 36,278 at the 2010 census.^[7] It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The original settlement was at Keizer Bottom, near the banks of the Willamette River. The community was named after Thomas Dove Keizur, one of its first settlers. Somewhere in the translation of donation land claim records, his name was misspelled.^[8][9] The settlement suffered in the flood of 1861, and the inhabitants rebuilt their homes on higher ground. Further floods in 1943, 1945, 1946 and 1948 hampered the growth of the community, and it was not until dams were built in the 1950s to regulate the flow of the Willamette that Keizer began to flourish.

Many times the City of Salem tried to annex the growing community adjacent to its city limits.^[10] Beginning in 1964, a number of Keizer residents tried to convince the people of Keizer that it would be cheaper and better to form their own city. It was not until November 2, 1982, when, with the support of the nearby unincorporated community of Clear Lake, residents voted to make Keizer a city.^[10]

Keizer Bottom is now the site of Keizer Rapids Park, a public park whose attractions include a dog park, playground, boat-in camping, nature trails, and sport courts.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.21 square miles (18.67 km²), of which, 7.09 square miles (18.36 km²) is land and 0.12 square miles (0.31 km²) is water.^[2]

Demographics

Keizer Station shopping center

Volcanoes Stadium

2010 census

As of the census^[3] of 2010, there were 36,478 people, 13,703 households, and 9,498 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,145.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,986.5 /km²). There were 14,445 housing units at an average density of 2,037.4 per square mile (786.6 /km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.5% White, 0.8% African American, 1.3% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.6% Pacific Islander, 9.0% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.3% of the population.

There were 13,703 households of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.7% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% 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 3.13.

The median age in the city was 35.7 years. 27.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.6% were from 25 to 44; 24.7% were from 45 to 64; and 13.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census^[5] of 2000, there were 32,203 people, 12,110 households, and 8,646 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,455.7 people per square mile (1,719.7/km²). There were 12,774 housing units at an average density of 1,767.4 per square mile (682.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.52% White, 0.75% African American, 1.38% Native American, 1.49% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 7.22% from other races, and 3.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.27% of the population.

There were 12,110 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% 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 3.07. In the city the population was 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males The median income for a household in the city was $45,052, and the median income for a family was $49,977. Males had a median income of $37,138 versus $27,032 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,119. About 6.2% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Annual cultural events

The annual Iris Festival takes place in May and showcases Keizer's iris-growing industry.^[13] The festival was founded by Schreiner's Iris Gardens, one of the country's largest retail iris growers, and has been facilitated by the Keizer Chamber of Commerce since 1987.^[14][15] Events include a carnival, a beer garden, craft and food vendors, a 5k walk/run, a vintage car show, and a parade.^[13]

Every year from the beginning of December until the day after Christmas the Gubser school neighborhood hosts the "Keizer Miracle of Christmas Lighting Display." Many of the neighborhood's residents decide to put up Christmas lights along with other various holiday themed displays. Up to 20,000 vehicles visit the approximately 3.5 mile route each year. Along the route visitors are able to donate canned foods and non-perishable items. In 2007 19,000 pounds of food were collected for the Marion Polk Food Share and $17,100 was received in cash.

Museums and other points of interest

The Keizer Heritage Museum is inside the Keizer Heritage Community Center, which was formerly the Keizer School.^[16] The school, built in 1916, has been completely restored and is the only public historic building in Keizer.^[17] Other tenants of the building include the Keizer Community Library, the Keizer Art Association and gallery, and the Keizer Chamber of Commerce.^[17]

Sports

The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, a single A short season minor league baseball team in the Northwest League have their stadium, Volcanoes Stadium, in Keizer. In addition to minor league baseball, Volcanoes Stadium has hosted the OSAA baseball championship and a Civil War baseball game between the University of Oregon Ducks and Oregon State University Beavers.

Keizer has been a long supporter of its lone high school's sports teams, the McNary Celtics. The school has won multiple state titles in recent years, the last coming in 2009 when the baseball team won the state championship in Volcanoes Stadium.^[18]

Education

Keizer is part of the Salem-Keizer School District and has one high school: McNary, two middle schools: Claggett Creek and Whiteaker, and seven elementary schools: Clear Lake, Cummings, Forest Ridge, Gubser, Keizer, Kennedy and Weddle.^[19]

The first schoolhouse in the Keizer area was built in 1878, and its first teacher was Nina McNary, older sister of U.S. Senator Charles L. McNary.^[20] The first school was torn down in 1915 and replaced in 1916 with the building that now serves as the Keizer Heritage Community Center.^[20] By the 1980s, the 1916 Keizer Elementary School was judged unsafe and a new school was built in 1987.^[20] Cummings School was built in 1953 to serve the area's growing population.^[20] In 1955, Keizer School District #88 and Salem School District # 24CJ merged to form the Salem Keizer School District.^[20]

Media

• Keizertimes — weekly newspaper

Notable people

• Grayson Boucher (born 1984) – a streetball player for the AND1 Mixtape Tour who is better known by his nickname "The Professor"
• Deen Castronovo (born 1965) - drummer for Ozzy Osbourne and Journey^[21][22]
• Charles L. McNary, U.S. Senator
• Michael Uppendahl, Television director

References

External links

• Media related to Keizer, Oregon at Wikimedia Commons
• Keizer Chamber of Commerce

v t e Municipalities and communities of Marion County, Oregon, United States County seat: Salem Cities Aumsville Aurora Detroit Donald Gates‡ Gervais Hubbard Idanha‡ Jefferson Keizer Mill City‡ Mt. Angel St. Paul Salem‡ Scotts Mills Silverton Stayton Sublimity Turner Woodburn CDPs Brooks Butteville Four Corners Hayesville Labish Village Marion Mehama Unincorporated communities Breitenbush Clear Lake Macleay McKee Middle Grove Monitor Niagara North Howell Pratum Saint Benedict Saint Louis Shaw Talbot Waconda West Stayton Ghost town Champoeg Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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