Vernonia, Oregon

Coordinates: 45°51′40″N 123°11′00″W / 45.86111°N 123.18333°W / 45.86111; -123.18333
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Vernonia, Oregon
City
Downtown Vernonia
Downtown Vernonia
FIPS code
41-77250[5]
GNIS feature ID2412152[3]
Websitewww.vernonia-or.gov

Vernonia is a city in

2010 census
.

History

  • Vernonia during the 2007 flooding
    Vernonia during the 2007 flooding
  • View of the Shay locomotive in Shay Park along Rock Creek in Vernonia
    View of the Shay locomotive in Shay Park along Rock Creek in Vernonia

The community was first settled in 1874 by the Parker and Van Blaricom families. Cousins Judson Weed and Ozias Cherrington, both of Ohio, arrived in 1876. Sometime afterwards, the question of a name for the community came up, and Cherrington suggested the name of his daughter (Vernona) in Ohio, which was adopted. Due to a clerical error during the incorporation process, an "i" was inserted into the name. Cherrington died in a farming accident in 1894, never having seen his daughter since his departure from Ohio.[6]

Vernonia started to become more than an isolated farming community on July 10, 1924, when the Oregon-American Lumber Company opened a state-of-the-art

lumber mill, which was supported by a railroad line connecting Vernonia to the rest of the country. Oregon-American merged with Long-Bell Lumber Company in May 1953, which itself merged with International Paper
in November 1957. International Paper judged the mill antiquated, and closed it on December 20, 1957.

The city has been severely impacted by floods on multiple occasions. The rains that caused the

heavy storms that impacted the Pacific Northwest washed out roads and destroyed homes, cars,[7] and communications infrastructure.[8] Despite preparations in 1996, in some parts of town flood water reached 4 feet (1.2 m) above the 100 year base flood elevation.[9]
In the wake of the 2007 flood, Vernonia School District voters approved a $13 million bond in 2009 to build a new K-12 school in Vernonia.[10][11] The new school opened in fall 2012.[12]

Community events

The Friendship Jamboree is an annual event inaugurated in 1957 and currently held on the first full weekend of August.[13]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.66 square miles (4.30 km2), of which 1.61 square miles (4.17 km2) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) is water.[14]

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, Vernonia has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.[15]

Climate data for Vernonia, Oregon, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1967–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 66
(19) 		72
(22) 		79
(26) 		89
(32) 		99
(37) 		111
(44) 		104
(40) 		103
(39) 		103
(39) 		93
(34) 		73
(23) 		64
(18) 		111
(44)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 55.2
(12.9) 		60.7
(15.9) 		68.3
(20.2) 		76.9
(24.9) 		84.7
(29.3) 		88.0
(31.1) 		93.4
(34.1) 		94.1
(34.5) 		89.4
(31.9) 		77.3
(25.2) 		61.7
(16.5) 		54.1
(12.3) 		97.4
(36.3)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 45.7
(7.6) 		49.4
(9.7) 		53.6
(12.0) 		58.6
(14.8) 		65.5
(18.6) 		69.9
(21.1) 		77.3
(25.2) 		78.2
(25.7) 		73.1
(22.8) 		61.4
(16.3) 		50.6
(10.3) 		44.3
(6.8) 		60.6
(15.9)
Daily mean °F (°C) 38.7
(3.7) 		40.2
(4.6) 		43.5
(6.4) 		47.1
(8.4) 		52.9
(11.6) 		57.2
(14.0) 		62.3
(16.8) 		62.5
(16.9) 		58.0
(14.4) 		49.8
(9.9) 		42.4
(5.8) 		37.8
(3.2) 		49.4
(9.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 31.6
(−0.2) 		30.9
(−0.6) 		33.5
(0.8) 		35.6
(2.0) 		40.3
(4.6) 		44.4
(6.9) 		47.2
(8.4) 		46.9
(8.3) 		42.9
(6.1) 		38.3
(3.5) 		34.2
(1.2) 		31.3
(−0.4) 		38.1
(3.4)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 18.5
(−7.5) 		19.7
(−6.8) 		24.1
(−4.4) 		27.4
(−2.6) 		30.7
(−0.7) 		35.3
(1.8) 		38.5
(3.6) 		37.7
(3.2) 		32.9
(0.5) 		25.8
(−3.4) 		21.6
(−5.8) 		18.6
(−7.4) 		12.4
(−10.9)
Record low °F (°C) −2
(−19) 		−6
(−21) 		13
(−11) 		22
(−6) 		27
(−3) 		30
(−1) 		33
(1) 		32
(0) 		23
(−5) 		10
(−12) 		2
(−17) 		−7
(−22) 		−7
(−22)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 6.94
(176) 		5.34
(136) 		5.30
(135) 		3.74
(95) 		2.39
(61) 		1.44
(37) 		0.39
(9.9) 		0.55
(14) 		1.79
(45) 		4.12
(105) 		7.70
(196) 		8.33
(212) 		48.03
(1,221.9)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.3
(0.76) 		0.6
(1.5) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.2
(0.51) 		1.1
(2.77)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 20.0 16.8 19.5 17.4 12.4 9.5 3.7 3.5 7.8 14.8 19.8 20.0 165.2
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.5
Source 1: NOAA[16]
Source 2: National Weather Service[17]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
190062—
19106911.3%
1920142105.8%
19301,6251,044.4%
19401,412−13.1%
19501,5217.7%
19601,089−28.4%
19701,64350.9%
19801,7858.6%
19901,8081.3%
20002,22823.2%
20102,151−3.5%
20202,37410.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[18][4]

2010 census

As of the

Latino of any race were 4.2% of the population.[5]

There were 822 households, of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.5% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.09.[5]

The median age in the city was 38.2 years. 26.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.3% were from 25 to 44; 29.2% were from 45 to 64; and 10.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.0% male and 49.0% female.[5]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,228 people, 789 households, and 583 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,444.2 inhabitants per square mile (557.6/km2). There were 880 housing units at an average density of 570.4 per square mile (220.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.38% White, 0.18% African American, 1.39% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 1.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.24% of the population. 19.6% were of

Census 2000.[5]

There were 789 households, out of which 41.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.29.[5]

In the city, the population was spread out, with 34.0% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.[5]

The median income for a household in the city was $41,181, and the median income for a family was $48,563. Males had a median income of $37,447 versus $24,219 for females. The

poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.[5]

Transportation

U.S. Route 26 to the south.[19] The Banks–Vernonia State Trail, a rails-to-trails conversion featuring a 21-mile (34 km) raised path for bicyclists, pedestrians, and horseback riders, roughly parallels Route 47 to the south of Vernonia. The Crown Zellerbach trail is a conversion of old logging roads (themselves a conversion from old railroad way) to a trail for mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding. This trail extends over 20 miles (32 km) Vernonia to Scappoose.[20] In 2023 the trail was designated as a National Recreation Trail to be included in the National Trail System.[21]

Public transit

Very limited

Willow Creek MAX light rail station and bus transit center of TriMet in Hillsboro.[22] Called the Nehalem Valley Fixed-Route Service, the bus route was introduced on July 1, 2009,[23] and currently operates on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, twice per day (as one round trip in each rush hour).[22]

Airport

nautical miles (3.7 km) west of the central business district of Vernonia.[24]

In popular culture

The December 2007 flooding in Vernonia was featured in the first season of the television show Ax Men.[25]

Vernonia has also appeared in several films, including Ring of Fire (1961),[26] The Vernonia Incident (1989),[27] Thumbsucker (2005),[28] Tillamook Treasure (2006),[29] The Water Man (2020),[30] and Twilight (2008).

See also

References

  1. ^ "Mayor and City Council - City of Vernonia". vernonia-or.gov. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  2. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  3. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Vernonia, Oregon
  4. ^ a b "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  6. ^ Lewis A. McArthur, Oregon Geographic names, fifth edition (Portland: Western Imprints, 1982), pp. 760f
  7. ^
    KATU
  8. ^ "Guard Evacuates Flooded Oregon Town". KNX 1070 AM. Associated Press. 2007.[permanent dead link]
  9. ISBN 9780784412336. Archived from the original
    on March 16, 2014.
  10. ^ "Voters support measure to build Vernonia school". The Oregonian. November 4, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  11. ^ "An entire school district must be rebuilt | Catalyst". www.vernoniaschools.org. Archived from the original on December 28, 2010. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  12. ^ "Vernonia celebrates opening of state-of-art new K-12 school to replace flood-ravaged buildings". August 22, 2012.
  13. ^ "Event Info". Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  14. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  15. ^ "Vernonia, Oregon". Weatherbase. CantyMedia. 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  16. ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Vernonia #2, OR". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  17. ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Portland". National Weather Service. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  18. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  19. ^ Bilderback, Ken (February 18, 2009). "All roads lead to Vernonia". Archived from the original on April 1, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  20. ^ "Crown Zellerbach trail a jewel of a ride".
  21. ^ "2023 national recreation trails - Office of Communications (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  22. ^ a b "CC Rider: Nehalem Valley Fixed Route" (PDF). Columbia County Rider. March 31, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 28, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  23. ^ "News and Current Events". Columbia County Rider. July 1, 2009. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  24. PDF
    . Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 8 April 2010.
  25. ^ Townsley, Nancy (October 30, 2009). "'Ax Men' features local loggers: Reality TV - Vernonia loggers appear on new History Channel show". The Forest Grove News-Times. Archived from the original on February 22, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  26. ^ Ring of Fire (1961)
  27. ^ The Vernonia Incident (1989) (V)
  28. ^ Thumbsucker (2005)
  29. ^ The Tillamook Treasure (2006)
  30. ^ The Water Man (2020)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vernonia, Oregon.
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