Baker City, Oregon

Baker City, Oregon
City
Main Street
FIPS code		41-03650
GNIS feature ID	2409773[3]
Website	Official website

Baker City is a city in and the

.

History

The Oregon Short Line Railroad came to Baker City in 1884, prompting growth; by 1900 it was the largest city between Salt Lake City and Portland and a trading center for a broad region.^[1] In 1910, Baker City residents voted to shorten the name of the city to simply Baker, the name change becoming official in 1911; Another vote in 1989 restored the name to Baker City.^[9]

The establishment of the Oregon Lumber Company by Charles W. Nibley, the creation of a lumber mill by David Eccles on the North Powder River, and the purchase of sugar beet farms led to the migration of Latter-day Saint families to the Baker area. The first branch in Oregon was created in Baker City on July 23, 1893.

The

One of its former councilors, Adam Nilsson, who also served for the Baker City Public Arts Commission,[13] was charged with criminal mischief for graffiti on August 1, 2017, while holding office. A police officer made connections through the tag "Provolotus" which has been found in graffiti complaints as well as on Nilsson's Instagram profile.^[14][15] The graffiti was on a Baker County owned property when Nilsson and his friend Ashley E. Schroder were cited.^[13] Nilsson, who has pled guilty to spray painting graffiti at the Lime plant contends his constitutional rights were violated and has filed a $1.3 million lawsuit against Baker County and the county sheriff in August 2019. In this lawsuit, Nilsson wrote that he was negotiating with the artist, whose moniker is "Thrashbird" to obtain art as "public art" for Baker City.^[13] By September 27, 2023, all claims by Nilsson were dismissed.^[16]

In Spring 2023, the city council voted to remove mayor Beverly Calder as a result of an op-ed piece she had written in the Baker City Herald.^[17] She retained her seat on the city council but mayoralship was given to Matt Diaz. Diaz resigned in July, following a controversial anti-LGBTQ+ meme claiming he was moving out of town with the city council reinstating Calder as the city's mayor.^[18][19]

Beginning in August additional city councilors began resigning their posts, culminating in the entire city council, including Calder, resigning leaving all positions vacant.^[20] Before resigning, the three remaining city councilors in September made an attempt to appoint new people to fill the vacancies but they were not able to satisfy quorum requirements, after which they resigned in an attempt to force a special election but Oregon state law requires the vacancies to be filled by the county commissioners.^[21]

Baker City's city council consists of seven councilors who are elected by the residents of the city. The councilors select one of their members to serve as mayor for a two-year term.^[22]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total land area of 7.16 square miles (18.54 km²).^[23]

The city is situated in a valley between the

.

Climate

Baker City has a cool semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk), with a large diurnal temperature variation most of the year, peaking at 39.3 °F (21.8 °C) in August. July is generally the warmest month, with a normal mean temperature of 65.1 °F (18.4 °C).^[24] The highest recorded temperature, 109 °F (43 °C), occurred on August 10, 2018 and August 2, 2024.^[24] December is the coldest month, with a normal mean temperature of 28.6 °F (−1.9 °C).^[25] On December 23, 1983, the temperature fell to −34 °F (−36.7 °C), the lowest recorded in the city.^[24] May is typically the month of highest precipitation, averaging 1.46 inches (37 mm).^[25] Snowfall averages about 27.3 inches (69 cm) a year.^[26]

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	312		—
1880	1,258		303.2%
1890	2,604		107.0%
1900	6,663		155.9%
1910	6,742		1.2%
1920	7,729		14.6%
1930	7,858		1.7%
1940	9,342		18.9%
1950	9,471		1.4%
1960	9,986		5.4%
1970	9,354		−6.3%
1980	9,471		1.3%
1990	9,140		−3.5%
2000	9,860		7.9%
2010	9,828		−0.3%
2020	10,099		2.8%
Sources:[27] U.S. Decennial Census[28] [4]

As of the

of any race were 3.52% of the population.

There were 4,212 households, of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1.2% were

, including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.

Baker City hosts many annual festivals, including the Miners' Jubilee on the third weekend of July, which celebrates the mining history of the area and the filming of the 1969 Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood musical comedy Paint Your Wagon in the city.^[29] The Miners' Jubilee was originally launched in 1934 as the Baker Mining Jubilee, but lapsed after 1941 because of World War II and a declining interest in mining. The event was revived by Richard and Marge Haynes in 1975. The couple organized the celebration for two years before handing it over to the Baker County Chamber of Commerce.^[30]

The Baker Historic District, on the National Register of Historic Places, is located on about 42 acres (17 ha) centered on Main Street in downtown Baker City. Within its boundaries are more than 130 properties, about half of which include structures built between the late 1880s and about 1915. Many of these as well as others built as early as 1870 are two-story masonry commercial buildings. The city hall, county courthouse, the former post office, former library, former social clubs, a Roman Catholic cathedral, and an Episcopal Church are among notable buildings within the district.^[31]

Baker City Tower, a nine-story structure in the historic district, is the tallest building east of the Cascade Range in Oregon.^[32] Opening in 1929 as the Baker Community Hotel, it was converted to other uses in 1970.^[33] The concrete Art Deco structure features terracotta eagles at each ground-floor entrance and is topped by an octagonal observation center with an eight-sided hip roof and a flagpole.^[32]

Also in the historic district is the Geiser Grand Hotel, a three-story, stucco-clad, brick structure that at the time of its opening in 1889 had plate glass windows, electric lights, baths, an elevator, and a dining room that seated 200. Originally called the Washauer Hotel, it became the Geiser Grand in about 1895 after its purchase by the John Geiser family, which had large mining investments in Baker County and elsewhere.^[34]

Baker Heritage Museum, previously the Oregon Trail Regional Museum, is housed in the Natatorium built in 1920 on Grove street across from the city park. The exhibits interpret the history of the region including mining, ranching, timber, early Baker City life, Chinese culture, and wildlife. The Adler House Museum, the former home of Leo Adler is now the Baker Heritage Museum's largest artifact. Learn the story of Leo Adler, Baker City philanthropist who donated millions to the people of Baker County in his will. The Adler house has been restored to his original splendor with original furnishings and interiors.

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, about 5 miles (8.0 km) east of the city, offers exhibits, theater performances, workshops, and other events and activities related to the Oregon Trail, the ruts of which pass through the center's 500-acre (200 ha) site.^[35] Established in 1992,^[1] the site is managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management and Trail Tenders, a group of volunteers.^[35]

Other points of interest in Baker City include the Crossroads Art Center, in a former

Sports and recreation

The Baker City Cycling Classic is a set of bicycle races held in Baker City and the surrounding region.

The Oregon East−West Shrine Game (high school football) is held here in July.[42] The Hell's Canyon Motorcycle Rally is also held in Baker City, in July.^[43]

Sections of the Wallowa–Whitman National Forest are to the west and to the northeast of Baker City, which serves as the forest headquarters. Possible forest activities include hiking, biking, winter sports, fishing, hunting, mineral prospecting, camping, wildlife viewing, and other forms of recreation.^[44]

Interstate 84 (I-84) runs along the eastern edge of Baker City, while U.S. Route 30 passes through its downtown. Oregon Route 7 runs between I-84 in Baker City and Sumpter and Austin to the west. Oregon Route 86 heads north and east past the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center and on to the cities of Richland and Halfway.^[45]

The city owns and operates the 398-acre (161 ha) Baker City Municipal Airport, located about 3 miles (5 km) north of downtown in rural Baker County.^[46] Northeast Oregon Public Transit provides hourly trolley service around Baker City, as well as twice daily bus service to La Grande, on weekdays.

Baker City is served by the

Schools and libraries

Baker City is served by Baker School District 5J. It includes Baker High School, Eagle Cap Innovative Jr/Sr High School^[50] Baker Middle School, Brooklyn Primary, and South Baker Intermediate as well as Keating Elementary and Haines Elementary in rural Baker County. Serving about 1,800 students, 5J is the largest of three school districts in Baker County.^[51]

Baker Middle School was designed by

The main branch of the Baker County Library system is in downtown Baker City. The other branches are in Haines, Huntington, Halfway, Richland, and Sumpter.[53]

Baker City has one newspaper: the

(90.7 FM).

Television

KATU ABC Portland, Oregon

• K44AJ Channel 44 Baker City

KOIN CBS Portland, Oregon

• K42AI Channel 42 Baker City

KTVB NBC Boise, Idaho

• K46AM Channel 46 Baker City

KTVB NBC Boise, Idaho

• K18KI Channel 18 Baker Valley

KGW NBC Portland, Oregon

• K36NP-D
  Channel 36 Baker Valley

KPTV FOX Portland, Oregon

• K40AJ-D Channel 40 Baker City

KTVR PBS Lagrande, Oregon

• K20IV Channel 20 Baker City

Sister cities

In 1996, Baker City established a

sister city relationship with Zeya, Russia. In that same year, Baker School District 5J agreed to support development of a student exchange program between the two communities.^[55]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} "Incorporated Cites: Baker City". Oregon Blue Book. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
2. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
3. ^ ^{a b} U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Baker City, Oregon
4. ^ ^{a b} "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
5. ISBN 0-87595-073-6
   .
6. Works Projects Administration. "A 1940 Journey Across Oregon: Ontario to Baker"
   . Oregon State Archives. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
7. ^ "October 21, 1861: Senator Killed in Battle". U.S. Senate. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
8. ^ "Historic Baker City, Baker County, Oregon". Oregon Genealogy. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
9. ISBN 0-87595-277-1
   .
10. ^ In 1952, the name was changed to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baker.
11. Bibcode:1919PA.....27....1H
    .
12. ^ "NASA - Total Solar Eclipse of 2017 Aug 21". NASA. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
13. ^ ^{a b c} Jacoby, Jayson (September 13, 2019). "Former Baker City Councilor sues county, sheriff". Baker City Herald. Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
14. ^ "Councilor's legal trouble". The Baker City Herald. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
15. ^ "Police seize paint, phone from Nilsson". The Baker City Herald. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
16. ^ "Jury concludes sheriff didn't violate former Baker City man's First Amendment rights in 2017". Baker City Herald. September 28, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
17. ^ McKone, Shannon (April 13, 2023). "Matthew Diaz takes reins as Mayor of Baker City after Beverly Calder voted out". Elkhorn Media Group. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
18. ^ "Baker City mayor resigns weeks after posting anti-LGBTQ meme". opb. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
19. ^ Herald, BENTLEY FREEMAN Baker City (August 8, 2023). "Beverly Calder returns to position as Baker City mayor". Baker City Herald. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
20. ^ Hathaway, Joe (August 15, 2023). "Guyer Resigns from City Council, City Accepting Applications". Elkhorn Media Group. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
21. ^ Hathaway, Joe (September 27, 2023). "Judge Rules that Baker City Council Cannot Fill Vacancies Without Quorum". Elkhorn Media Group. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
22. ^ "City Council | Baker City, OR". bakercity.com. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
23. ^ "Quickfacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
24. ^ ^{a b c d e} "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Boise". National Weather Service. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
25. ^ ^{a b c} "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Baker City MUNI AP, OR (1991–2020)". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
26. ^ ^{a b} "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Baker City Municipal Airport, OR (1981–2010)". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
27. ^ Moffat, Riley. Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850–1990. Lanham: Scarecrow, 1996.
28. ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved October 3, 2014.
29. ^ "Paint Your Wagon filming locations". The Worldwide Guide To Movie Locations. 2006. Archived from the original on April 30, 2007. Retrieved August 8, 2007.
30. ^ Collins, Chris (2001). "Celebrate 20 Years of Re-Jubilation". Baker City Herald. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved August 8, 2007.
31. ^ Van Duyn, James N. (1978). "Baker Historic District". National Park Service. p. 1. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
32. ^ ^{a b} Van Duyn, James N. (1978). "Baker Historic District". National Park Service. p. 59. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
33. Newspapers.com.
34. ^ Van Duyn, James N. (1978). "Baker Historic District". National Park Service. p. 10. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
35. ^ ^{a b} "National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center" (PDF). Bureau of Land Management. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
36. ^ "About Crossroads". Crossroads Art Center. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
37. ^ Richard, Terry (August 1, 2009). "Don't Ask to Hold the Gold Nugget at Baker City". The Oregonian. Oregon Live LLC. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
38. ^ "Baker Heritage Museum". Oregon Museums Association. Archived from the original on June 21, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
39. ^ "Baker City Cycling Classic". Baker City Cycling Classic. Archived from the original on March 14, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
40. ^ "Elkhorn Classic". Oregon Bicycle Racing Association. June 19, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
41. ^ "2012 1A Basketball State Championships" (PDF). Oregon School Activities Association. 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
42. ^ "Shrine Game Caps High School Careers". Albany Herald-Democrat. July 31, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
43. ^ "Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally". Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
44. ^ "Wallowa−Whitman National Forest: Recreation". U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
45. ISBN 978-0-528-93961-7
    .
46. ^ "Airport". City of Baker City. Archived from the original on February 19, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
47. OCLC 4751643
    .
48. ^ "Our Community". Baker County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau. 2011. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
49. ^ Amtrak (2009). "Pioneer Route Passenger Rail Study" (PDF). National Railroad Passenger Corporation. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 27, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
50. ^ "Eagle Cap Innovative Jr/Sr High". Baker School District. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
51. ^ "Welcome to Baker School District". Baker School District. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
52. ^ "Most Endangered Places 2011 - Baker City Middle School". Historic Preservation League of Oregon. 2011. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
53. ^ "Branches". Baker County Library. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
54. ^ "Baker City Herald". Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
55. ^ "Sister City". City of Baker City. 2012. Archived from the original on February 19, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2012.

1. ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
2. ^ Snowfall measurements have been discontinued at Baker City Airport since September 2001.^[24]

External links

• Official website
• Dielman, Gary. "Baker City". The Oregon Encyclopedia.
• Entry for Baker City in the Oregon Blue Book