Clatsop County, Oregon | |
|---|---|
_(clatDA0020a).jpg) Clatsop County Courthouse in Astoria | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofOregon | |
 Oregon's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:46°01′N123°43′W / 46.01°N 123.71°W /46.01; -123.71 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Oregon |
| Founded | June 22, 1844 |
| Named after | Clatsop Tribe |
| Seat | Astoria |
| Largest city | Astoria |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,084 sq mi (2,810 km2) |
| • Land | 829 sq mi (2,150 km2) |
| • Water | 255 sq mi (660 km2) 24% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 41,072 |
• Estimate (2024) | 41,043 |
| • Density | 38/sq mi (15/km2) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
Clatsop County (/ˈklætsəp/) is the northernmostcounty in theU.S. state ofOregon. As of the2020 census, the population was 41,072.[1] Thecounty seat isAstoria.[2] Thecounty is named for theClatsop tribe ofNative Americans, who lived along the coast of thePacific Ocean prior to European settlement. Clatsop County comprises the Astoria, ORMicropolitan Statistical Area, or Sunset Empire, and is located inNorthwest Oregon.
TheLewis and Clark Expedition stayed for the winter of 1805–06 in the area, establishingFort Clatsop as one of the earliest American structures on the west coast of North America.Astoria, Oregon's oldest settlement, was established as a fur trading post in 1811 and named afterJohn Jacob Astor.
Clatsop County was created from the northern and western portions of the originalTwality District on June 22, 1844. Until the creation ofVancouver District five days later, Clatsop County extended north across the Columbia into present-dayWashington. The Provisional and Territorial Legislatures further altered Clatsop County's boundaries in 1845 and 1853.
Before 1850 most of Clatsop County's government activity occurred in Lexington, a community located whereWarrenton is now. However, commercial and social activities came to center on Astoria as that city grew, and an election in 1854 chose Astoria to be the new county seat.
Fort Stevens, located near the peninsula formed by the south shore of the Columbia river and the Pacific Ocean, became the only continental US military installation attacked inWorld War II, when submarine I-25 of theImperial Japanese Navyfired 17 rounds at the base on June 21, 1942. The submarine escaped when the order was given not to return fire with the 10-inch (250 mm) shore guns. While the damage caused was slight (reportedly only a baseball backstop was damaged and a powerline severed), the presence of the enemy ship sowed panic along the Pacific coast of the United States, and other minor attacks occurred elsewhere in the region, includingVancouver Island.
In 1975, Clatsop County commissioners considered seceding from Oregon and becoming a part ofWashington.[3] The movement was based on disagreements residents of the county had with GovernorBob Straub.[4] The movement was created afterAlumax Corporation canceled their plans to build a plant in the county.[5] Some residents, including two county commissioners, blamed the Oregon Governor for the relocation of the plant.[5] TheState of Washington'sGovernor,Daniel J. Evans, said the county was not welcome in the state[4] and Clatsop County commissioners later abandoned the idea.[3]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,084 square miles (2,810 km2), of which 829 square miles (2,150 km2) is land and 255 square miles (660 km2), or 24%, is water.[6] The highest point isSaddle Mountain at 3,283 feet (1,001 m), part of theNorthern Oregon Coast Range.[7]
Clatsop County is home to a number of plant species that are rare or endemic, includingAgrostis swalalahos,[8]Cardamine pattersonii,Carex macrochaeta,Castilleja chambersii,Erigeron peregrinus var.peregrinus, andSaxifraga hitchcockiana.[9]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 462 | — | |
| 1860 | 498 | 7.8% | |
| 1870 | 1,255 | 152.0% | |
| 1880 | 7,222 | 475.5% | |
| 1890 | 10,016 | 38.7% | |
| 1900 | 12,765 | 27.4% | |
| 1910 | 16,106 | 26.2% | |
| 1920 | 23,030 | 43.0% | |
| 1930 | 21,124 | −8.3% | |
| 1940 | 24,697 | 16.9% | |
| 1950 | 30,776 | 24.6% | |
| 1960 | 27,380 | −11.0% | |
| 1970 | 28,473 | 4.0% | |
| 1980 | 32,489 | 14.1% | |
| 1990 | 33,301 | 2.5% | |
| 2000 | 35,630 | 7.0% | |
| 2010 | 37,039 | 4.0% | |
| 2020 | 41,072 | 10.9% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 41,043 | [10] | −0.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13] 1990–2000[14] 2010–2020[1] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[15] | Pop 1990[16] | Pop 2000[17] | Pop 2010[18] | Pop 2020[19] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 31,078 | 31,756 | 32,364 | 32,295 | 33,526 | 95.66% | 95.36% | 90.83% | 87.19% | 81.63% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 167 | 99 | 156 | 163 | 224 | 0.51% | 0.30% | 0.44% | 0.44% | 0.55% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 247 | 361 | 342 | 308 | 344 | 0.76% | 1.08% | 0.96% | 0.83% | 0.84% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 442 | 419 | 423 | 445 | 552 | 1.36% | 1.26% | 1.19% | 1.20% | 1.34% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[20] | x[21] | 50 | 84 | 91 | x | x | 0.14% | 0.23% | 0.22% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 109 | 18 | 14 | 48 | 231 | 0.34% | 0.05% | 0.04% | 0.13% | 0.56% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[22] | x[23] | 684 | 858 | 2,256 | x | x | 1.92% | 2.32% | 5.49% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 446 | 648 | 1,597 | 2,838 | 3,848 | 1.37% | 1.95% | 4.48% | 7.66% | 9.37% |
| Total | 32,489 | 33,301 | 35,630 | 37,039 | 41,072 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2010 census, there were 37,039 people, 15,742 households, and 9,579 families living in the county.[24] The population density was 44.7 inhabitants per square mile (17.3/km2). There were 21,546 housing units at an average density of 26.0 units per square mile (10.0 units/km2).[25] The racial makeup of the county was 90.9% white, 1.2% Asian, 1.0% American Indian, 0.5% black or African American, 0.2% Pacific islander, 3.3% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 7.7% of the population.[24] In terms of ancestry, 22.8% wereGerman, 15.4% wereEnglish, 14.2% wereIrish, 8.9% wereAmerican, and 7.5% wereNorwegian.[26]
Of the 15,742 households, 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.2% were non-families, and 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 43.2 years.[24]
The median income for a household in the county was $42,223 and the median income for a family was $52,339. Males had a median income of $40,741 versus $28,463 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,347. About 9.6% of families and 12.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.[27]
As of the2000 census, there were 35,630 people, 14,703 households, and 9,454 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 43 people per square mile (17 people/km2). There were 19,685 housing units at an average density of 24 units per square mile (9.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.14%White orEuropean American, 0.52%Black orAfrican American, 1.03%Native American, 1.21%Asian, 0.17%Pacific Islander, 1.64% fromother races, and 2.30% from two or more races. 4.48% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 15.3% were ofGerman, 10.8%English, 10.4%Irish, 9.3%American and 6.5%Norwegian ancestry.
There were 14,703 households, out of which 28.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.60% weremarried couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.70% were non-families. 29.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 26.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,301, and the median income for a family was $44,575. Males had a median income of $32,153 versus $22,479 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $19,515. About 9.10% of families and 13.20% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.80% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.
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The principal industries of Clatsop County are manufacturing, travel (primarily tourism), and trade.[28][29] Fishing and timber are still important but contribute proportionally less to the county's employment and income than they used to.[citation needed] The county's average nonfarm employment was 17,480 in 2007.[citation needed] About 30% of the lands within the county boundaries belong to the state of Oregon, as part of thestate forests. ThePort of Astoria was created in 1914 to support trade and commerce.
Astoria, Oregon, the county seat, has multiple tourist attractions including theAstoria Riverfront Trolley,Fort Clatsop, theUppertown Firefighters Museum, andColumbia River Maritime Museum.[30]Seaside, Oregon, noted as Oregon's oldest ocean resort community,[31] also has multiple tourist attractions, including theSeaside Aquarium, and theSeaside Historical Society Museum. Tourism is noted as one of the major forces in Clatsop County's economy.[31]
 | This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(January 2025) |
The population ranking of the following table is based on the2020 census of Clatsop County.[32]
†county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | †Astoria | City | 10,181 |
| 2 | Seaside | City | 7,160 |
| 3 | Warrenton | City | 6,277 |
| 4 | Gearhart | City | 1,811 |
| 5 | Cannon Beach | City | 1,489 |
| 6 | Knappa | CDP | 1,007 |
| 7 | Svensen | CDP | 853 |
| 8 | River Point | CDP | 397 |
| 9 | Westport | CDP | 319 |
| 10 | Jeffers Gardens | CDP | 312 |
| 11 | Barnsdale | CDP | 188 |
Like all of the northern Oregon coast, Clatsop County was consistently Republican up to and includingthe 1928 election,[33] except in 1912 when third-party former President Theodore Roosevelt won by one vote with the lowest percentage for a winning candidate in any county since the Civil War.[34] SinceFranklin D. Roosevelt won the county in 1932, Clatsop has generally been carried by the Democratic candidate in presidential elections. The only exception to this isDwight D. Eisenhower, who won the county twice, thereby making this Oregon county the one to have gone the longest without supporting a Republican nominee.[33] However,George McGovern won it by just nineteen votes in1972,[35] andWalter Mondale by a mere three votes (or 0.02 percent)in 1984.[36]
In gubernatorial elections, the county has been won by the Democratic Party candidate since 1982, starting with a streak of seven consecutive elections with the Democratic Party carrying Clatsop County. That winning streak ended in 2014, with the GOP gubernatorial candidate,Dennis Richardson, unexpectedly carrying Clatsop with a final vote total of 6,550 votes (46.33 percent) for theRepublican and 6,449 votes (45.62 percent) cast for theDemocrat and future governor-electJohn Kitzhaber.[37]
Clatsop County is located inOregon's 1st congressional district, which has aCook Partisan Voting Index of D+18 and is represented bySuzanne Bonamici. In theOregon State Senate, it is represented by RepublicanSuzanne Weber. In theOregon House of Representatives, it is represented by RepublicanCyrus Javadi.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1880 | 536 | 55.26% | 434 | 44.74% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1884 | 872 | 56.22% | 670 | 43.20% | 9 | 0.58% |
| 1888 | 1,060 | 60.30% | 647 | 36.80% | 51 | 2.90% |
| 1892 | 1,148 | 48.89% | 713 | 30.37% | 487 | 20.74% |
| 1896 | 1,849 | 60.56% | 1,135 | 37.18% | 69 | 2.26% |
| 1900 | 1,329 | 62.63% | 688 | 32.42% | 105 | 4.95% |
| 1904 | 1,408 | 68.68% | 336 | 16.39% | 306 | 14.93% |
| 1908 | 1,482 | 59.78% | 658 | 26.54% | 339 | 13.67% |
| 1912 | 722 | 26.98% | 728 | 27.20% | 1,226 | 45.81% |
| 1916 | 2,568 | 49.44% | 2,239 | 43.11% | 387 | 7.45% |
| 1920 | 3,498 | 61.40% | 1,687 | 29.61% | 512 | 8.99% |
| 1924 | 3,313 | 56.33% | 1,373 | 23.35% | 1,195 | 20.32% |
| 1928 | 4,087 | 63.33% | 2,208 | 34.21% | 159 | 2.46% |
| 1932 | 2,570 | 34.46% | 4,473 | 59.98% | 414 | 5.55% |
| 1936 | 2,261 | 25.60% | 6,267 | 70.96% | 304 | 3.44% |
| 1940 | 3,758 | 35.74% | 6,686 | 63.59% | 70 | 0.67% |
| 1944 | 3,921 | 39.09% | 6,038 | 60.19% | 72 | 0.72% |
| 1948 | 5,076 | 44.87% | 5,574 | 49.27% | 663 | 5.86% |
| 1952 | 7,569 | 56.02% | 5,814 | 43.03% | 128 | 0.95% |
| 1956 | 6,616 | 50.94% | 6,372 | 49.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 6,286 | 48.86% | 6,530 | 50.75% | 50 | 0.39% |
| 1964 | 4,023 | 32.41% | 8,371 | 67.44% | 19 | 0.15% |
| 1968 | 5,810 | 45.61% | 6,243 | 49.01% | 685 | 5.38% |
| 1972 | 5,998 | 47.43% | 6,017 | 47.58% | 632 | 5.00% |
| 1976 | 6,178 | 45.37% | 6,690 | 49.13% | 748 | 5.49% |
| 1980 | 6,124 | 40.94% | 6,482 | 43.33% | 2,353 | 15.73% |
| 1984 | 7,522 | 49.86% | 7,525 | 49.88% | 38 | 0.25% |
| 1988 | 5,956 | 41.60% | 8,074 | 56.40% | 286 | 2.00% |
| 1992 | 4,683 | 27.86% | 7,700 | 45.80% | 4,429 | 26.34% |
| 1996 | 5,334 | 34.63% | 7,732 | 50.19% | 2,339 | 15.18% |
| 2000 | 6,950 | 42.19% | 8,296 | 50.36% | 1,228 | 7.45% |
| 2004 | 8,503 | 44.04% | 10,461 | 54.18% | 345 | 1.79% |
| 2008 | 7,192 | 38.78% | 10,701 | 57.69% | 655 | 3.53% |
| 2012 | 7,249 | 40.68% | 9,861 | 55.34% | 708 | 3.97% |
| 2016 | 8,138 | 41.39% | 9,252 | 47.05% | 2,274 | 11.56% |
| 2020 | 10,218 | 42.74% | 12,916 | 54.02% | 776 | 3.25% |
| 2024 | 9,913 | 42.56% | 12,533 | 53.81% | 844 | 3.62% |
School districts include:[39]
Clatsop County is in the boundary ofClatsop Community College.[40]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Places adjacent to Clatsop County, Oregon | |
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Municipalities and communities ofClatsop County, Oregon,United States | ||
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