Sisters, Oregon

Sisters, Oregon
City

Cascade Avenue in downtown Sisters
Motto: "A Modern Western Community"

Location in Oregon
Coordinates: 44°17′27″N 121°32′56″W / 44.29083°N 121.54889°W / 44.29083; -121.54889Coordinates: 44°17′27″N 121°32′56″W / 44.29083°N 121.54889°W / 44.29083; -121.54889
Country United States
State Oregon
County Deschutes
Incorporated 1946
Government
 • Mayor Chris Frye
Area[1]
 • Total 1.87 sq mi (4.84 km2)
 • Land 1.87 sq mi (4.84 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 3,182 ft (970 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 2,038
 • Estimate (2012[3]) 2,118
 • Density 1,089.8/sq mi (420.8/km2)
Time zone Pacific (UTC-8)
 • Summer (DST) Pacific (UTC-7)
ZIP code 97759
Area code(s) 541
FIPS code 41-67950[2]
GNIS feature ID 1127008[4]
Website www.ci.sisters.or.us

Sisters is a city in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. It is part of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 959 at the 2000 census, but more than doubled to 2038 as of the 2010 census.[5]

History

Camp Polk was established as a military post in 1865 in response to the Paiute Indian wars that were raging throughout eastern Oregon during the 1860s and 70s. Named after the Oregon county from which the camp’s commanding officer hailed, it consisted of a group of cabins along the west bank of Squaw Creek, now called Whychus Creek, about 3 miles (5 km) northeast of Sisters. The troops spent the winter of 1865–66 there. After discovering that there was no Indian problem they left. Around 1870, the area was homesteaded by Samuel Hindeman who also ran the post office. The post office at Camp Polk was moved to the present site of Sisters in 1888, and the name was changed to Sisters after the Three Sisters mountains that dominate its western skyline.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.87 square miles (4.84 km2), all of it land.[1]

The Santiam Highway (U.S. Route 20) and the McKenzie Highway (Oregon Route 126) merge briefly to form Cascade Avenue, the main thoroughfare through downtown Sisters. On Cascade Avenue, there is a lot of pedestrian traffic and many specialty stores and galleries. East of Sisters the two highways split, with 126 heading to Redmond and 20 going to Bend.[6] West of Sisters, the road splits once more, with the McKenzie Highway becoming Oregon Route 242[6] and running west over the McKenzie Pass (a summertime-only scenic route over the Cascades.) The Santiam Highway proceeds over the Santiam Pass.

Climate

This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F (22.0 °C). According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Sisters has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.[7]

Climate data for Sisters
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 65
(18)		 72
(22)		 78
(26)		 87
(31)		 98
(37)		 103
(39)		 109
(43)		 106
(41)		 103
(39)		 92
(33)		 73
(23)		 64
(18)		 109
(43)
Average high °F (°C) 41.1
(5.1)		 45.1
(7.3)		 51.1
(10.6)		 57
(14)		 65.5
(18.6)		 74.5
(23.6)		 84.4
(29.1)		 83.5
(28.6)		 75.3
(24.1)		 62.9
(17.2)		 47.5
(8.6)		 40.5
(4.7)		 60.7
(15.9)
Average low °F (°C) 21.3
(−5.9)		 23.3
(−4.8)		 25.9
(−3.4)		 28.4
(−2)		 33.8
(1)		 39
(4)		 42.4
(5.8)		 41.8
(5.4)		 35.5
(1.9)		 29.3
(−1.5)		 25.8
(−3.4)		 20.9
(−6.2)		 30.6
(−0.8)
Record low °F (°C) −28
(−33)		 −22
(−30)		 −1
(−18)		 9
(−13)		 11
(−12)		 19
(−7)		 24
(−4)		 25
(−4)		 15
(−9)		 −4
(−20)		 −16
(−27)		 −28
(−33)		 −28
(−33)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.24
(56.9)		 1.45
(36.8)		 1.12
(28.4)		 0.79
(20.1)		 0.78
(19.8)		 0.61
(15.5)		 0.38
(9.7)		 0.41
(10.4)		 0.4
(10)		 0.95
(24.1)		 2.1
(53)		 2.27
(57.7)		 13.49
(342.6)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 8.3
(21.1)		 6.3
(16)		 3.5
(8.9)		 0.3
(0.8)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0.2
(0.5)		 3.6
(9.1)		 7.9
(20.1)		 30.1
(76.5)
Average precipitation days 9 7 8 6 6 4 2 3 3 5 10 9 72
Source: [8]


Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1950723—
1960602−16.7%
1970516−14.3%
198069634.9%
1990679−2.4%
200095941.2%
20102,038112.5%
Est. 20142,224[9]9.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,038 people, 847 households, and 557 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,089.8 inhabitants per square mile (420.8/km2). There were 1,109 housing units at an average density of 593.0 per square mile (229.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.9% White, 1.1% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 2.3% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.1% of the population.[2]

There were 847 households of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.2% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.92.[2]

The median age in the city was 41.4 years. 26.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.9% were from 25 to 44; 30.4% were from 45 to 64; and 14.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.[2]

2000 census

Former Hotel Sisters, built in 1912 by local businessman John Dennis.

As of the census of 2000, there were 959 people, 397 households, and 262 families residing in the city. The population density was 663.0 people per square mile (255.4/km²). There were 482 housing units at an average density of 333.2 per square mile (128.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.83% White, 1.56% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 1.36% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.59% of the population.[2]

There were 397 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.88.[2]

In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.7 males.[2]

The median income for a household in the city was $35,000, and the median income for a family was $43,977. Males had a median income of $35,563 versus $21,771 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,847. About 7.4% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.[2]

Education

The Sisters area is served by Sisters School District, which is responsible for the education of approximately 1,300 students at four schools:

Sisters is also home to Sisters Christian Academy, a non-denominational Christian school.[11]

Media

The local newspaper is The Nugget Newspaper published weekly on Wednesdays. The Small Farmer's Journal also originates in Sisters.

Events

Recreation

The Three Sisters, the city's namesake mountains

Sisters is the headquarters of the Sisters District of the Deschutes National Forest. The Sisters Ranger District Office is located at Pine Street and Highway 20.[15] Hiking, biking and horse riding trails go from the city limits into the Three Sisters Wilderness. Sisters Trail Alliance [16] builds and maintains hiking, biking and equestrian trails near the city.

The Sisters area is also home to several mountain biking trails, including the Peterson Ridge Trail and Suttle Lake trails.[17]

Hoodoo ski resort and many snow parks are nearby.

Camp Tamarack is nearby.[18][19]

Transportation

Notable people

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sisters, Oregon.


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