Marion County, Oregon

For counties with a similar name, see Marion County (disambiguation).
Marion County, Oregon

Marion County Courthouse in Salem
Map of Oregon highlighting Marion County
Location in the state of Oregon
Map of the United States highlighting Oregon
Oregon's location in the U.S.
Founded July 5, 1843
Seat Salem
Largest city Salem
Area
 • Total 1,194 sq mi (3,092 km2)
 • Land 1,184 sq mi (3,067 km2)
 • Water 10 sq mi (26 km2), 0.85%
Population (est.)
 • (2014) 326,110
 • Density 267/sq mi (103/km²)
Congressional district 5th
Time zone Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Website www.co.marion.or.us

Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The population was 315,335 at the 2010 census,[1] making it the fifth-most populous county in Oregon. The county seat is Salem,[2] the state capital. The county was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg (earlier Champooick[3]), a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion,[4] a Continental Army general from South Carolina who served in the American Revolutionary War.

Marion County is part of the Salem, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA Combined Statistical Area. It is located in the Willamette Valley.

History

Marion County was created by the Provisional Legislature of Oregon on July 5, 1843 as the Champooick District, one of the original four districts of the Oregon Country along with Twality (later Washington), Clackamas, and Yamhill counties. The four districts were redesignated as counties in 1845.

Originally, this political entity stretched southward to the California border and eastward to the Rocky Mountains. With the creation of Wasco, Linn, Polk, and other counties, its area was reduced in size. Marion County's present geographical boundaries were established in 1856.

In 1849, Salem was designated the county seat. The territorial capital was moved from Oregon City to Salem in 1852. The ensuing controversy over the location of the capital was settled in 1864 when Salem was confirmed as the state capital.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,193 square miles (3,090 km2), of which 1,182 square miles (3,060 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (0.9%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18502,749—
18607,088157.8%
18709,96540.6%
188014,57646.3%
189022,93457.3%
190027,71320.8%
191039,78043.5%
192047,18718.6%
193060,54128.3%
194075,24624.3%
1950101,40134.8%
1960120,88819.2%
1970151,30925.2%
1980204,69235.3%
1990228,48311.6%
2000284,83424.7%
2010315,33510.7%
Est. 2014326,110[6]3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2014[1]

As of the census of 2000,[11] there were 284,834 people, 101,641 households, and 70,437 families residing in the county. The population density was 241 people per square mile (93/km²). There were 108,174 housing units at an average density of 91 per square mile (35/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.62% White, 0.89% Black or African American, 1.44% Native American, 1.75% Asian, 0.36% Pacific Islander, 10.58% from other races, and 3.35% from two or more races. 17.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.4% were of German, 9.2% English, 8.2% American and 7.4% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 80.8% spoke English, 14.8% Spanish and 1.4% Russian as their first language.

There were 101,641 households out of which 34.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.70% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.40% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 101.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,314, and the median income for a family was $46,202. Males had a median income of $33,841 versus $26,283 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,408. About 9.60% of families and 13.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.10% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Agriculture and food processing are important to the county's economy, as are lumber, manufacturing, and education. Marion County is the leader in agricultural production among all other Oregon counties.[12] Marion County has 10,640 acres (43 km²) planted in orchards. Government, however, is the county's main employer and economic base.

Education

Marion County is the home of Willamette University, Corban University, and Chemeketa Community College.[12]

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Horner, John B. "Oregon: Her History, Her Great Men, Her Literature". Portland, Oregon: The J.K. Gill Co., 1919, p. 98.
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 200.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  9. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. 1 2 "Marion County, Oregon".

Further reading

Coordinates: 44°55′N 122°35′W / 44.91°N 122.58°W / 44.91; -122.58

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