Linn County, Oregon

Linn County, Oregon
Linn County Courthouse in Albany
Map of Oregon highlighting Linn County
Location in the state of Oregon
Map of the United States highlighting Oregon
Oregon's location in the U.S.
Founded December 28, 1847
Seat Albany
Largest city Albany
Area
 • Total 2,309 sq mi (5,980 km2)
 • Land 2,290 sq mi (5,931 km2)
 • Water 19 sq mi (49 km2), 0.8%
Population (Est.)
 • (2014) 119,356
 • Density 51/sq mi (20/km²)
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Website www.co.linn.or.us
Sign welcoming visitors to the county

Linn County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,672.[1] The county seat is Albany.[2] The county is named in honor of Lewis F. Linn, a U.S. Senator from Missouri who advocated the American settlement of the Oregon Country.

Linn County comprises the Albany, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA Combined Statistical Area. It is located in the Willamette Valley.

In 2010, the center of population of Oregon was located in Linn County, near the city of Lyons.[3]

History

On December 28, 1847 the Provisional Legislature created Linn County from the southern portion of Champoeg (later Marion) County. The boundaries were altered in 1851 and 1854 with the creation of Lane and Wasco Counties. The county seat was originally located in Calapooia (later known as Brownsville), but in 1851 the Territorial Legislature passed an act establishing Albany as the county seat. A special election in 1856 reaffirmed Albany as the county seat.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,309 square miles (5,980 km2), of which 2,290 square miles (5,900 km2) is land and 19 square miles (49 km2) (0.8%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1850994—
18606,772581.3%
18708,71728.7%
188012,67645.4%
189016,26528.3%
190018,60314.4%
191022,66221.8%
192024,5508.3%
193024,7000.6%
194030,48523.4%
195054,31778.2%
196058,8678.4%
197071,91422.2%
198089,46524.4%
199091,2272.0%
2000103,06913.0%
2010116,67213.2%
Est. 2014119,3562.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2014[1]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 103,069 people, 39,541 households, and 28,232 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile (17/km²). There were 42,521 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.20% White, 0.32% Black or African American, 1.27% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 1.80% from other races, and 2.49% from two or more races. 4.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.2% were of German, 13.0% American, 11.2% English and 8.6% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 39,541 households out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 23.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.00% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,518, and the median income for a family was $44,188. Males had a median income of $35,586 versus $24,073 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,633. About 8.90% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.80% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

In January 2013, Linn County Sheriff Tim Mueller gained national attention for a letter he sent to Vice-President Joe Biden, informing Mr. Biden that he [Mueller] would not enforce any federal firearms laws he considered to be "offending the constitutional rights of my citizens." He further stated that he would not permit federal officers to come to his county to enforce such laws.[10] A copy of the letter may be seen on the Linn County Sheriff's Department Facebook page.[11]

Economy

Principal industries are wood products, agriculture, mining, and manufacturing. Linn County's economy relies heavily on the lumber and wood products industry; in 1990, this industry accounted for 40% of the county's manufacturing jobs. The climate and soil conditions provide one of Oregon's most diversified agriculture areas, allowing a wide variety of specialty crops such as common and perennial ryegrass. Linn County is also home to the only emery mine in the United States, and the production of manufactured and motor homes.

Natural history

A variety of flora and fauna occur in Linn County. Fauna include mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles. Trees include a variety of oaks and conifers as well as other species such as Salix sessilifolia.[12] The Rough-skinned Newt is a common amphibian occurring in the oak woodlands of the county.[13] Carpenter Mountain, one of the highest points in the western Cascades is located in Linn County, although road access to the peak is only possible through Lane County.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "Centers of Population by State: 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  4. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  7. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  9. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  10. ↑ http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/16/us/oregon-sheriff-gun-laws/index.html
  11. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=539550812730439&set=a.539534166065437.126973.149679131717611&type=1&theater
  12. ↑ Charles Vancouver Piper and Rolla Kent Beattie, Flora of the Northwest Coast
  13. ↑ C. Michael Hogan (2008) Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa), Globaltwitcher, ed. Nicklas Stromberg

Further reading

External links

Coordinates: 44°38′N 123°05′W / 44.63°N 123.09°W